Outsourced Development Growing: Should You Worry?
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In times of economic uncertainty (as in, right now), adding headcount is like a game of freeze tag.
The bean counters run around the office with spreadsheet formulas chasing the business, figuring out what's worth getting pushed in the ice tray and what stays a funding priority. IT, no matter the size of the organization, always feels like it's getting the 32-degrees-Fahrenheit treatment. And yet, there is some critical work on IT projects that must get done. How does some of that key work get accomplished? Some might stay with team members and in-house experts in specific, custom and well-invested technologies that can't be seen outside the firewalls or aren't worth the risk. But increasingly, farming out work to outsourcing providers continues. The money arguments are well-established.
A recent study from Computer Economics from earlier this month highlights that very point. A few things are certain: Some application development is being farmed out; When budgets were done for 2008, your CIO and CFO were feeling cautious about the economy; And, new hiring is fairly flat. Computer Economics' annual "IT Spending, Staffing & Technology Trends" study has been going on for 19 years and surveys 200 IT executives in 11 sectors of U.S. and Canadian business in thirds of small, mid and large companies (sampling size is about 11 to 18 companies in a sector, and the financial range of small to large starts at $50 million to more than a $1 billion). This outsourcing piece is a lower priority for companies, according to John Longwell, director of Research of CE, but does show a continued reliance on the practice with some "incremental increase for those companies that already outsource." The study, which is sold to CIOs, IT, finance and large IT consultancies in the neighborhood of $9K a pop to subscribers (as told from Longwell), provides potentially valuable benchmarking on the IT business as a whole. The full report (at a hefty 25 chapters) is used to compare the IT operation to others in same industry. Makes sense. CIOs tend to look for healthy ratios of 70 percent operational management, 30 percent new development, according to Longwell. One of the reasons that Longwell may be de-emphasizing the outsourcing finding is that some of the other key findings show IT operational growth based on budgets slowing down to 2006 levels (4 percent). Additionally, the top priorities for 2008 have shifted. In 2007, the top spending priority was on new development. This year, it's not in the top five. All the risk management categories are dominating. From the study: "Every one of the 11 categories of IT outsourcing tracked in our study this year shows an increasing amount of outsourcing taking place... 15 percent of organizations that are outsourcing application development plan to increase the amount of work given to outside service providers." What isn't clear is where they are outsourcing this development work, and whether that work is going to places where the labor for coding is much cheaper. What's your company outsourcing? Is it dev? I was curious, so I went back to Longwell for some clarification. He did give me something not in the major findings: Of those companies that are outsourcing, only 7 percent of the median are offshoring. It's not huge, though, remember that many companies on our North American mainland are offshoring basic coding for things such as databases and ERP systems. It's also not clear how critical the development that is being outsourced is to the business, but one can assume that if it's getting funded, the CIO, with blessing from the CFO, has approved it. The incremental growth in outsourcing seems to say to me that trust in service providers could be on the uptake. But without seeing the specific survey questions asked, vendors used, specific type of work being done, etc., it's pretty hard to know for certain. Computer Economics did not give up the entire report, which is too bad, but they need to make a living like every other research company. They live in a competitive space in challenging economic times, just like the rest of us. The data center, help desk and desktop support numbers are not surprising given the commodity nature of those functions. Is application development as a commodity growing? This outsourced piece could very well be the kind of development that has become that very thing. Is it the kind of development you worry you'll be replaced with down the road? You know what sectors are growing their IT spend above 4 percent in 2008? It's not health care, manufacturing, retail or banking and finance. Oh no. Energy and utilities, high-tech, professional services, wholesale distribution and insurance. Huh. No wonder I keep seeing those TV commercials from T. Boone Pickens. |
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Comments (1)
we are dealing in Infrastucture outsourcing from pakistan.
COMPANY PROFILE
Suite # 101-105, 1st. Floor, Mashriq Centre,
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi - 75300.
Tel : (92-21) 4142113
Fax : (92-21) 4142112
Cell: +92-300-2072270
Web address
http://www.ndcbpo.com
E-mail: aamir.durrani@ndcbpo.com
INTRODUCTION
Our company NDC - BPO ( Network Data & Call - Business Process Outsourcing) established in 2005, is primarily a 300 seat Call Centre, providing turn key Call Centre Seats outsourcing services to Domestic as well as International Clients. We are one of the biggest Call Centre in the country with the state of the art equipment and technology boasting Direct Fibre Optic link up for Primary as well as Backup Bandwidth. We are one of the leading companies in Pakistan offering manifold services and multi-faceted operations providing Document Management Solutions & Services to businesses which ensure better productivity and increased performance for all our clients. NDC-BPO has established a reputation as a firm which carries the Document Management Services responsibilities of our clients which, in turn, enables them to offer superior customer service.
We are a high quality provider of business outsourcing solutions . Our high quality services include 24 X 7 Technical Support, Debt Collection, Telemarketing Call Centre, Financial Accounts Outsourcing ( Book- Keeping), Taxation and Payroll, Medical Coding & Billing, Architectural Auto Cad, Web development and Virtual Reality projects. We have also developed the first e-Hospital Management Solution in the Country in 2003 and through a combination of experienced staff, sub-contracting expertise, quality, processes and proven technology we help you achieve faster, sustainable and cost effective results.
OUR AIM & OBJECTIVES
� To provide World Class Financial Accounts Outsourcing, Inbound, Outbound and Collections Call Centre, Architectural CAD and other BPO Services, to all businesses, industries, using our state of the art Call Centre.
� To give prompt and reliable services and support up to the entire satisfaction of the customer.
� To assist companies in Outbound Campaigns by offering them Fully Managed Call Centre Services.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WE OFFER
1) Ergonomically Designed Call Centre Currently Serving:
a) Inbound
b) Outbound
c) Receivables Management Call Centre
2) Call Centre Agent Training and CSR Training
a) For Domestic and International Call Centre
3) Financial Accounts Outsourcing
a) Bookkeeping and accounting
b) Taxation
c) Payroll processing
4) CAD Architectural Services
a) CAD conversion
b) Architectural 3D Rendering
5) Fully Managed Call Centre Facility Outsourcing
6) Visual Art
a) Development of Concept
b) Printing
i) Water Color
ii) Oil Color
iii) Character Creation
Programming
a) Game Development
i) PC Game
ii) Mobile Game
b) Virtual Reality
c) Simulators Aircrafts
i) Aircrafts
ii) Car
iii) Army Tactical
3D Modeling and Animation
a) Architectural Visualization
b) Character Animation
c) Product Animation
Services
a) Graphics Designing
i) Marketing strategy
ii) Concept development
iii) Art direction
iv) Design and layout
v) Production
b) Web Designing
c) Web Development
d) E-Commerce
e) Flash Designing
f) Logo Designing
OUR CALL CENTRE SERVICES
Virtually every business is dependent on the telephone, but most do not consider the detrimental effects of not having a professional timely response to their callers. Your calls will be routed to our own team of trained professionals who will then answer calls in your company�s name and according to your specific instructions. Whether you are looking for an inexpensive alternative to hiring your own receptionist or requiring response lines for a major campaign of any sort, we have the workable solutions for you.
With the assistance of our advanced call handling software, we can quickly and easily take orders on our own system.
The content management needs of today's businesses can be extremely complex. While the traditional functions of a content management system, such as versioning and tracking, are still applicable, the advent of the Internet has added new challenges and opportunities.
Whether your goal is managing multiple types of diverse digital content or simply outsourcing all your Content Management requirements, or anything in between, NDC-BPO has the experience to help you sort through the technical and business issues and can be an extended unit to take care of all your content Management needs.
Outbound Tele Services
NDC-BPO manages a broad range of outbound services for clients across various industry segments. We have the expertise to set up and manage large outbound contact centre operations.
We have built a solid foundation to manage all kinds of campaigns for our clients.
Our agents are proficient in handling the entire gamut of calls, from simple welcoming calls, to calls pertaining to surveys, verifications, lead generation, collections and many other areas.
Outbound Services Include
Sales
� Telemarketing services
� Lead generation / qualification
� Promoting new services or products
Inbound Tele Services
NDC-BPO provides off shore contact centre solutions to clients across the globe. We utilize and deploy the most sophisticated call processing and telecom systems in the world. Our call routing feature allows the system to instantaneously scan available agents and route calls to the most appropriately skilled agents.
Our operating centre receives customer calls over dedicated international privately leased circuits. We can handle calls relating to various products across numerous industries.
CALL CENTRE AGENT TRAINING
A comprehensive program of courses and workshops for Call Centre and Customer Service Agents or any individual seeking skill building for more effective customer relations. Successful completion of this program will help you build or master critical competencies, and will provide you the recognition for your professional development. In this program students will also learn a variety of office tasks such as Introduction to PC, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and Project. Students will also be tested for customer service knowledge and proficiency skills required in the call centre environment.
This program prepares individuals in the demanding field of Customer Service and Call Centre Agents. This training comprises of full customer service and call centre skills reinforced by a simulated call centre environment which NDC�BPO provides to its students.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS OUTSOURCING
NDC-BPO is a business process outsourcing services provider in the areas of bookkeeping and accounting, taxation and payroll, we have an excellent team of Chartered Accountants, 1st class graduates and post graduates who have domain expertise in US GAAP and US business practices. All bookkeepers are Quickbooks certified.
CAD ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
Architectural CAD drafting services like CAD conversion are the most commonly outsourced functions. However, there is a growing demand for more complex tasks like architectural rendering, architectural illustrations, walkthroughs, and computerized 3D modeling views and other architectural drawings and sketches.
Architectural 3D Rendering
Architectural 3D Rendering in particular, can be outsourced easily, with varying degrees of complexity. Indian animation companies have the expertise and the qualifications to develop complex architectural views, (manual rendering, 2D and 3D views) with the highest aesthetic sensibility and impeccable attention to detail.
What can we offer you?
We offer services in different kinds of architectural renderings or views-
Basic architectural views - These views can provide a basic view of a plot or a building, complete with shadow and lighting effects if required.
Conceptual views - We can perform 3D renderings and conceptual views of your idea. The conceptual views we develop will have lighting and shadow effects as per your specifications. A 3D conceptual view will give form to your idea and will make it possible for you to visualize your concept from every angle.
Exterior views - We also have experience in developing architectural exterior views of prospective buildings. With this, you can get an idea of how your building will look from the outside. We pay the closest attention to details per your specifications.
Photorealistic views - We can develop photorealistic views and create an exact rendering of how your building will look. Photorealistic views require intricate detailing, right down to carpet designs and wall color. We have executed both internal and external photo realistic views in the past, be it hotel lobbies complete with chandeliers or the exterior view of your building.
Compositing - With photographs of your site, we can create composites of your future building in its exact location, right down to the street corner. With this, you can visualize exactly how your building will look in its future location.
Who can use architectural views?
Architects who need to give their prospective investors an idea of the look of their buildings.
Real estate companies who want to show prospective buyers a view of their building on the plot once it has been built.
Architects, who want to present photorealistic views of building interiors, complete with furnishing and interior decoration.
Builders who want to advertise views of proposed buildings through hoardings or brochures.
Introduction of Tabeeb� Hospital Management Information System
In these times of Information Age, The health care industry is increasingly becoming a knowledge-based community that is connected to hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and customers for sharing knowledge, reducing administrative costs and improving the quality of care. Thus, the success of health care depends critically on the seamless exchange of information and utilization of that knowledge. The answer: Knowledge Management - Enabled Healthcare Management System
NDC-BPO has developed a knowledge management-enabled health care management system �Tabeeb�� that would help integrate clinical, administrative, and financial processes in health care through a common technical architecture; and provides a decision support infrastructure for clinical and administrative decision-making. Tabeeb� offers to provide the Management and team members with access to information and the tools to act on that information whenever and wherever they need to.
Tabeeb� is a user-friendly, Enterprise Level, Knowledge Management - Enabled Hospital Management Information System that automates the entire spectrum of General Hospital activities such as the Patient Registration, History, Physical Examination, Progress Notes, Prescriptions, Lab Tests and Results, Online viewing of X-Rays, CAT SCANS, MRIs and Ultrasounds, Gynecology Ward Management, Inventory, Human Resource, Payroll and General ledger. It enables fast, accurate and automated collection of patient data and subsequent report generation. Tabeeb� also boasts a state of the art Document Management System where the previous documents, reports, advice of the doctors can be digitally scanned, indexed and archived.
Some of the benefits Hospitals can derive using Tabeeb� Knowledge Management - Enabled Hospital Management Information System are :
� Improved Decision-Making through enhanced Flow of knowledge
� Improve the Service and Support of Patients
� Improved Productivity and Efficiency
� Lower Operating Costs by substituting information and knowledge stores for inventory
� Avoid Waste and Duplication by encouraging Knowledge Reuse
� Create a more knowledge aware, knowledge friendly culture, and Community of Practice(s) better suited to the emerging knowledge-base
� Speed Innovation ; Unleash new Ideas and Creativity
� Help create a more Adaptive, responsive, dynamic, flexible, organization
� Facilitate the evolution of a more Intelligent Enterprise and produce smart engaging working environment
� Better prepare for and anticipate The Future
� Improve and accelerate Learning
� Enhance Team Collaboration & Coordination
� Maximize the organization's use of available collective wisdom, experience, and the Brain-Power of human capital assets
� Shift employees from balance-sheet expense items to Knowledge Investors in the enterprise
� Improve the ability of the organization to Manage Change
� Improve Processes Know-How into a valuable Corporate asset - Knowledge Conversion
� it can be a tremendous Enabler allowing the organization and knowledge workers to share ideas and collaborate in ways that would not have been possible previously.
� Bring a new level of sophistication to managing the Organization that Patients value
� In general, be better able to Create, Capture, Share, Protect, Disseminate, Package and Exploit knowledge, intellectual capital, and intangibles
A few highlights of the solution are:
Tabeeb� HMIS Modules and some brief details are given below.
EMR
Comprehensive Electronic Medical Records for small and large multi-specialty provider networks. Manage the patient flow from check-in to check-out. Review the complete Patient History, from past visits, to current medications, to allergies, labs and charts all by one click of the mouse. Access your patient records immediately.
Communicate electronically with the referring physicians and securely send consult notes and clinical data to referring physicians. This facilitates complete information of all the In / Out Patients assigned to doctors, with Disease Information, facility for writing Prescription, Status Information, Test Undergone & Operation Undergone. Gives access to patient case history, admitting into hospital, sending for lab test, viewing lab reports and option for discharge Summary etc. Assignment for nurse like Medication dose / unit, quantity / timing of medications can be monitored.
Tabeeb� EMR provides flexible and powerful data entry tools to allow the nurse and the physician to enter patient information using predefined phrases. The system learns the physician's vocabulary and develops a high quality clinical content data bank.
Our Valued Clients
Financial Institutions in Pakistan Corporate
Nestle Pakistan
Financial BPO - USA
FEATURES OF OUR FULLY MANAGED CALL CENTRE HOTEL
� Our Call Centre, a 10,000 Sq. Ft. facility is situated at Mashriq Centre which is an ideal place to get ample HR.
� DXX Connectivity: We are a legal Call Centre, having direct DXX Fibre Optic Facility from PTCL on 1 MB CIR upgradeable, 2 MB CIR from TWA1 another Bandwidth provider and 512KB from Cyber Net to meet the requirement of daily basis, and its upgradeable up to whatever required.
� VOIP System: we have our own VOIP Servers for every floor which can easily cater the requirements of individual floor.
� Air-Conditioned Environment: Air-conditioned floor provides a relaxing and pleasant environment to work in and is conducive in getting better results.
� UPS: Every Computer is powered through UPS. Incase of power failure, the calls don�t get dropped and hence you don�t loose business.
� Generator: We have a 106 KVA Perkins Generator which can take full load of the facility and incase of power failure it kicks in within 1 minute.
� Room for Expansion: Is your contact center growing or you need an alternate site for Disaster recovery? NDC-BPO provides for expanded channel capacity and powerful networked facility that can handle the demanding needs of any growing inbound and outbound business.
� Computer telephony integration (CTI) : It is a technology that allows interactions on a telephone and a computer to be integrated.
� Call Logs : Call Logs through CTI are available
� In-house Hardware & Tech. support: Hardware and Tech Support persons are available round the clock to take care of any problem that may arise.
� Round the Clock Cafeteria: A cafeteria is available 24 X 7 to provide refreshments to keep the staff going.
BRIEF VIEW OF OUR FACILITY
Main Entrance
Conference Room
Calling Facility
Agents Cubicle
Facility at a Glance
Back offices
Posted by Aamir Durrani | October 15, 2008 7:09 AM