India may be in the lead in terms of the IT outsourcing industry, but if things go the way they are going, then it’s going to get some tough competition. And the biggest challenger is quite unexpected – the Philippines IT outsourcing industry.

But it shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the Philippines IT outsourcing industry is one of the best in the world. Although Filipinos can’t really compete against India in the number of engineering graduates every year, they can really hold their own when it comes to being tech-savvy. Also, there are other characteristics of Filipinos that makes them the top choice of American and European companies.

First of all, the Philippines have a high literacy rate. And they have a very good command of the English language. Another thing is that this country has a large pool of IT professionals who, coupled with a very good telecommunication infrastructure, provide one of the best services to clients.

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Philippines is its culture. As an American colony for almost fifty years, Filipinos are very familiar with Western traditions, language, and nuances. They can also converse in good American English. Despite being Asian in orientation, Filipinos would have no difficulty interacting with an American customer.

The Philippines is also noted as a call center hub. American and Europeans prefer Filipino agents because of their sunny disposition, warm hospitality, strong service orientation, and excellent communication skills. Medical transcription has also found a niche in this country, considering the number of skilled transcriptionists that can do a very good job.

India will surely have a run for its money since the Philippines IT outsourcing industry is fast catching up. Although Indians charge a cheaper rate compared to Filipinos, the latter has the advantage of doing a better job. It’s not hard to imagine that, at this rate, the Philippines IT outsourcing industry will reach, or even surpass, India.