If you’re a business leader, you’ve probably had that moment, the one where you look at your team and think, “Wow, we’re doing way too many things at once.”
It’s normal. Most companies try to juggle everything, but honestly, there’s only so much a team can handle before the vital work starts slipping. And that’s where knowing the types of BPO really helps.
Before we even talk about the nine types, let’s keep it real for a second. Businesses today move fast. Like, “blink and the quarter is over” fast. Customers want responses instantly. Markets shift overnight. And internal tasks? They pile up. Outsourcing specific processes (the right ones, not everything) can save time, money, and, honestly, sanity.
Let’s walk through this in detail and know the types of BPO you can choose as per your company needs.
What is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)?
The fancy answer: it’s when a company hands over certain business functions to an external partner.
The real-world answer: you let someone else do the stuff that drains your team’s time or requires specialized skills that are expensive to hire internally.
For a deeper explainer, you can go through business process outsourcing — it covers the basics very well.
Many companies began outsourcing small tasks, but it has since expanded to entire departments being supported externally. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing. According to Statista, the BPO industry has surpassed $350 billion globally, underscoring its widespread adoption.
Okay, let’s get to the part you came here for, that is, understanding the types of BPO.
What are the 9 Popular Types of BPO Company Leaders Must Know?
When it comes to understanding the types of outsourcing or BPO, we typically think of only two or three. But BPOs are running and offering services across multiple industries. Let’s see them one by one.
1. Back-Office BPO
One most common types of BPO is back-office. This is the work no one sees, but everyone needs. Stuff like payroll, human resources, data entry, finance, compliance — you get the idea.
It’s not flashy work. It’s not customer-facing. But it matters. Companies outsource it simply because it’s time-consuming, and honestly, the admin pile never ends.
2. Front-Office BPO
Now we jump to customer-facing roles. Customer chat, email support, call center operations, sales calls, and after-sales conversations — all of these fall under front-office.
Many companies don’t want their teams glued to their phones all day. That’s why they outsource their customer service or front-line support.
If you're curious how this fits into broader support outsourcing, check out more about customer support outsourcing.
3. Offshore BPO
This is when your company outsources to another country. Like a U.S. company partnering with India, or a UK business working with the Philippines. It has been the most common and popular types of BPO
Why? Costs are lower. Talent pools are bigger. And because of time zones, you may get round-the-clock support without burning out your local team.
If you're comparing locations, this guide on offshore vs nearshore outsourcing is actually very helpful.
4. Nearshore BPO
Same idea as offshore, but closer geographically. Think: a U.S. company outsourcing to Mexico or Colombia. Or an Indian business outsourcing to Sri Lanka.
The benefit? Communication gets easier—less cultural gap. The travel distance is shorter (if that matters). And sometimes the cost advantage is still great.
5. Onshore BPO
This is outsourcing within your own country. A business in one city state partnering with another region.
Companies choose this when they want control, familiarity, and fewer cultural or language differences. Costs might be higher, but it’s dependable.
If you want to estimate how much you save by outsourcing, the outsourcing cost calculator is free and ready to use.
6. Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO)
This is where outsourcing gets “smart.” KPO includes high-skill work such as market analytics, product research, strategy support, design, and other work that requires specialized skills.
You outsource brains, not just hands. Companies use KPO because hiring experts full-time is expensive. Outsourcing lets them access top talent on demand.
7. Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO)
A whole category by itself. Legal teams are expensive, and legal work never ends. So companies outsource things like:
- Contract reviews
- Legal research
- Compliance documentation
- Case preparation
It’s basically KPO, but focused on law.
8. Research Process Outsourcing (RPO)
These types of BPO are all data-heavy. Brands rely on market research, competitor analysis, investment research, user studies, and deep industry insights.
Instead of building an internal analytics team, companies outsource this.
It’s way cheaper and faster. And honestly, specialists just do it better.
9. IT Enabled BPO Services (ITES)
This is one of the most common types of BPO today. And yes, it’s growing fast.
ITES includes:
- Help desk
- Cybersecurity support
- Network monitoring
- Tech support
- Cloud maintenance
- Regular software updates
- System troubleshooting
Anything that requires a technical team but doesn’t require building an entire IT department.
This is where companies like BolsterBiz also come in, supporting clients through outsourced IT staff augmentation, digital operations, and structured support.
You’ll find more details on the benefits of outsourcing customer support in the section on the customer experience angle.
Why Companies Choose Business Process Outsourcing for Support Services?
Sure, everyone says “to save money,” but that’s not the whole story. Here’s the real breakdown:
1. Cost Savings
Hiring in-house is expensive. Recruiting. Equipment. Training. Office space. It adds up. Outsourcing can save you more than 60% compared to in-house hiring.
A Deloitte survey said 57% of companies outsource to reduce costs.
2. Access to Better Talent
Some markets have deeper talent pools, especially in IT, analytics, supply chain, and modern customer operations. You gain access to a wide range of global talent who align with your brand through proper training.
3. Faster Execution
An external partner already has systems, tools, and training in place. You don’t start from zero. You only need to sign those SLAs; the rest is handled by tools, resources, and software training, with CRMs handling most of your support operations.
4. Focus on Core Competencies
Companies don’t want to spend time on low-value tasks. If building products is what you do best, then why waste energy doing admin or specific business tasks that don’t move the needle?
5. Flexibility in Operations
You may need seasonal support. Perhaps you’re testing a new market. Maybe your internal team is swamped. Outsourcing gives you breathing room. It helps you focus on more critical, core operations. In the meantime, outsourced agents from BPOs will work 24/7 to resolve customer queries and improve customer satisfaction.
If you're thinking of going global, these offshore outsourcing services break down what that might look like.
Conclusion
Understanding the types of BPO provides a clearer path to more informed business decisions. Whether you want to tackle customer service, move routine work to partners, or access top-tier expertise, the correct types of BPO make all the difference.
You just need to decide whether you need a customer support outsourcing service, an IT outsourcing, or digital marketing. Then carefully select the BPO type that best fits your needs.
If you’d like help exploring which model fits your business best, or want a sample cost estimate, please contact us. Let us know, and we can schedule a free consultation today.
FAQs about the Common Types of BPO
1. What is the most common types of BPO?
Front-office and IT-enabled services are the most widespread because companies need consistent customer support and technical support more than anything else.
2. Is outsourcing only for big-sized companies?
Not at all. Even small teams outsource when tasks become too time-consuming or distracting. Startups especially outsource operations to scale faster.
3. Does outsourcing lower your work quality?
No. Poor management leads to lower quality — not outsourcing. A good party vendor actually improves consistency.
4. What is better, nearshore or offshore outsourcing?
It depends. Nearshore is easier for communication. Offshore gives more substantial cost savings. Some companies do a mix.
5. Should startups choose to outsource customer support?
Absolutely. If they don’t want founders answering customer tickets at 2 AM, outsourcing helps you stay sane while still delivering excellent customer service.
6. Can BPO services help with marketing and generating leads?
Yes. Many leaders now outsource digital work for services including design, content, and campaign operations. It frees up significant bandwidth.
7. Why are BPO services growing so fast?
Because companies want scalable support without heavy hiring, also, remote collaboration is normal now.
