Top Companies That Offshore Operations Abroad & Their Success Stories

Offshoring has been a game-changer for many big companies, allowing them to scale, cut costs, and access top talent. If you're still on the fence about whether offshoring can benefit your business, take a look at these inspiring success stories from some of the world’s most well-known companies. These organizations have thrived by offshoring certain operations, and their stories could just spark some ideas for your own business.

Big Companies That Offshore Their Operations

1. Google

With over 135,000 employees, you might think Google wouldn’t need to offshore, but they do. The tech giant offshores to tap into specialized skills not available in-house and to cover workloads like parental leave. Google's offshoring journey began in 2011 when they outsourced 1,000 AdWords support positions to contact centers worldwide. In 2016, they expanded into IT outsourcing, partnering with companies like Cognizant. With offshoring playing such a big role, Google’s contractors now outnumber its in-house staff.

2. Microsoft

Microsoft, a leader in the software industry, began offshoring in 2010 with a three-year contract with Infosys to manage technical help, database administration, and software development. This strategy paid off, helping the company expand its services to clients and generating a massive $108 billion in revenue by 2015. Offshoring contributed significantly to Microsoft’s success as the first software company to reach the $1 billion revenue mark.

3. WhatsApp

Before being acquired by Facebook for $16 billion, WhatsApp’s founders used offshoring to keep costs low. They offshored development work to Russian coders, which helped them manage backend services and app development. By 2015, WhatsApp had over 2 billion users worldwide and became the top messaging app, proving the value of offshoring in helping it scale quickly.

4. Amazon

Amazon is another massive company that has leveraged offshoring to its advantage. They offshored call center operations to South Africa and the Philippines, where the centers supported US and UK customers. Additionally, Amazon offshored research and development to Ukraine and even acquired Ring, a company that designs home security solutions. Offshoring has allowed Amazon to maintain its rapid growth while meeting customer service demands around the globe.

5. Ford Motor Company

Ford has also used offshoring to boost its production capabilities. With rising production costs in the US and growing demand for automobiles, Ford moved production to China, Mexico, and other countries. Ford has also outsourced back-office operations, software development, IT services, and customer support to countries like India. These strategies have helped the automotive giant stay competitive in the global market.

6. American Express

A pioneer in the offshoring world, American Express has been offshoring back-office operations for decades. With offices in over 40 countries, the company has expanded its operations in places like the Philippines, where they provide customer support, technical assistance, and vendor management services. Offshoring has been key to American Express’s global success, particularly in scaling operations efficiently.

7. Samsung

Samsung has increasingly turned to offshoring to reduce labor costs. In 2005, they invested $500 million in a semiconductor factory in Austin, Texas. By 2019, Samsung had outsourced significantly, including moving its customer service operations for Australian customers to the Philippines and dedicating an entire facility in India to smartphone production.

8. Canva

Canva, the popular graphic design platform, began offshoring in 2014 with a small team of just six employees in Manila. The company outsourced graphic design, customer support, and back-office operations to the Philippines, where the creative, family-like culture helped fuel their growth. By 2018, the team grew to 250 people, and Canva’s value skyrocketed to $40 billion. Offshoring was crucial in helping Canva scale its operations and achieve this impressive success.

9. Telstra

Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications company, has offshored much of its call center work to the Philippines. While this has caused job cuts in Australia, the move helped Telstra meet growing client demands and provide specialized customer service. The Philippines continues to be a hub for Telstra’s customer support operations, ensuring high-quality service for its clients.

10. UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group, the largest healthcare company in the world, also uses offshoring as part of its business strategy. The company offshores tasks such as consulting, customer service, project management, and healthcare operations. For example, Optum, a division of UnitedHealth, recruits Filipino nurses to assist with pre-service nursing, helping assess patient needs and treatment options.

Why the Philippines is a Top Destination for Offshoring

Many of these companies have chosen the Philippines for offshoring due to its cost efficiency and high-quality service. The Philippines is known for its skilled workforce, English proficiency, and cultural alignment with Western businesses. This makes it an ideal location for outsourcing everything from customer support to software development.

Ready to Build Your Offshore Team?

If you're inspired by these success stories and want to explore offshoring for your own business, consider working with a trusted offshore staffing partner. At Safe Link Solutions, we specialize in helping businesses expand their operations in the Philippines. Whether you're looking for customer support, IT services, or back-office operations, we can connect you with the right talent to help your business thrive.

Contact us today to get started on your offshoring journey and learn how we can support your growth!