In 2026, most business leaders are pondering, should we hire, or will AI do?’
In 2026, most business leaders are pondering, “should we hire, or will AI do the job?’ Many large firms have made up their minds and are going ‘all in’ with AI…which may make sense for big consultancies that know the CEOs of global organisations will hand them the stuff they don’t fancy owning themselves.
S: https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2025/accenture-ceo-tells-staff-to-use-ai-or-leave
https://www.pqmagazine.com/graduates-being-replaced-by-ai/
Most of our SME clients use AI or are adopting it in some form. And yes, we provide hundreds of skilled AI and IT people to them…but their growth is driven by human connections.
So, does ‘going full AI’ make sense for SMEs?
When we ask clients for feedback it’s ‘human interaction’ that they value over all else. Why? Many of their own clients are also SMEs or end consumers. The ‘edge’ they provide is mostly service-driven. They want their clients to be able to speak with experts whenever they want. They can’t afford reputational failure.
Which is why they ask us to provide the experienced talent that can deliver human capability for them…but at 60-70% lower employment cost than locally. It’s this saving that lets them deliver enhanced services that can compete against bigger competitors that have gone ‘full AI’.
But is outsourcing a temporary position until AI takes over?
We doubt it. Why? There’s a global shift taking place in consumer behaviour. And how we act as consumers generally plays out in how we act in business as well.
Authentic experiences are in demand.
What started as a travel trend towards authentic experiences now permeates wider life. Swipes are out and share experiences are in. Meaningful is overtaking transactional. ‘Humanless’ is being replaced by ‘human connections.’
S: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7zxgxdggjo
If you’ve been in business for many years (as we have) then you’ll know that the vast majority of B2B buyers arrive via a recommendation or referral. Why? Because we trust shared human experiences. While sometimes not obvious, a bit of digging usually reveals a hidden link.
Going ‘full AI’ may deliver short-term profit uplifts…but replacing roles where human relationships are forged will be felt down the road.
We’re seeing ‘authenticity’ and ‘use AI’ shifts cause a rise in demand for Philippines based talent. Clients can accelerate their AI projects – where this makes sense for them – but they can also put our people (who become their dedicated people) in front of their clients.
- English skills are excellent.
- Cultural alignment is strong.
- Technical skills are up with the best.
- Out of hours services are easy to deliver…
…but costs are vastly lower than in-your-country hires.
Will AI replace lower cost experts that just happen to be overseas?
We’re huge AI fans. It’s a key part of our own business. But we know (as you likely know) that humans prefer doing business with humans. We’ll never replace authentic human experiences with AI ‘just because it’s cheaper’. We will use AI where it can improve efficiencies without interfering with relationships. It’s what our SME clients do. Which is why you can rely on us to ALWAYS support you at every step of your remote talent journey – with the human expertise that you need.
Book a quick chat with Michelle today, to know more about our best practices in providing offshore accounting and IT staff from the Philippines – or shoot us an email at [email protected]. We are happy to answer your questions!
Learn more:
Read more helpful information about outsourcing from Australia or the UK to the Philippines:
5 Huge Financial Advantages of Outsourcing Australian Accountancy Functions
5 Huge Financial Advantages of Outsourcing Australian IT Development Functions
Top 8 industry sectors that most frequently outsource to the Philippines
Outsourcing to the Philippines: Ensuring Fair Pay, Benefits, and Conditions
