The business process outsourcing industry, valued at more than 300bn globally according to market research firm Grant View Research, has traditionally been dominated by countries such as India, which offers lower labour costs than western markets alongside a vibrant digital ecosystem.
BPO involves hiring external service providers to handle specific business functions, allowing companies to focus on their core competencies. A growing number of African countries are now looking to attract tech companies that offer IT services, such as software development, to clients in developed markets.
The BPO Association of Kenya claims the country boasts almost two million digital workers. Speaking to African Business at the GITEX tech conference in Berlin, Kenya's tech envoy, ambassador Philip Thigo, argued that the country's digital connections put it in a strong position to serve as a tech hub, including as a BPO destination.
"We have good infrastructure," he says. "We have six fibre cables coming in, we have a seventh one coming, so in terms of connectivity and infrastructure, we have good high-speed internet."
The ambassador also highlights the country's geographical position in a similar time zone to Europe and the Middle East, widespread English language fluency, and an abundance of green energy for data centres as key strengths.
