Buzz Blog’s Outsourcing Pulse List – May 19, 2010

Welcome to the first edition of my Outsourcing Pulse List. What is it? A periodic list of observations about what outsourcing industry companies and individuals do or say. The Pulse List will feature those that miss a beat, some that never miss a beat, those with new beats that radiate with wide ramifications, and sudden fluctuations. Curious, out-of-whack ideas, items of concern, and also insightful statements – that’s some of what you’ll find in the Pulse List. You may even find yourself or your company on the list.

Since this is the list’s debut, we’ll start with two lists –… Read the rest

Wipro’s Azim Premji Maps Out the Course

Surfing the net a couple of days ago to stay on top of industry news as it happens, four articles caught my eye and took me off auto-pilot long enough to read every word.

The article in Gulf Times, a Qatar newspaper, began with this statement made by Azim Premji, the renowned Indian entrepreneur and chairman of Wipro:

“India is far from where it needs to be …. Country after country is stepping ahead.”

It seems to me that for a long time the media has treated the words “India” and “outsourcing” almost as though they were synonymous. That… Read the rest

So You Want to do Some Outsourcing

Everyone’s doing it. Touting the numbers. Researchers get paid to find the percentages and totals, and writers and analysts get paid to put a spin on them.  But I think that research studies and advice about the outsourcing market often miss the boat.  

For evidence, look no further than a report yesterday (written by CRM Management editors) about the findings in Op2i’s recent Outsourcing 2010 survey.  Here’s their anemic conclusion from their data: 

While interest in outsourcing has increased, focus has yet again shifted to cost reduction, with suppliers pressured to deliver more for less – the U turn

Read the rest

Outsourcing Growth Around the World

Infosys is looking to acquire companies in the UK, France and Germany.

A new study reveals that 500,000 public sector jobs will likely be outsourced by 2015 in the UK in its efforts to combat inefficiencies and reduce government spending.

Convergys, Stream Global Services, Sutherland Global Services and Sykes Asia are assembling Spanish-speaking talent pools in the Philippines.

China’s hiSoft Technology International has taken over U.S. cloud computing provider Echo Lane, a top solution provider for Salesforce.com.

Irish BPO provider Abtran is adding 200 new jobs in its research and development area serving sales, customer service,… Read the rest

Perspectives on Midmarket Outsourcing of IT Infrastructure – Q&A with Brazil’s CPM Braxis

Size makes a difference. Midsized businesses have different concerns surrounding IT infrastructure management than large enterprises. Among other IT solutions, CPM Braxis, a leading IT service provider in Brazil, provides infrastructure services for enterprise and midsized companies.  I interviewed the firm’s Global Clients Director, Andre Maximiano, about issues in midmarket outsourcing.  

What are some infrastructure management issues that midsized companies face?  

AM: Due to budget restrictions and growth pains, midsized companies often have to improve performance of one department at the expense of the overall business. They also are often forced to take actions that don’t optimize performance because… Read the rest

The Significance of Sierra Atlantic’s Acquisition of Baytree Associates

On April 6, Sierra Atlantic Inc., an IT services provider recognized for outsourcing Oracle and product engineering solutions, announced that it has acquired Baytree Associates, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based consulting firm and Oracle solutions provider. The deal helps Sierra Atlantic, a Platinum Partner in the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), further consolidate its already strong position as one of the top Oracle solutions and managed service providers.

But let’s look at the bigger picture. Sierra Atlantic’s strategy is a great example of how the service provider landscape is quickly changing – and why.

I talked with GK Murthy, Sierra Atlantic’s Executive Vice President. The… Read the rest

Do You Really Trust Your Outsourcing Partner?

Trust is something that really trips people up in outsourcing relationships. In my talks with hundreds of executives involved in outsourcing over the last decade, I’m intrigued by the fact that when I ask executives about the trust level in their relationship, some can’t determine if trust is there, some say they thought trust was there but then something happened that indicated otherwise, and most who say trust is key to their success can’t describe how to build or sustain it.

Outsourcing has an inherent challenge that makes trust become crucial to achieving successful outcomes. We’ve developed all sorts of… Read the rest

Getting Rid of Offshoring

I know what you’re thinking: That the title of today’s blog post must be a trick since Outsourcing Buzz Blog is presumably a strong advocate for all things outsourcing. You’d be only partly correct. If I could change things, I’d get rid of the term “offshoring.” The term is a lightning rod for do-or-die turf and political struggles, and it no longer embodies what it really is – if it ever did.

Years ago, when companies first began sending their outsourced IT and business processes to India, outsourcing made such big splashes with the stories of cost-savings possible through labor… Read the rest

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