How background screening automation can help BPO companies in the Philippines

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is booming in the Philippines. It contributes nearly $30 billion to the economy, employs 1.3 million people in 2019, and is predicted to be growing 8-10% per year according to Nexford University.

BPO refers to the delegation of one or more business processes to an external provider. This provider then manages the selected processes based on defined and measurable performance metrics.

Operators in the BPO industry generally specialise in one (or a few) processes and provide their services to a wide range of differing end clients. These end clients are likely to have varying security requirements and guidelines for contractors and staff.

Sterling RISQ offers an effective background screening automation platform that can help operators in the BPO industry to ensure that they hire staff that meet the wide range of security requirements and standards for each client.

What is background screening automation?

Background screening automation refers to the process of using an electronic program or platform to send, review and store candidates’ background screening results.

It works by implementing a background screening program or platform that is a one-stop shop for candidate hiring. These programs facilitate the easy ordering of checks and send the checks to candidates for them to input their data, along with receipt and storage of the results from checks. As the platforms are online, they can provide updates on the go and are accessible across devices.

Sterling RISQ offers our own proprietary platform for automated background screening to clients. We also have the tools, ability and experience to assist clients to integrate our product with any existing HR systems and platforms.

Benefits of background screening automation for BPO companies

By utilising background screening automation, hiring BPO companies can order checks quickly and efficiently.

Background screening platforms provide full transparency of the candidate’s screening status and facilitate the easy creation of management and summary reports directly from the platform. These proven efficiencies free up time for HR teams and allow them to use their time on more value-add tasks.

Time can also be saved by avoiding the need for conducting any tedious manual screening, i.e. contacting government agencies or past employers by phone or email, and instead setting the program to request the check and conduct the screening on their behalf.

Automated background screening also offers increased flexibility, accuracy and lack of bias compared to manual screening. BPO companies can tailor their screening requests depending on each client’s needs and standards, and due to the automated processes involved, there is less opportunity for bias to be incorporated into the process due to minimal human intervention.

Personal data privacy is top of mind when thinking about how to collect and store candidate data – and again, automated screening can perform better than manual screening here.

As each end client will have varying privacy requirements and standards, background screening automation enables BPO companies to have peace of mind when it comes to meeting a range of security and privacy requirements. Automated background screening helps BPO companies to maintain a highly secure process for handling all candidates’ sensitive personal information.

In the automated background screening process, background check results are sent directly to the platform and stored there rather than going through various mediums of storage. All information is stored securely and can be restricted to be viewed only by authorised personnel within the company. This is compared to physical files or less secure databases where access to confidential information can be easily obtained.

Benefits of background screening automation for candidates

The benefits of automation tools aren’t only for businesses – they also create a seamless candidate experience for all prospective applicants. Candidates save time as they are able to complete their side of the screening, i.e. inputting their relevant details and providing their identification, at a time and place that suits them and with clear guidance on the mandatory requirements.

Candidates are also able to provide an electronic signature for consent and get SMS notifications to update them on the status of their screening. This is ideal for candidates who are looking to be hired and onboarded quickly so they can hit the ground running.

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Sterling RISQ are experts in background screening automation in the Philippines. We have operated in the Philippines for years and a local office with staff who have a nuanced understanding and experience of Filipino screening requirements and obligations.

Contact us on info@sterlingrisq.com if you’d like to discuss an automated background screening package for your business or have any questions about conducting background screening in the Philippines.