Australian and New Zealand businesses can make optimal use of outsourcing to make their business more efficient. As economies evolve, it’s always worth considering new options that may suit you better that may not have previously had the infrastructure.
Fiji has made exciting moves that position it as a frontrunner in hosting call centres and other outsourcing requirements. Australian investment in Fiji is on the rise in response to these changes. In this article, we provide some facts about why more and more Australian businesses are outsourcing to Fiji.
18 facts about outsourcing to Fiji
Fiji has long been considered a beautiful place for tourism. But Fiji has much more to offer. It’s a friendly and well-governed country. Below are 18 facts about Fiji that show its prosperity as an outsourcing force:
1. There’s a small time-zone difference between Fiji and Australia.
With a time difference of only two hours to Sydney (same time to New Zealand), communication between the countries is easy. Business liaising can be efficient, and outsourced Fiji staff can work the same businesses hours as Australians; this can also improve the customer experience.
2. Fiji is considered to be the hub of the Pacific.
Fiji connects the Pacific Islands with the rest of the world. As a hub, it offers many business benefits. It can make it easier to get equipment and staff, as well as having a globalised workforce.
3. Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.
Since they’ve been independent, they’ve made significant strides in establishing the economy and infrastructure.
4. The two words you will hear the most in Fiji are “Bula” (hello) and “Vinaka” (thank you).
The friendliness in the Fijian culture can filter into their business operations. Using Fiji as an outsourcing destination is bound to increase your customer’s experience.
5. Fijians have a long history with customer service.
Their booming tourism industry is an example of Fijians excellent customer service. Many Fijians have experience in making the customer experience a positive one.
6. Fiji has a young population.
Many outsourcing operations involve the use of technology. The outsourcing industry relies on digital-savvy staff, which is generally a skill that younger people have. 50% of Fiji’s population is under the age of 27.
7. Fiji is abundant in recent graduates.
Fiji has approximately 5,000 new graduates entering the workforce every year. This means that many outsourced employees have a university degree.
8. Fiji outsourcing companies can cover a 24/7 time period.
The official workweek in Fiji is 40 hours. This allows most outsourcing companies to offer a variety of shifts that cover 24/7 operation for clients. So if your business needs 24/7 support, Fiji can be a great option.
9. The average commute to the office is about 20 minutes.
The Fijian city of Suva and Nadi are much less congested than other locations. Outsourced staff can get to work quickly and are unlikely to have delays on the way.
10. The official language in Fiji is English (as well as Fijian and Fiji Hindi).
Most Fijians can speak fluent English, which makes their communication with Australian businesses a breeze.
11. The outsourcing industry is an essential segment of the Fiji economy.
The Fijian economy relies on the outsourcing industry to support a segment of its economy, and it employs around 3,000 Fijians. This means that they have the infrastructure to support the rise in outsourcing supply.
12. Contact centres are the most significant segment for the outsourcing industry in Fiji.
Contact centres are the most significant part of the outsourcing industry. This includes customer service, lead generation and technical support.
13. Fiji has fast and secure telecommunication and internet infrastructure.
As most outsourcing tasks require a decent internet connection, your host country should have the facilities to support this. Fiji offers robust telecommunication infrastructure with a fast and secure internet connection with links. This infrastructure is linked to Australia through the Southern Cross Cable.
14. BPOs charge a rate of around A$10-13 per hour for most talent solutions.
This includes wages as well as the facilities, utilities, management and a margin. Which, when expanded on, can work out a lot cheaper than other outsourcing regions.
15. The cost of living in Fiji is significantly lower than in Australia.
While Australian business can pay less in wages, Fijians still earn a decent salary to live well. The cost of living in Fiji is 265% cheaper than in Australia, as the chart below shows.
16. The average starting wage in Fiji is $4.50-$5.00 per hour.
This value is similar to the wages in the Philippines. Employers also contribute 5-10% of the wages to the employee’s superannuation.
17. Most BPOs in Fiji invoice in the currency of the source market.
If you’re an Australian business, you can be invoiced in AUD, or if you’re a New Zealand business, it can be in NZD. This can help maintain a uniform invoicing system throughout your company.
18. The country has a low corporate tax rate of 20%.
Finally, a low corporation tax allows businesses working with Fiji to blossom. This enables Fijian companies to filter their profits back into their infrastructure and work.
If you’re considering outsourcing work to Fiji, or you would like more information, please contact us.
