AI tools are pushing Bangladesh’s BPO and IT-enabled services into faster growth, with outsourcing earnings reaching nearly $900 million in the first half of 2025 and the sector now likely to pass $1 billion this year. AI is helping small teams work faster and produce better results, cutting hours from tasks like medical transcription, video editing and 3D design. One imaging company says 30 to 40 percent of its work is now AI-powered and that projects which once took six hours finish in about one. Another outsourcing firm has built its own AI tools and recently hired dozens of data analysts to meet rising orders. Freelancers are changing too. People who once did simple data entry now use AI to check facts, find trends and make reports that earn more. Designers and writers use generative tools to make quick drafts and then add human polish. This change lets freelancers offer services such as motion graphics, 3D modelling and specialised content work instead of routine tasks. The industry is growing fast. About 450 BPO companies operate in Bangladesh, and some 90,000 people work in these firms while around 650,000 more take freelance jobs online. New companies are joining every month, and leaders say AI is helping close skill gaps so local teams can bid for more complex projects. One industry voice says roughly 75 percent of routine coding work is now handled by AI, with humans focusing on the parts that need judgement. But the shift has clear challenges. Freelancers often struggle to afford advanced AI tools, which can range in price from $20 to $100 each month. need to be monitored closely, and maintenance should be scheduled before any breakdowns happen. Many rely on free or trial versions that limit features and raise security risks. Some clients expect instant, cheap results and forget humans must check and refine AI outputs. And a large share of the workforce still needs training in cloud-based workflows and prompt design to use tools well. To make the most of this moment, the sector needs practical support: wider, low-cost training in AI and English, easier access to professional tools, stronger links between companies and colleges, and more local software tailored to small teams. Earnings in the first half of 2025 already topped the full-year total of about $850 million in 2024, showing how quickly the market is expanding, and if government and industry help with affordable tool access, small grants for training, and shared labs for testing and data work, more firms and freelancers can scale and win longer contracts from overseas buyers.
