How Remote Work in Tech Companies Transformed Sri Lanka into an IT Solutions Landscape

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a seismic shift to the global work landscape, ushering in the new era of remote work and offshoring services. As companies worldwide began to adapt to the new normal, a hidden gem emerged: Sri Lanka’s rapidly expanding tech talent pool. Once primarily known for its tourism, our Island nation has transformed into one of the most sought-after places for tech offshoring and outsourcing for prominent organisations worldwide.

How Remote Working Started

Although the concept of remote work was unheard of before the pandemic, a small but growing number of tech professionals were working on freelance projects and offshore clients even before the concept was popularised within the country. Subsequently, with the onset of COVID-19, remote work became a necessity, and the IT industry embraced it as their new normal.

The Demand for Offshoring

Similarly, more and more companies took their business practices online and with the easy access to resources through globalisation and the increasingly practical nature of technology, the demand for a more diverse pool of tech talent increased. As a result, companies sought after cost effective, skilled labor to handle a multitude of tasks from software development to programmers. This demand created a global opportunity for the tech talent pool worldwide, making Sri Lanka a top contender.

The Hybrid Working Model

Before all this, a typical work week for Sri Lankans followed a standard nine-to-five schedule where employees were expected to come to office all working days of the week. As the country began to embrace remote work, employees can now enjoy the benefits of flexible work hours and working from the comfort of their homes.

As the effects of the pandemic subsided, management teams began to combine the given opportunities to work remotely with in-person collaboration. This approach is known as the hybrid work model. Hybrid working offers the best of both worlds, allowing employees to focus on deep work when working from home and collaborate with fellow teammates at the office which helped to facilitate a better work-life balance for employees.

Why is Sri Lanka the Number #1 Offshoring Destination for Tech Employees?

Many factors contributed to help Sri Lanka emerge as a competitive and attractive go-to destination for tech offshoring.

- Highly Educated Workforce: Sri Lanka boasts a 92% literacy rate which is the highest in South Asia. The education system of the country produces a steady stream of STEM graduates who amassed skills in IT, Engineering, and many other technical disciplines. Apart from being well-educated, the Sri Lankan population puts a strong emphasis on their English language proficiency.

- Cost Effective Talent: Compared to other countries, especially from the West, Sri Lanka can offer a cost-effective pool of professionals without compromising on the quality of work output. Due to currency exchange rates, companies can provide competitive salary structures and maintain minimal operational costs.

- Supportive Government Policies: The local government recognises the potential opportunities that lie within the IT sector. To encourage the growth of this industry, they have introduced several tax incentives, implemented various infrastructure projects and streamlined regulations to create a favorable business environment.

- Robust Infrastructure: The Sri Lankan government in collaboration with private telecom companies, has made significant investments to improve the telecommunication infrastructure of the country. One such initiative is the “Information and Communication Technology Parks” program which aims to provide high-speed internet by establishing tech hubs in rural areas.

- Location and Time Zone Advantages: Sri Lanka is known to be a strategic location in South Asia positioned with proximity to both Eastern and Western markets. The country’s time zone (GMT +5.30) aligns well with global business hours, making it convenient for international collaboration.

- Cultural Affinity & Business Ethics: The Sri Lankan workforce is known to be adaptive to changes and have a strong work ethic with a dedication to meet deadlines, and commitment to deliver high quality work. Likewise, many Sri Lankans show great interest in western cultural values and ideologies, making it easier to foster a good understanding and collaboration with international stakeholders.

In conclusion, Sri Lankans were able to persevere through the challenges of the pandemic by transforming themselves into a global tech talent hub. As such, the tech companies in Sri Lanka showed unprecedented growth, resulting in job creation and economic expansion. Presently, the country’s reputation as a reliable and cost-effective destination attracts investments from well-known corporations worldwide.

Among such companies is Swivel Tech; an Australian tech BPO company operating in Sri Lanka that handles many reputable clients worldwide. From Swivel Tech comes a source of the finest tech expertise in the market with skills in development, design, quality assurance etc. We are committed to empower the Sri Lankan tech industry by connecting highly skilled individuals and letting them shine in the global IT landscape.