In a world powered evermore by AI, the race to provide high-quality, structured data for machine learning is heating up. AI service providers are on the hunt for skilled workers with the most optimal rates to take on their data preparation tasks.
Outsourcing data processing tasks has become the go-to strategy for most businesses, allowing them to:
- Simplify their company structure
- Improve their quality of service
- Produce fast, efficient results.
Traditionally, the top destinations for outsourcing data processing and management have been Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. This is changing, however, and it’s changing quickly. As the economies grow and the workforces age in these regions, outsourcing labor here is becoming more expensive and less appealing to companies.
Africa, with its vast population of qualified, youthful workers looking for employment, is emerging as the next big destination for cost-effective, high-value outsourcing for AI and digital services.
If you’re in the AI industry, here’s why you should be harnessing Africa’s untapped talent for your data processing requirements.
5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BE OUTSOURCING YOUR DATA PROCESSING SERVICES TO AFRICA
1. INFRASTRUCTURE IS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AND EXPANDING
The African continent has made leaps and bounds in developing and expanding local infrastructure. Telecom networks are being installed at a greater pace than before, enabling more and more Africans to easily access the internet for the first time.
African governments are supporting these advancements in digitalization and connectivity, recognizing the economic benefits they can bring. Many African countries, such as Nigeria, have multiplied their internet speed in response to the increased demand for outsourced labor.
Urbanization and development of cities are drawing more people to urban areas, particularly younger people in search of more employment opportunities. With the rapid expansion of infrastructure and access to digital technologies, Africa is poised to become the outsourcing destination of choice in the near future.
2. IT HAS A YOUNG POPULATION READY TO GO TO WORK
Africa is the world’s youngest continent, according to the World Economic Forum, with an average age of 18 years. A fair portion of the African population will enter the job market in the next few years, expanding the already existing workforce.
This population of young professionals who are trained and available is great news for companies looking to utilize this highly educated outsourced talent, creating mutually beneficial partnerships.
3. ENGLISH IS WIDELY SPOKEN
Unlike many other developing regions, English is widely spoken in many countries across the African continent. In countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia, English is the primary language spoken, while Zambia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, and Rwanda list English as an official language.
For AI companies and start-ups based in English-speaking countries and regions, it makes sense to outsource your operations to countries where you can hire workers who can understand and communicate with you at a native level.
For companies operating in other countries, Africa also boasts fluency in a host of other languages, like French which is spoken across at least 11 countries. Other languages spoken across the continent include Spanish, Portuguese, and German.
4. IT’S MORE COST-EFFECTIVE
Thanks to Africa’s youthful workforce and its status as a developing destination for outsourcing data services, the cost of outsourcing to Africa is more economical compared to Latin America or Southeast Asia.
Africans have the skills and capabilities to take on various data processing tasks. On top of this, their age and entry-level experience position them more favorably to companies looking for cost-effective outsourcing avenues.
Compare this to the more aged populations of India and Latin America whose rates are higher, and it’s easy to see why many businesses are redirecting their outsourcing needs in Africa’s direction.
5. LARGE COMPANIES ARE ALREADY DOING IT
With the market for AI data preparation set to hit $1.2 billion by the end of 2023, it’s clear that the need for prepared, structured data is only set to grow in the months and years to come. Companies are only going to double down on their search for high-quality, cost-effective outsourcing pipelines for their data processing tasks.
International corporations like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft have already identified the untapped potential of the African market for their data labeling and annotation services. Other companies will eventually follow suit, propelling Africa’s development and prime positioning for data preparation even further.
CONCLUSION
If you’re ready to expand your data outsourcing reach to Africa, Werkit can help you tap into the market. Werkit sources and partners with skilled data management and preparation talent across Africa.
This creates local employment opportunities and makes it easier to connect businesses in need of task specialization with skilled individuals capable of providing:
- Data processing services
- Advanced talent services
- Computer vision services
- Natural Language Processing services
- Digital marketing services
- Identity verification services
Our workforce is professionally qualified and highly experienced in the data management tasks in which they specialize. Maintaining the quality of our services and output is our priority which is why we extensively screen and verify the identity and credentials of every outsourced employee before hiring them, through our robust built-in ID verification process.
For a closer look at the capabilities of our vetted outsourced talent meet Esmada, a transcription editor freelancing with Werkit.
Learn more about how Werkit can help your business thrive and book a consultation with us.