Latest trends in Outsourcing

Change as the everlasting constant stands true even in the outsourcing industry that is getting to

witness quite a large number of new arrivals. Technical experts had cited the hope of a rebound

for IT outsourcing market in 2010 backed up by the steady growth rates across the world.

Rebidding and renegotiation were to be the buzzwords this year. After all, it is always wiser to

move with a trusted accomplice during testing times than gamble with an unknown alliance.

And the idea that the world is definitely flat, speaking from a business angle, not

topographically, outsourcing becomes a lucrative option. There is no second opinion on the

ideology of getting the best done at the optimal rate from the best people.

A very innovative and interesting trend is e-governance in outsourcing. This simply means

carrying the government services to the masses through the electronic media. Red-tapism,

unnecessary delays and negligible productivity are some of the characteristics of government

agencies. With a private partnership outsourced to the best available talent, these problems are

taken care of while ensuring a superlative result. How is this done? The answer is very simple.

It is this habit of double-checking and creating backups for everything that has helped many of

the government agencies survive the economic meltdown, India to cite an example. Outsourcing

the routine operations to a private partner while the government officials concentrate on their

core competencies is what e-governance is all about. Through this method, efficiency is retained

and productivity improves since private parties work with a goal in mind and a target to

complete. Job insecurity and fierce competition are encouraged in these sectors so that all people

are constantly on their toes. The output would hence be excellent and up to the mark.

Digitization of government services would make them penny wise and pound wiser. This is

because you ensure optimal use of time and cost effectiveness as well as get the desired results.

Another important offering in outsourcing today is outsourcing of retail services. With Wal-

Mart and Carrefour striving to make their presence felt in all major countries of the world,

customers are raising their hopes of getting the best of all international brands offered to them

without moving an inch. Gone are the days when you could boast of getting ‘ethnic’ stuff from

the East or the delicate chinaware from the Orient or the latest accessories from the fashion

capital of the World. With the geographical borders getting almost transparent, all companies

need trustworthy supply chain and marketing partners overseas who would handle the

transportation and distribution, and at times even manufacturing of their ware at subsidized cost.

This is why earlier we had an imported Mercedes but today we have the same envy-object

manufactured in India commanding the same honor and pride of ownership.

When all are busy outsourcing their routine operations, there is also an avenue existing wherein

one can outsource the function of research and development to the ones who are adept in it.

Countries like Russia and India have a history of being the pioneers in the fields of scientific,

educational and nuclear research. The brains here have been eyed upon by many of the

multinational companies. The option of collaborative research outsourcing stems from this very

fact that the residents of such nations have the resources at their command and have proved their

effectiveness in the field of research and development. Many renowned companies such as

Microsoft, Intel, Boeing and others are users of collaborative research outsourcing.

These were some of the impressive developments in outsourcing. There are and will be many

more to come as well.