From Tuatapere to the world

Southland-based Wayne and Scott Findlay are the brains behind The Back Room, an offshore outsourcing solutions provider located in The Philippines.

Tucked away in the west of Southland lies the remote rural area of Tuatapere. It is known as the nation’s sausage capital, a centre for hunting and fishing and the place where the Hump Ridge Track begins.

Tuatapere is also the birthplace of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company The Back Room.

BPO happens when an organisation contracts essential business functions to an external provider, and often these functions have an IT focus. With more than 500 employees based in The Philippines and Aotearoa, The Back Room increases business capacity for firms by outsourcing accounting, administration, legal, sales and marketing tasks.

Founders Wayne Findlay and brother Scott grew up together in Tuatapere. “Living in that very practical environment, we were always exploring, fixing things and trying to find ways to make things work better – often while icebergs were drifting past the local beach,” recalls Wayne.

After founding a successful accounting firm (Findlay & Co, now Sidekick Wanaka), the duo established The Back Room in 2017. “Scott and I had been going to The Philippines regularly, training with another BPO company, and we jumped at the opportunity to create our own business.

“I believe we’re pretty good at spotting what’s coming over the horizon. We were early adopters of Xero, cloud technology, and saw the potential The Philippines had as an offshore outsourcing location.”

Eighty-four percent of firms surveyed outsource in some format, and according to a new survey from Technavio, the global BPO market is expected to grow by more than US$40 billion by 2025. The Philippines is central to that growth. 

The Back Room specialises in working with accounting clients, but more and more organisations from other industries benefit from The Back Room’s unique business model. This involves setting up a remote workforce for clients through dedicated account managers, cutting-edge tech, full training and team reporting, integrated workflow management systems and streamlined processes for a seamless remote experience.

“Effectively, any client can set up your remote workforce in The Philippines as if they were working in your own office. Having your dedicated team offshore with the ability to freely communicate and train them how you want, means they will improve efficiencies and fit with your business’s own culture, values, productisation, and core branding and messaging,” explains Wayne.

Wayne says an innovative business model, a proactive approach to clients and an enquiring desire to find creative ways to solve current problems, means The Back Room’s first five years brought about tremendous growth, and now he looks forward to the next five with great optimism. 

“Recent global events have understandably put unprecedented levels of pressure on firms. They’re struggling. Outsourcing thrived during the pandemic as businesses scrambled to redefine many functions. With the global talent shortage in many industries, BPO seems like a smart option for organisations. It’s a great choice for businesses looking to allocate entire non-core business processes for the long-term to a qualified, professional taskforce.”

The Philippines is the second-biggest outsourcing location in the world. English is widely-spoken, the strong education system is producing an intelligent and skilled workforce, and areas such as Clark Global City (home to The Back Room) are designated economic growth zones experiencing huge levels of investment and redevelopment – and attracting globally recognised firms.

Wayne and Scott travel back and forth between the two locations regularly throughout the year, and while The Philippines is key to long-term plans, Tuatapere holds a special place in their affections. The duo head back each May for the traditional family get-together.

“Scott and I developed a strong work ethic and resourcefulness at an early age and growing up in Tuatapere was the best grounding we could have possibly wished for,” says Wayne. “It’s still home, and we’re really proud that two brothers have come from a tiny town in the remote South Island to The Philippines and beyond. We’re looking at new markets and have begun to make inroads into the USA, Canada, Asia and the UK, so it will be interesting to see where the next five years take us.”

For more information go to www.thebackroomop.com 

For a back story on Wayne and Scott and their journey to outsourcing and offshoring click here.

Pictured above: Southland’s Wayne and Scott Findlay.