Auto Accept Software & Technology Has Come a Long Way!

   BPO Automation Group has been and continues to be at the leading edge in developing auto-accept technology to capture BPO orders since starting the business in April of 2009.  From time to time we see and hear about this same technology put in play by a number of competitors in the marketplace.  We also are aware of the stated concerns of the BPO companies themselves as to the impact of auto accept software and technology that is currently being used in the BPO and REO industry. We are also knowledgeable about the concerns that individual agents have regarding the use of this technology to capture orders.

  Historically, the reason that we developed this technology was because of the huge demand by real estate agents who were either unable to capture orders on their own (in sufficient quantity to make a living) and/or were unwilling to spend the significant time every day to continually 'refresh' their computers manually to capture orders.  I remember speaking to an agent in Chicago who was spending about 4 to 6 hours capturing orders every day, followed by several additional hours actually getting the BPO's completed. She was aggressively refreshing her computer screen manually as fast as she could to the point that her prime company contacted her and fired her.  The BPO company claimed that she was using an auto accepter, which she wasn't at the time, but was fired for being too aggressive. You know, usually aggressive people in any walk of life, are rewarded for their diligence-not fired!  As a result of this particular agent being fired, she began using our auto-accept technology and has been able to virtually walk away from the onerous task of capturing orders to use the 4 to 6 hours actually doing a higher volume of BPO orders rather than sit passively in front of her computer screen trying to capture the orders herself. 

   We have seen hundreds of people who have similar experiences and absolutely hate the huge time involvement trying to capture orders unsuccessfully on their own. Picture if you will a factory that can turn out 100 new automobiles each day and compare it to the efficiency of a single person trying to build a car manually.  Why would anyone choose to build their own car with automation technology that can get the job done in a small fraction of the time?  For the same reason it makes sense to employ auto-accept technology to efficiently capture BPO orders!  We responded to the demand for technology that could effectively and quickly capture BPO orders BUT we did so in a manner that respects both the needs of the BPO agent and the needs of the BPO providers.  Please read on...

   The two major complaints that we hear about by BPO providers is the fact that auto-accept technology plays havoc with their servers due to the huge load placed on it and to the desire for agents to make an informed decision about the order, it's location, due date, pay, etc. before the order is captured rather than afterwards.  Point of fact, most auto-accept technology, as provided by our competitors, ignores both of these issues.  An auto-accepter could be configured to log onto a server checking for available BPO orders as often as once every second, OR EVEN FASTER. We have chosen to limit our software 'refresh rate' to the maximum of once every 10 seconds.  The result is that our software doesn't put a huge load on the BPO providers, but it does result in our customers capturing fewer orders than the much faster technology.  We could employ it, but don't.  It was rewarding to find out recently that BPO agents were being fired by one of the major BPO providers in the nation due to the irresponsible load that their auto-accepter was placing on their server, but our customers were not fired!  Why did we put a limit on our refresh rate?  Because we did not want to adversely impact any BPO providers and interrupt the capability of their servers to work efficiently in the marketplace. By the way, a number of our competitors have developed software that defeats the security captcha codes as used by some BPO providers. Our customers asked us to also provide our technology that could defeat captcha codes, BUT we opted not to do so. If a BPO company has utilized a security feature to keep out auto accept technology we respect that BPO companies decision.

   The problems that BPO providers have with agents accepting too many orders or canceling unacceptable orders due to the use of auto-accept technology is a fact with most of our competitors, BUT not us!  You see, our auto-accepter has built in features and capabilities that puts the BPO agent in charge of quantity of orders desired and numerous other discerning factors as well.  Not only can BPO agents using our technology set our auto-accepter, on a daily basis, to capture only a certain volume of orders, but it can choose which orders to accept to the same discernment capability as if the agent was manually capturing each and every order themselves.  Our auto-accepter, we call it Order Central, will limit orders captured based on the type of order (drive-by, internal, external); amount of pay for the order, and location of the order. Order Central does not blindly capture any and all orders but makes it possible for each individual user to define what is an acceptable order and only capture those that meet the pre-defined criteria. As a result, agents using our technology should never need to cancel an order that the software has captured.

   In conclusion, not all auto-accepters have the same functionality and thereby should not be treated and/or respected in the BPO industry in an 'across the board' fashion. Our software enables the BPO agent to focus on the quality of the order itself, not on the tedious chore of trying to manually capture the orders or review the orders one-by-one that are desired.  Spending hours each day trying to capture orders is a thing of the past and agents using 'smart' auto-accept technology enjoy a better lifestyle because of it, less stress, and typically more income. This is a win/win between the agent and our company. Employing a small server load and providing tools to the agent to only accept orders that are desired and can be completed on time is a win/win between the BPO providers and BPO Automation Group. An agent who, for whatever reason, cancels orders or doesn't deliver a quality BPO within the designated time span doesn't place enough thoughtfulness to the providers who depend on them for meeting their internal needs and goals.  A BPO provider who requires agents to spend hours each day manually capturing orders doesn't respect the needs of the agents. Why shouldn't the provider want the BPO experience from start to finish to be as easy and quick as possible for the agent? At the BPO Automation Group we are dedicated to a complete win/win relationship between the providers, agents and our technology. Remember that all Auto Accepters are NOT created equally!

Warmly,

Steve Lorimer

Co-Owner | BPO Automation Group

360-223-2482| steve@bpo-automation.com

Are You Confident That You Are Using Our 'AutoFill' Software Correctly & Getting the Most Out of Using It? Ensure That You Are!

Sign up to attend our no-cost, one-hour live webinar based class that is hosted by Nicole Ocean, a certified real estate instructor in Washington state and the founder of the BPO Automation Group and BPO University.

If you are curious about how to maximize your results when using our BPO Automation Suite Pro 'AutoFill' software as well as from our system, then this is the class for you.

Please note: there will be a special opportunity to participate in an interactive 30 minute Q & A session, where you will have a chance to ask your specific questions. Don't delay, sign up right now and then mark your calendar.

Title: "Maximize Your Results with Our AutoFill Software"
Date: Friday, July 27th, 2012
Time: 1 PM - 2 PM PST
Price: FREE

Or click on this link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/132676738

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

The virtual class will be a one-hour webinar based session, where you can going the class remotely from your computer. 

Give a call to our office for questions or for more information. Reach us at: 1-360-223-2482 ext 1.

Thank you,

Nicole Ocean
Founder | BPO Automation Group and BPO University
360-223-2482| nicole@bpo-automation.com

"REO's Have Slowed Down, I Neglected the BPO Side & Now It Feels Like I Am Starting Over!"

I decided to write a blog about this topic after talking with yet another Top Producing REO Listing agent today. In a nutshell, the above quote is what he told me and as such I wanted to share some insight into this phenomenon. I hope there is a gold nugget of wisdom buried within this blog!

I firmly believe that when people stumble upon a good thing, many times they tend to focus on just one specific item, instead of see the big picture. This is when it's common to see the little details that you overlooked come back and 'Bite You!' It's human nature, what can I say, I've been guilty of it too!

Because of the fact that almost everything in life is based on cycles, it's critical to understand how important the BPO and REO industry cycle works. I have seen it unfold firsthand these last 6 years in the business.

In the last 2-3 years specifically the industry has weeded through the masses of people doing BPO and REO work to find some truly exemplery real estate professionals that have worked their way up the ranks to stand tall above the rest. In essence, these folks have paid their dues!

Many BPO and REO professionals decided early which direction they wanted to take their businesses.

Some of the choices people had were to:

• Focus strictly on gaining and servicing REO Listings and neglect going after BPO's
• Try to do both BPO's and REO's
• Only do BPO orders and turn down REO's

The real estate professionals that chose to focus their time and efforts only on the REO side at some point down the road realized that they should have also been doing paid BPO orders while servicing their REO listings. For some, they learned this INVALUABLE lesson too late and had to get out of the business.

You don't have to be in that same boat, it's not too late for many. With REO listings being down through the U.S. nationally, looking to paid BPO's as a profit center is still a viable option and one that many are still thriving in.

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or suggestions also everyone, feel free to share!

Sending my best,

Nicole Ocean
Founder | BPO Automation Group and BPO University
360-223-2482 ext. 5 | nicole@bpo-automation.com

About BPO Automation: With thousands of clients nationwide, we're the #1 provider for BPO form-completion and automated order-acceptance software in the United States. Our focus is on quality solutions that save time, boost revenue, and let you focus on growing your business. Learn More »

Beating Burnout, Pressure & Frustration!

You don't have to tell a single person in this business that it's a very difficult and challenging niche to be in. We all understand this!

My story is similar to many others in that when I got into the BPO business, six years ago in September of 2006, I was 'bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to take on the world' so to speak. For me, it was the absolute perfect time to become a BPO Agent.

In the beginning, I walked around with stars in my eyes and I was filled with excitement about all of the possibilities that being a BPO agent could bring. Looking back now I see how naive I was and how I grossly underestimated what lay ahead for me. I simply didn't make time for or see how critical it was to have a plan in place to help guide me.

And since no one has a crystal ball to look into to help predict what the future holds, I simply went with the flow and didn't put much thought into how my decision to be in this business would impact me.

Although, I couldn't possibly know or predict at the time what experiences I would go through, I did know that I was committed to doing my best. So, I blindly moved forward with optimism, eagerness to achieve and a can-do attitude. Hopefully you see yourself within my words too!

For the next few years I let myself work way too much. I didn't follow a routine or a schedule and quickly rolled my eyes and laughed at those that did. It only took me a few months of working without guidelines, a routine or a set schedule to feel drained and burnt out, but I kept pushing through it. I didn't feel like I had a choice, I guess.

At this time, I also didn't think twice about the need to have balance in my life and subsequently I burned myself out quite badly. In fact, I did so a few times during the next 4-5 years. Fast forward to today and I am in a much better spot! Thankfully!

Here are a few items that helped me:

1. Keeping a schedule and adhering to it

Being self-employed in general is wonderful, but one of the pitfalls to being your own boss is realizing the importance of working certain hours and closing things down when facing the end of our work day, no matter what!

BPO Mills and companies ask so much of their BPO vendors. We are seen as a dime a dozen and disposable, but we aren't!

It's simply not worth killing yourself ever! If a company is strict, demanding or unrealistic about their expectations of you, your workload and the schedule that you are available, then you are doing a disservice to yourself if you don't put up boundaries and expectations of what you are willing and able to do. Plus,  with the low dollar amount that these companies pay to have a BPO order completed (dwindling every year more and more), you truly have to stand up for yourself at all costs or you will start to feel taken advantage of more and more.

2. Starting and leading through your day with a routine.

You will want to create a routine for yourself that is realistic and one that you actually can follow, consistently.  I sat down and wrote out a list of items (both personal and business tasks) that showed themselves to me as  something that I did repetitively. I put reminders on my cell phone and have a white board that I hung up where I can see it.

Here's a short list of common daily routines:

• Personal Care (Don't work in your PJ's or go without a shower)
• Eating & Drinking Fluids
• Checking Email

• Taking Subject Property Photos
• Working on BPO Orders
• Exercise
• Family Time
• Me Time (Don't forget to do something nice for yourself everyday, no matter what!)

You get the picture here, right.....

3. Working Smarter, Not Harder

During the first 6 months of being in the BPO business, I learned a lot of invaluable lessons from myself and from others. One of the most important lessons I learned was to not accept too much work, period. Like many, I didn't enjoy working on the weekend and on holidays. I learned to say no!

I also learned about the value of having systems in place. I was fortunate enough to know that I didn't want to do everything myself in order to grow and be more successful, so I turned to using systems and technology to help me. I also made a decision to work ON my business, instead of IN my business. I enlisted a team, I trained them and then I managed things. This worked great!

4. Put a Dollar Amount Value on Your Time

Within less than a year of being in the BPO business, I learned what dollar amount my time was worth to me. In order for me to feel good about what I was doing, I decided to not work for less than this dollar amount. Which was $50.00 for a company that didn't give me a lot of work and no less than $45.00 for a high volume company. By doing this it helped me not feel taken advantage of by BPO mills because I stayed true to myself and my needs.

5. Make Time For You!

I think of computers as a necessary evil. I love them and hate them, but in the end they make our life better. I can now walk away from the computer, even with work to be done and go spend time on me. I have learned the hard way by not being good at this, that my personal life suffered. Don't make the same mistake. Take care of you! Go on a walk, watch a movie, talk with a friend on the phone, volunteer in your community, get away from work, computers and anything related to the BPO business. Take advantage of being self-employed and enjoy the flexibility it brings, embrase it! I do! :-)

Once you consistently put a few of the above items in place you will see and feel a difference over time. You shouldn't feel burnt out, pressured or frustrated because you have decided to take steps and action to ensure your overall well-being.

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or suggestions also everyone, feel free to share!

Sending my best,

Nicole Ocean
Founder | BPO Automation Group and BPO University
360-223-2482 ext. 5 | nicole@bpo-automation.com

About BPO Automation: With thousands of clients nationwide, we're the #1 provider for BPO form-completion and automated order-acceptance software in the United States. Our focus is on quality solutions that save time, boost revenue, and let you focus on growing your business. Learn More »

Save Even More Time and Money By Using Custom Macros!

We are proud to announce the advent a new department within BPO Automation Group, our Custom Macro Department.

Our custom macro service provides any BPO Automation Group 'AutoFill' customer the opportunity to hire us to create custom macro scripts for any company that is presently offered in our BPO Automation Suite Pro software application.

Price: $100.00/hour (Most 1-2 page forms take one hour to customize. More complex, multiple page forms may require more time to create, test and complete.)

The BPO Automation Group offers an in-house department that specializes in custom macro requests.

Pricing varies from job to job. We will provide each person with a custom quote within 1-2 of initial request.

Factors that effect the cost of a project include:

• Overall size and complexity of the job

• Number of web pages within the form that need to be automated

• Complexity of web page navigation

• Total number of data fields that need to be captured

Examples of simple forms are: Clear Capital, LSI, Old Republic and most CoreLogic forms to name but a few.

Examples of more complex forms are: Altisource, EML, PCV Murcor, PASREO, RRR, VSS to name but a few.

Turnaround time: 2 business days from date of you purchasing a custom macro through our secure shopping cart as well as seeing a request for us to create a custom macro by means of submitting a tech ticket request through our Members site.

Want to learn more about our process, expectations and see why you should customize your most commonly used forms to help save even more time and money?

Then, check out our step-by-step 'Custom Macro Service Overview' sheet by clicking here: http://www.nicoleocean.com/custom_macro_overview.pdf

Warmly,

Nicole Ocean
Founder | BPO Automation Group and BPO University
360-223-2482 ext. 5 | customforms@bpo-automation.com


About BPO Automation: With thousands of clients nationwide, we're the #1 provider for BPO form-completion and automated order-acceptance software in the United States. Our focus is on quality solutions that save time, boost revenue, and let you focus on growing your business. Learn More »