Knowledge Process Outsourcing: the Big Game

KPO has developed two years back to encirclematerial.
several specialist areas that were initially forbidden forBecause of the significant hype, industry will now need
offshoring. Take for instance, it has develop a legalto take significant initiatives to cope up with the
outsourcing firm which employ lawyers; a pharmashortage of quality supply of professionals and have to
R&D outsourcing company which recruits doctors,ensure strong training methodologies for their recruits
PhDs in life sciences and an auto engineeringtoo.
outsourcing firm which requires engineers with CADIssues of upgrading data security and patent
CAM expertise.infringement are need to be addressed more
According to a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)proactively, when you are doing more complex jobs
study, KPO will grow at a compounded annual growthas billing rates also get higher simultaneously. The onus
rate of 46% to be worth $17 billion by 2010, of whichlies on the industry to yield weighs even more heavily
$12 billion will be outsourced to India. NASSCOMas there is positive buildup and expectations from India
projects that the KPO sector in India may reach $15.5in the KPO space.
billion by 2010, up from $1.2 billion currently.Entrance in KPO is not a deal, but to survive and
India, however, remains the proven and favoredemerge as a winner will set apart the stronger players
destination, way ahead of other competitors in mostin the long run. For every single large KPO player, there
areas, especially financial research, legal andare estimated 10 small players offering similar services
healthcare/pharma research.generally at lower billing rates. We are looking forward
The reasons that usually influence buyers' decisionsfor the wave of consolidation in the industry between
regarding choice of destination are:2006 and 2008.
- Availability of qualified manpowerHigh degrees of specialization and innumerable niches
- Political stabilitywill let even relatively small firms to persist profitably
- Infrastructureand create a large pool of acquisition targets. So, even
- IPR/Data security issuesas consolidation picks up the pace, the explosion of
- Communication skillsnew service providers will create further
- Lower wagesfragmentation.
- Proven delivery capabilitiesBottomline: More than consolidation, fragmentation will
If you are curious to gather these benefits ofbecome a stronger wave among the KPOs, leaving
outsourcing but not possessing gusty willingness tothe industry with even more players by 2010. Hence,
take the calculated risk, go for the option of captivethe adequate availability of these small vendors as
route as it will enable you to protect yourself againstacquisition targets will lower the valuations.
possible IPR threats and feared loss of patented