Canva leads Australian startups in outsourcing
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Online graphic design platform Canva is advising fast-growing Australian startups on hiring remote staff in Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, accelerating an outsourcing trend.
Canva pioneered offshoring for startups by opening an office in Manila in 2014. Now, it is helping other Australian startups like Eucalyptus, SafetyCulture, and Employment Hero establish overseas teams in low-cost countries.
These startups are following Canva’s lead in employing staff remotely in the Philippines and Malaysia for roles ranging from customer service to software engineering.
Alex Holmes of outsourcing provider Influx points out a shift towards outsourcing and adapting business models to enhance profitability in the tech industry. The economical option of hiring remotely in significantly cheaper locations than Australia is a key factor in this transition.
With a Manila team of 120 compared to its 400-strong Sydney headquarters, SafetyCulture said they benefitted from Canva’s advice on offshoring. The company highlights the shared knowledge within the Australian tech community.
Employment Hero, a $1.2 billion HR software company, employs staff in Manila and facilitates outsourcing services, acting as an intermediary employer for Filipino staff working with other Australian firms. Their data shows a surge in offshored roles in sales, operations, and tech in the past two years.
This trend, however, contrasts with the ongoing initiative of the Australian government to boost tech employment in the country to 1.2 million by 2030.
However, Canva’s HR Chief Jennie Rogerson told The Australian Financial Review that this offshore growth complements, rather than replaces, hiring in Australia. She added that Canva welcomed 1,100 new employees in Australia this year.
