Minor FieldTrip
TRAVEL REPORT
December 10, 2016
Seminar Overview
Today is our minor field trip in Sutherland Global Services. It is a first independent BPO company in Philippines. They have different branches in the Philippines including Davao City. For me, BPO Company is popular here in Philippines and most of the computer graduate courses work in that industry. According to Sutherland, BPO companies are the second largest income community. In short, BPO companies provide large income in the Philippines; the first community is the OFW or Overseas Filipino Workers. They also said that, in 2017, BPO companies will lead the rank of top grossing community in the Philippines. For my opinion, BPO services are in demand today because of multi-demands of the people inside and outside the Philippines. Also, in this seminar, Sutherland shared who they are and what is unique to them.
My Experience
Its 8:30 a.m. and I’m on Matina road trying to get a jeep. After 20 minutes, I didn’t get any jeep so I decided to have a cab. Later on, while inside the cab, I realize that Davao traffic is so heavy especially in UM Matina up to Davao Doctors Hospital. So the bill is up and I’m worry about it. Speaking of traffic, I notice that traffic in Davao is quite the same with Manila but I hope it will be solve by our president Rodrigo Duterte.
Moving on, after 15 minute, I’m in front of Department of Education and the current traffic is light. Then 5 later, I reach my destination, which is Sutherland Global Services, and paid the service fee. Thanks to our secretary, that she informed everyone to just simply get inside the Sutherland. After I read that text message, I slowly and calmly walk on the road towards Sutherland entrance. While walking, I notice that my classmates are lining up for the attendance. I didn’t enter first because my allergic rhinitis is trying to overcome my situation but I’m trying my best to massage my nose. Sort of 3 minutes, my condition is okay and I started to enter the building. The line is shorter than what I’ve seen before I enter the building. Its 9:30 a.m. and It is my time to fill up the pages required before entering the building. After that, there is a woman guiding us where the reception is. Instead of directly going to the reception, I ask for the comfort room for my personal necessities. Then she answered politely with a smile and a hand direction where the comfort room is. 30 seconds later, I’m done with my thing and I proceeded to the reception. While walking down the corridor, there are images that have an antique and classic concept in lighting and design. I entered the reception room and it is a wide lobby with a 3 mini room: prayer room, game room and music room. At first, I’m amaze by the company because they cater what the employees demand as they work for the company. They also have gym at the left side, if you face the projector at front.
After several minutes, the master ceremony starts to inform us if we are complete and time to start. After a couple of minutes, the host show to us what Sutherland is in outside perspective. Then after a minute, he played another video about what Sutherland is in their leaders’ perspective. After that, he presented a slide show with a detailed explanation of what is Sutherland. He also explains what BPO is and why BPO is in demand. He also shares his college life and we are shock because he knew when our college, Institute of Computing, was opened and started to operate. After multi-introduction of Sutherland, he introduces to us their IT technician that guards their server. There are two IT technicians who answered our question precisely and briefly, as they hasten for monitoring the server of the Sutherland. Bombarded with 5 simple questions, as I can see they are not just IT technicians, they are IT professionals. They also give advice, as what the host requested to them, about what to proceed in college life. After the advice, they proceed to their job and the host continues to give us information. He also clarifies the difference between BPO Companies and Call Center companies. He also informed us with the services they cater aside from calling and lastly, he highlight the difference or uniqueness of their company by not saying the profit but, the quality job in Sutherland.
After several minutes of pre-closing remarks, he divide us into 3 groups for the Sutherland tour with the guide of their OJT’s, from Davao Oriental State College. I belong to group 2 and we leave the room after 5 minutes of group 1. The temporary tour guide, guide us in different room as she introduce and explain the purpose of different room. As I follow the group, I notice that some of the workers are stressing free from their job, they always wear big smile and good vibes condition. We tour until third floor of the building, she showed the data center servers of the Sutherland Davao and also I’m amazed by the arrangement of the Sutherland office.
After an hour of tour, we go back to the reception room where we could take our snack lunch. After several minutes, group 3 finishes their tour and take their lunch. Followed by several answer and question moments, with prizes for those who got the correct answer. After that, we take selfies and groupfies with our respected classmates. Then, the event ended and we go home.
What I learned?
I learned the difference and similarities between BPO and call center companies. BPO is group of call centers, while call centers represent one company with specific task. BPO is company that extends the call center service of the other company depending on the situation of the client. Also, I learned that Sutherland is an independent BPO company. As what they said, independent, they didn’t rely on gather Call Center Company. They always lead and create a unique way. Also, I learned the uniqueness of Sutherland among competitive BPO companies. They have unique HR section of the company, where they have “town hall meeting”. Town hall meeting, for them, they are important because you can state your work concern directly; it might be your culture, need or demand.
What I like?
I like the ambiance of the company and the way company states their information to encourage students or people to work at their company.
What I didn’t like?
Nothing.
APPENDIX
What can I recommend for the improvement of the advance seminar program of USEP?
Base from my experience, our FTS is complicated, complicated in a form of organizing the group because of factors that really affects the subject like money and time. I recommend that USeP must support the program for the student purpose and knowledge. Supporting by money and time, USeP must endorse its students, who are taking seminar program, to the government. Also, USeP must handle the subject by arranging the files needed in the subject before the students take the subject because our president suffers from time delays which could sacrifice her personal time just to finish compiling the requirements of this subject. I hope USeP also must extend its function in this subject by finding corporation that really delivers information to the students, inside or outside Mindanao.
I hope USeP must hand-in-hand with the students taking this subject because it is for the betterment of the students and for the universty.
My advised to those who will take their advance seminar program in the near future.
Advice, maybe students must cooperate and unite in taking this program because it is important for their future. Also, students must not rely on their president and must act, each, as a leader. Make it successful and earlier as you can without madness from your family’s budget.