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More companies are outsourcing expertise rather than expanding in-house teams to scale quickly, improve efficiency, stay competitive, and cut costs. But what are the best industries for skill outsourcing?
This article lists the most common specialized tasks business process outsourcing companies handle, from software development to customer support and healthcare. It also explains how tech automates workflows and simplifies processes to increase productivity and the bottom line. Read below to learn more.
What is skill outsourcing and why does it matter?
What is skill outsourcing, and what is BPO’s role in facilitating it?
Skill outsourcing is hiring freelancers or third-party teams to perform specialized tasks. It fills talent gaps, enhances productivity, and allows you to focus on core activities. BPO companies provide dedicated experts for customer service, information technology (IT) support, finance, HR, and other non-core or back-office functions. They also offer:
- Customer service and IT support
- Multilingual and 24/7 services
- Compliance management
- Market research and analytics
- Finance and HR
Reliable BPO firms also invest in technology to streamline workflows, reduce operating costs, accelerate outputs, personalize strategies, and better align outcomes with business goals.
For example, they can seamlessly integrate collaboration platforms into the operations to help IT specialists build software quickly, virtual assistants answer customer questions in real time, and accountants automate and synchronize financial data.
Top industries that benefit most from skill outsourcing
Although most sectors can benefit from hiring BPO companies, some rely more on these providers to stay competitive, save on costs, and provide high-quality services to their customers.
Here are 10 industries where outsourcing delivers the greatest impact:
1. Technology and IT services
The tech industry is one of the biggest skill outsourcers globally. Its market revenue could reach a staggering $591.24 billion in 2025. By 2029, its market volume will be worth $812.71 billion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.28% until the end of the forecast period.
Tech companies often outsource software development, cybersecurity, cloud management, and IT support to skilled professionals worldwide to work with top-tier talent at a fraction of the cost.
Skill outsourcing is particularly beneficial to startups because they can quickly launch products without spending on expensive infrastructure. BPO teams also handle quality assurance (QA), technical support, and development operations so businesses stay agile.
2. Customer service and support
Many businesses outsource customer service roles, including live chat agents, virtual assistants, and call center representatives, to provide 24/7 assistance, multilingual support, and faster response times without a large in-house team.
AI-driven chatbots and remote customer service agents can efficiently manage high volumes of customer inquiries and perform repetitive tasks without human intervention. For example, an e-commerce AI bot can quickly process order status requests and refund inquiries, recommend products, and escalate complex cases to human IT specialists.
Outsourcing customer service can improve consumer satisfaction and the bottom line by allocating resources to other profitable activities.
3. Healthcare services
The healthcare sector is one of the best industries for skill outsourcing. Facilities often hire third-party teams to handle medical billing, patient scheduling, data entry, and even specialized diagnostics so they can focus on patient care.
Additionally, telemedicine services rely on outsourced medical professionals, including remote radiologists, transcriptionists, and virtual health consultants. For example, a US-based hospital might outsource radiology services to India, ensuring round-the-clock diagnostics and faster patient reporting while adhering to HIPAA compliance standards.
Outsourcing allows healthcare providers to scale their services effectively while complying with medical regulations, maintaining operational efficiency, and providing quality patient care.
4. Finance and accounting
Outsourcing financial and accounting tasks helps you stay compliant, manage cash flow, and produce accurate financial reports. This is especially valuable for startups and small businesses needing high-quality economic oversight without a finance department.
Commonly outsourced finance-related tasks include bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and financial analysis.
5. Marketing and creative services
Marketing is an industry where skill outsourcing delivers significant value. Grand View Research reveals that sales and marketing BPO could grow by 9.4% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, underscoring the increasing reliance on external agencies and specialists to enhance brand visibility and engagement.
You can outsource the following marketing and creative roles to BPO providers:
- content writing
- graphic design
- search engine optimization (SEO)
- social media management
- digital advertising
- Influencer and user-generated content (UGC) marketing
- market research and analytics
- email marketing
Tapping into external expertise allows you to execute high-quality marketing campaigns efficiently and cost-effectively.
6. Manufacturing and supply chain management
Manufacturing companies can outsource engineering design, supply chain coordination, and logistics management to maintain efficiency, streamline procurement, reduce production costs, and optimize inventory management.
By outsourcing these skills, you can leverage expert knowledge in supply chain strategy, minimize risks, and ensure timely production and distribution. This is particularly useful for industries that need to scale operations quickly in response to market demand.
7. Education and e-learning services
Universities, corporate trainers, and online education platforms outsource e-learning content creation, instructional design, virtual tutoring, and training development to produce engaging, high-quality learning materials while optimizing costs.
BPO companies use cutting-edge tools, such as Articulate 360 for course creation, Adobe Captivate for interactive learning modules, and learning management systems (LMS) platforms for managing content and learner engagement. These tools help streamline course delivery and enhance the learning experience.
If you’re in this industry, strategic outsourcing companies can personalize courses, integrate advanced technology, and deliver a more engaging and scalable learning experience for your clients.
8. Legal and compliance services
Legal outsourcing has gained traction as businesses seek expert support in contract management, legal research, intellectual property (IP) protection, and regulatory compliance. Skilled BPO professionals usually review contracts, assess risks, and audit processes.
This approach helps you avoid fines, penalties, and reputation damage caused by non-compliance. It also reduces costs and provides access to industry-specific legal expertise.
9. Real estate services
Are you in the real estate industry? Outsourcing helps brokers, agents, and firms streamline operations and focus on revenue-generating activities. You can outsource virtual property tours, administrative support, lead generation, property marketing, and other back-end operations to specialized teams.
Outsourcing improves efficiency as you can now prioritize closing deals, managing client relationships, and expanding portfolios.
For example, professional photographers and copywriters create high-quality listing photos, virtual tours, and compelling property descriptions. Your real estate agent schedules showings, addresses buyer inquiries, and negotiates purchase agreements.
10. E-commerce and retail operations
E-commerce businesses rely heavily on outsourcing to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Outsourcing partners commonly manage product listing, order fulfillment, and customer service. Many online stores work with third-party logistics (3PL) providers to manage warehousing, shipping, and returns.
Outsourcing also enhances visibility and competitiveness. Search engine optimization (SEO), social media management, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising specialists help e-commerce brands stay relevant and profitable in a highly competitive online market.
By outsourcing these functions, e-commerce businesses can scale operations quickly and improve customer experience. For example, an online retailer might partner with a 3PL provider to manage logistics while focusing on product development and customer engagement, ensuring faster order fulfillment and higher customer satisfaction.
The bottom line
When working with third-party experts, the best industries for skill outsourcing benefit from increased flexibility, streamlined workflows, better efficiency, and improved service delivery. They can also stay competitive, maintain service quality, and reduce costs.
However, choosing the right outsourcing partners is crucial to maximizing these benefits. Let’s connect and explore how Unity Communications can help you scale smarter with the right talent and technology.
