| The experiences of the technology companies | | | | by people.Educating everyone involved and |
| in the last few years who failed to navigate | | | | setting-up formal processes for handling |
| the rapid changes brought about in their | | | | sensitive information are keys to eliminate |
| marketplace by disruptive flattening forces | | | | risks surrounding privacy. Learn to politely |
| may be a warning to all the businesses, | | | | say 'No' few times a day if asked for |
| institutions that are now facing these | | | | information that you are not comfortable |
| inevitable, even predictable, changes but | | | | divulging.Overhead |
| lack the leadership, flexibility, and | | | | |
| imagination to adapt - not because they are | | | | Geographically India is farthest from us, |
| not smart or aware, but because the speed of | | | | twelve time zones away. When we are looking |
| change is simply overwhelming them.The | | | | forward to a good start on any day they are |
| Internet now makes this whole world like one | | | | tired of that day and simply retiring and |
| marketplace. This infrastructure is not only | | | | vice-versa. When you find out something |
| going to facilitate sourcing of work to the | | | | important during middle of the day here, they |
| best price, best quality, from the best | | | | are probably dreaming about your finding (its |
| place, it is also going to enable a great | | | | middle of the night there) or having |
| amount of sharing of practices and knowledge, | | | | nightmares. You may have to wait to share it |
| and it's going to be 'I can learn from you | | | | with the team in India.If they have a |
| and you can learn from me' like never before. | | | | question on your specification, you would |
| It's very good for the world. And India has | | | | prefer they send you an email instead of |
| emerged as back office hub for all kinds of | | | | calling you when you are fast asleep. We all |
| services for the world.Two thirds of Fortune | | | | loose some time and productivity due to this |
| 500 companies have setup offices in India for | | | | overhead.Face-to-face meetings are sometimes |
| this reason. Most think of its 300 | | | | required to build team dynamics, but a |
| million-strong well-educated and | | | | daunting 20-hour flight followed by 5-day |
| ready-to-spend-more middleclass as an | | | | jetlag is definitely overhead. Best is to |
| opportunity of our times. It's a market to | | | | entrust them with responsibility and never |
| capture, and a talent pool to tap into. Big | | | | micromanage.Honesty |
| multinationals are moving forward in that | | | | |
| direction and it gives them a competitive | | | | When you say a simple word 'couple' you mean |
| edge. A competitive edge you wish you | | | | exactly two, in India it's open to |
| had.Well, it's finally time to compete with | | | | interpretations. When someone says a couple |
| the global leaders. Time has come for every | | | | of our engineers are working on your problem |
| business to benefit from a new trend in | | | | it means some, it could be 2 or 3 or more. |
| global economy. Partnering with India. The | | | | When you hire someone on hourly basis, it is |
| global economy is going to drive more | | | | hard to validate the number of hours or |
| integration (of India into it) and | | | | number of consultants they bill you for. A |
| integration is going to drive the global | | | | company can claim that researchers on their |
| economy.PROFITS: | | | | team have PhD degrees, you will never know |
| | | | where from and how many really know about |
| Let's begin with why it makes sense to work | | | | their company's claim. Some small businesses |
| with India:Quality | | | | in India will have their employees fabricate |
| | | | qualifications, numbers or experience when |
| It used to be that work would go wherever | | | | asked by client. An art mastered by Enron.It |
| cheapest labor is available. That is not the | | | | is highly recommended to select a proven |
| case with India. Sure, it's cheaper than here | | | | partner and check references from past |
| but not the cheapest. More and more work is | | | | clients. Getting agreements reviewed by a |
| going to India because it provides good | | | | local attorney, and alerting concerned |
| quality services at competitive rates. Thanks | | | | parties on non-compliance as soon as they |
| to the dot-com-bust, more and more companies | | | | occur reduce risk of failure.Quality |
| in India are learning that quality brings | | | | |
| return business. And there are plenty of | | | | If the company you are working with oversold |
| clients who would outsource every aspect of | | | | you on the benefits or is unable to retain |
| their business that can be done remotely. | | | | the key employees and cannot deliver, what |
| Vast English speaking population sees | | | | you get is low quality work and a place back |
| outsourced jobs as gateway to better life. | | | | to square one. Poor quality of products and |
| They come to work every day (and night to | | | | services delivered is cited the main reasons |
| synchronize with us here) with such | | | | why clients in the USA change the vendor or |
| enthusiasm not seen for that type of work and | | | | supplier in India often.Just to avoid the |
| reward anywhere else.The drive for quality | | | | last minute surprises, you should start |
| also brings Indians to US companies for | | | | small. First get a small feature done in a |
| products and services for their needs. If | | | | few weeks and verify the quality of work done |
| Dell, GM, Microsoft, and Citibank have | | | | before outsourcing everything.Accountability |
| benefited over past several years, I bet you | | | | |
| will find clients keenly interested in your | | | | If responsibility can be dodged, it will be. |
| expertise now.Quick Proof of Concept | | | | Well, in most cases. When arriving on time |
| | | | for a meeting is not considered very |
| So, you are excited to be working on | | | | important, deadlines will come and go. Most |
| innovative new technology but have a | | | | Indian consulting company's executives have |
| shoestring budget to create a prototype. | | | | had experience working in the USA, but |
| Welcome to outsourcing to India. Getting | | | | working bee does not. Dog ate my homework |
| prototype done in India gives you a chance to | | | | still rules for young fresher out of |
| evaluate the Indian partner without loosing | | | | college.You can specify the release date or |
| your shirt. If you get next round of funding, | | | | you can specify what features are to be in a |
| you already know whether to continue working | | | | release. It is hard to do both and get a |
| with same company or look for a better | | | | reliable commitment. Release dates are most |
| partner.Routine & Maintenance Work | | | | reliable if people who will work on them also |
| | | | estimate them.CONCLUSION: |
| To maintain legacy applications you have | | | | |
| tried hiring consultants here and the one who | | | | India is a threat, India is a customer, and |
| lasted longest was with you for 6 months. | | | | India is an opportunity. You have to |
| It's not worth the effort anymore. Most | | | | internalize India to succeed. You cannot |
| Indian companies would compete for your | | | | ignore it. Instead of competing with India |
| routine maintenance work for long-term and do | | | | as an enemy you break down your business and |
| it more efficiently and effectively for far | | | | think about which part of the business you |
| less money. And remember since it uplifts | | | | would like to do in India, which part you |
| their standards of living, they do it | | | | would like to sell to India, and which part |
| passionately.Productivity | | | | you would like to buy from India.Sending |
| | | | software, accounting, billing and any such |
| If you find the right company to outsource | | | | work AND selling US products and services to |
| your work to, you can focus your own | | | | India, is now possible for all of us. Whether |
| resources on doing more of what you do better | | | | you should do it, depends on your objective, |
| and stay lean. Your Indian partner can | | | | growth, and need. Distance, communications, |
| surprise you by doing more than just what you | | | | lack of information, and quality etc. should |
| originally thought was possible to do | | | | not be roadblocks anymore. You should choose |
| remotely. Most of the time outsourcing | | | | your Indian partner diligently and audit them |
| increases your own productivity, increases | | | | regularly.About 60 percent of IT projects |
| sales, and increases customer satisfaction | | | | outsourced to offshore companies fail to meet |
| and loyalty. It builds value.The other side | | | | the deadline and budget in comparison to |
| of productivity coin is ramping up demand for | | | | moderate 23 percent of projects outsourced to |
| leadership skills building, mentoring, and | | | | local US companies.Following are some |
| management consulting within Indian | | | | pointers to improve your chances of success |
| companies. Concepts nurtured and mastered by | | | | in working with India:· Discover the best |
| the US companies command high price from | | | | way to specify your services, software or |
| their counterparts.Quick ROI & Cost Savings | | | | business process |
| | | | |
| If it weren't for saving big money for | | | | · Keep in touch with your outsourcing |
| investors and stakeholders, businesses would | | | | team without micromanaging |
| still be dealing with labor associations on | | | | |
| pay hikes for things that can be done at a | | | | · Communicate directly with development |
| fraction of the cost outside. The cost | | | | team by email, instant messaging, and |
| benefits of sending work to India can range | | | | telephone. |
| from 20% to astonishing 70% sometimes. In all | | | | |
| cases it's the quickest route to ROI and that | | | | · Treat the outsourced Indian team as |
| should convince your CFO to start asking why | | | | part of your own team |
| aren't we doing it.PITFALLS: | | | | |
| | | | · Require local leadership and entrust |
| Are you thinking everyone else is doing it | | | | them with authority and responsibilityIf you |
| and I should too? Sure. Like each new wave, | | | | cannot do it yourself, use services of |
| just take some time to see if it's really for | | | | Pacview, Inc. with expertise and presence in |
| you. Study all your options, do market | | | | both US and India to:· Find the right |
| research for services you plan to offer. | | | | outsourcing team that best fits your |
| Evaluate your Indian partner, and measure | | | | situation, |
| performance if you plan to avail their | | | | |
| services. Here's is list of things that can; | | | | · Choose from more than a dozen proven |
| and do; go wrong:Privacy | | | | expert teams in India categorized by skills, |
| | | | |
| There is very little privacy in life of an | | | | · Cut your team search time by 90% - from |
| average Indian. It is very common for people | | | | months to just days, |
| to ask each other salary they make and | | | | |
| everything else that is not asked out of | | | | · Cut your software development or BPO |
| courtesy in the USA. If people do not worry | | | | costs by up to 70%, |
| too much giving such personal information, | | | | |
| Corporations can hardly ensure privacy of | | | | · Increase your customer base by 100% - |
| your consumer data because companies are run | | | | from Bay Area to Bangalore. |