Business process outsourcing (BPO)
Business process outsourcing (BPO) involves the contracting of non-primary business activities and functions to a third-party service provider. Typical BPO services include internal business functions such as the handling of payroll, human resources, and accounting; and customer-related services such as customer interfacing.
BPO can be referred to by different terms related to the specific nature of the outsourcing. Common terms include: information technology enabled services (ITES) for IT-based processes, knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), legal process outsourcing (LPO), engineering process outsourcing (EPO).
In the construction industry, companies can use BPO for various activities, including:
- IT services.
- CAD and BIM.
- Human resources and administration.
- Finance and accounting.
- Security.
- Facilities management.
- Project management.
- Structural design.
- Document management.
- Marketing and communications.
- Concept design.
- Detail engineering.
- Energy modelling and audits.
- Landscape design.
The primary advantage of BPO is the added flexibility that it offers a company. Since most BPO providers offer services on fee-for-service bases, a company can transform fixed into variable costs. By doing so, a company can be more flexible in responding to changes due to required capacity and workload, and therefore don’t need to invest in particular assets. By being relieved of certain activities, a company is able to focus on its core competencies, forward planning, and enhance value chain engagement.
However, there are some risks attached to BPO which can include an over-dependence on service providers, underestimated running costs, and the danger of data privacy breaches.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- BS EN 15221.
- Business administration.
- Business model.
- Complex outsourcing.
- Construction organisation design.
- Construction organisations and strategy.
- Corporate finance.
- Critical service contracts.
- Critical suppliers.
- Funding options.
- Hard facilities management.
- Human resource management in construction.
- Insourcing.
- Joint venture.
- Outsourcing playbook.
- Partnering.
- Public sector dependent suppliers.
- Site administrator.
- Soft facilities management.
- Sourcing playbook.
- Subcontractor.
- TUPE considerations and bidding.
- Types of construction organisation.
- Vendor Managed Inventory VMI.
- Vested outsourcing.
- Working with landscape maintenance contractors.
Featured articles and news
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
The ECA Industry Awards 2024 now open !
Recognising the best in the electrotechnical industry.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding.
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Comments
I find this article to be quite detailed and well-structured. It does tell in great detail how the real estate/ construction industry can benefit from outsourcing. Very insightful and useful for modern businesses to capitalise on.