This is the time of the year when I am asked by analysts, magazines and clients to predict trends for the upcoming year.
Each year, as I reflect on this in December, I always think about what we experienced in the current year and what clients told us about their plans for the next year. The reality is that what they said to us in Q1 and Q2 often changes. This is when reality meets well laid plans. I have found though that what we hear in Q4 and Q3 is a good indicator of what the clients plans are for the upcoming year. But then, we don’t have an impending “fiscal cliff” every year!
My firm and I are not industry analysts. We are a team of advisors and operations executives focused on buyers of outsourcing and shared services. I think the state of the industry can be best read through the tea leaves of the buy-side. So, here are my top thoughts (probably not a statistically significant sample) from discussions in 2012 with over 100 C-level buy-side executives ………
Peek 1:Spend for IT will rise. There is a need to invest in revenue generation and so need to provide better data and mobile solutions will lead to investments in increased applications outsourcing. But is the decision-maker here the CMO or the CIO?
Yes, from 11% to only 3.5%. A commendable move by Minister Diego Molano Vega and the Colombian government. A move in the right direction to improve the software industry and IT market.
KUDOS!!! Great achievement and of course, solid effort!
Recognized for their Good Work: ProNicaragua
April 23, 2012
(posted April 23, 1:00 p.m.)- After helping deliver monstrous 91% growth in foreign-direct investment in 2011, Nicaragua’s investment-promotion agency ProNicaragua was rewarded for its hard work by being named the top investment-promotion agency in the world, according to Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking (GIPB), a comparative study put out by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
Of 189 investment-promotion agencies evaluated on a global level, ProNicaragua was the only one in the world to receive “Best Practice” ratings in all three categories: “Overall Performance;” “Inquiry Handling Performance” and “Website Performance.”
Gen. Alvaro Baltodano
The GIPB study evaluates each agencies’ activities to promote investment, facilitate investment and provide detailed, precise, and necessary information to investors to establish a business in that country.
“ProNicaragua is an example for all investment-promotion agencies in the world in terms of best practices in facilitating investment,” said Joe Phillips, the head consultant for the group that conducted the global study.
Gen. Alvaro Baltodano, presidential delegate for foreign investment, said the honorific is, “An achievement for the people of Nicaragua, because it demonstrates that there is a national consensus about the importance of investment for the country, which generates employment for Nicaraguans and energizes the national economy.”
In 2009, ProNicaragua’s second-best year in the GIPB ranking, the Nicaraguan investment-promotion agency finished second in Latin America and 11thoverall worldwide. This year’s results were announced last Friday in Doha, Qatar, and today in Managua.
Read the Nicaragua Dispatch’s recent two-part series on ProNicaragua’s performance last yearhere and here.
At: Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, New York City
Cosmopolitan 1 & 2 (4th Floor), Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, Two Times Square, 714 Seventh Avenue at W. 48th Street, New York, New York 10036
10AM-12PM: Main Event
12PM-1PM: Luncheon & Networking
Mauritius’ BPO sector generated US$200million in revenues in 2009 and will raise about US$760million in revenues by 2017 – Frost and Sullivan. Learn why Mauritius is the Gateway to Africa and is a top destination for ITO, BPO, KPO service delivery especially if you are considering a blend of both English and French activities. Interact with the Mauritian delegation and organizations such as Infosys, HP, Ceridian, Accenture, Intelenet, DHL, Deutsche Bank, Huawei, Orange Business Services, Microsoft, Oracle etc, who have successful operations in Mauritius. Learn how you can leverage this hot outsourcing destination for your business’s success. Network, explore, enjoy – An event not to be missed.
Seating is limited to the first 25 registrants. Reserve your seat today. Reply or email sudeep@neogroup.com with Name, Title, Company name and email address immediately!
Presented in association with:
Board of Investment, InvestMAURITIUS
Neo Group
Feel free to forward this to other interested colleagues/professionals.
On: Thursday, April 5th
At: NYC Location to be announced shortly
10AM-12PM: Main Event
12PM-1PM: Open Luncheon & Business Networking
Mauritius’ BPO sector generated US$200million in revenues in 2009 and will raise about US$760million in revenues by 2017 – Frost and Sullivan
Learn why Mauritius is the Gateway to Africa and is a top destination for ITO, BPO, KPO service delivery especially if you are considering a blend of both English and French activities. Interact with the Mauritian delegation and organizations such as Infosys, HP, Ceridian, Accenture, Intelenet, DHL, Deutsche Bank, Huawei, Orange Business Services, Microsoft, Oracle etc, who have successful operations in Mauritius. Learn how you can leverage this hot outsourcing destination for your business’s success.
Network, explore, enjoy – An event not to be missed. Seating is limited to the first 25 registrants. Reserve your seat today. RSVP to sudeep@neogroup.com with Name, Title, Company name and email address immediately!
Presented in association with:
Board of Investment, InvestMAURITIUS
Neo Group
Feel free to forward this to other interested professionals.
Anti-Offshoring Bill Scores 77 U.S. House Co-Sponsors
A bill designed to discourage U.S. companies from setting up offshore call centers is gaining bipartisan support in the U.S. House. The U.S. Call Center and Consumer Protection Act HR 3596, spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Timothy Bishop D-N.Y., and David McKinley R-W.V., is designed to discouraged call centers from setting up any overseas operations.The bill would require that the U.S. Department of Labor list employers who relocate call centers overseas, and that workers in the centers disclose their locations to callers who ask. If passed, the legislation would also require that companies provide 120 notice when relocating a call center from the U.S. to an overseas location. Firms that relocate call centers overseas would also become ineligible for federal loans or loan guarantees for five years under the proposal.The legislation, introduced in early December with a handful of sponsors, now has 77 co-sponsors , including five Republicans. “Were continuing outreach to collect co-sponsors, to bolster our case that the bill has broad bipartisan support and should receive a hearing,” said Oliver Longwell, a spokesman for Bishop. If a hearing is held on this bill, it will likely be before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, of which McKinley is a member. There is no magic number of co-sponsors needed to trigger a hearing, but Longwell said they hope to continue adding supporters.The Philippine government, concerned about how the proposed legislation would impact its large call center industry, is lobbying lawmakers to reject the bill. The Philippine government has posted photosand reports about its meetings with U.S. Reps. Peter King R -N.Y, and Joe Pitts R-Penn. The Communications Workers of America, which is pushing for passage of this legislation, estimates that about 4 million people are employed in the call center industry or about 3% of the U.S. workforce.source: CIO
New Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Just for the Nearshore
February 15th, 2012
The deadline for nominations is March 15Hundreds of IT/ BPO and call center operators in Latin America and the Caribbean are making a profound impact on the daily lives of local citizens in the region through a whole range of socially-conscious ventures. The new “Foundations for the Future” Award is designed to highlight the very important work done in business sustainability, the environment and within the community of your organization. More information on F4F is here.We call on providers, investment agencies and business parks to submit nominations and bring due attention to your social impact programs. The award winner will be announced during an evening reception taking place at Nearshore Nexus 2012 in New York City.Participation is the award program is complete free and nominations can be made on this page. The deadline to submit your nomination is March 15.Foundations for the Future is a newly formed venture launched by the Nearshore Executive Alliance, in partnership with Nearshore Americas. To learn more about NEA, visit the group’s homepage.
According to many online sources, Atul Vashistha is recognized globally as one of the leading experts on globalization and outsourcing. He founded Neo Group in 2007 and a simile firm in 1999, with the mission of helping enterprises grow their business and improve operations by leveraging outsourcing and globalization. He also advises government and trade bodies on how to be better destinations for outsourcing. Helping enterprises manage and monitor supply relationships, risks and governance is what he does. Vashistha has another other firm called Best Outsourcing Jobs which was founded in July 2009 as a global online outsourcing focused employment solution. In 2011, leading industry magazine ‘Globalization Today’ recognized Atul as one of the 25 industry’s Most Influential Powerhouse 25. His list of awards is fairly long including, Near Shore Americas Power 50, Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Consultants, Top 6 IT Powerbrokers, HRO Today HR Outsourcing Superstar, and FAO Today named him an Outsourcing Superstar. His daily focus is as Chairman of Neo Group but has found the time to author three books; ‘Outsourcing Wisdom’,’ Globalization Wisdom’ and ‘The Offshore Nation’. Atul enjoys writing and can frequently be found in the bylines at HRO Today, Globalization Today, FAO Today, Global Services and Outsourcing Malaysia. “I am most proud of the fact that even as a small business, Neo has created a globally recognized brand through its productive team, client loyalty and thought leadership,” shares Atul. But aside from the awards and accomplishments, it is his wife and daughter that remain his major influeneces in life. They have a growth mindset and that inspires him to be constantly open to new ideas and directions. Also, they have the ability to forgive easily which must be valuable with a father and husband that has such a high level commitment to their professional. If you lift up the covers on this executive, you will see some very unique beginnings to his career. “I am a certified firefighter in Arizona. One of my first jobs was a senior leader in a private fire and ambulance company. To ensure I understood the business, I went thru the Fire Academy, qualified and got certified,” Atul offers. This goes hand in hand with his answer to my final questions. When asked what he’d change in the world if he could, he wanted to embed a caring DNA in all humankind. Atul is already successful in his business ventures; let’s hope one day his wish for a caring DNA also comes true.
IAOP® partners with Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM) to offer its members an additional member-service, enabling members the ability to continuously monitor, predict and manage Country, City and Supplier level risks, affecting the global services and outsourcing industry
SAN FRANCISCO and POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (http://www.IAOP.org) partnered with Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM) (GSRM(SM)), (http://www.GlobalSupplyRiskMonitor.com), to offer a unique member-service to all IAOP® corporate members. This service will equip members to continuously leverage real-time sourcing intelligence, monitor supply risks and enhance governance.
“IAOP® strives to be the leading association for outsourcing professionals globally and continuously looks at adding services that our members deem valuable. Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM) will add tremendous benefits to our members and we look forward to this exclusive partnership with Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM),” said IAOP® CEO, Debi Hamill.
“Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM) is the global services outsourcing industry’s first ever comprehensive risk management system to proactively identify, monitor and report services supply chain risks, ensuring global corporations can sustain and further the gains from outsourcing and global operations,” said Neo Group Chairman, Atul Vashistha. “Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM) is a unique cloud-based product that enables clients to understand their service’s supply chain in real time and take quicker risk mitigation actions (captive centers and outsourced services such as ITO, BPO, KPO) across 50+ countries, 100+ cities and 500+ suppliers. New locations and suppliers are being added on a daily basis.”
IAOP® currently offers a variety of member-services to its corporate members ranging from IAOP®’s Knowledge Center – Firmbuilder.com, Value Health Check Survey, BestOutsourcingJobs.com, Globalization Today – The official publication of IAOP®, etc. With this new partnership, all IAOP® corporate members will be eligible for a base-level member-service at no additional cost and access additional benefits at significantly reduced rates.
About Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM)
Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM) (http://www.GlobalSupplyRiskMonitor.com) is a unique cloud-based subscription service that enables subscribers to monitor, predict and manage various risks in their services supply chain (captive centers and outsourced services such as ITO, BPO, KPO, etc.) across countries, cities and suppliers, in real-time. Global Supply Risk Monitor(SM) is powered by Neo Group (http://www.NeoGroup.com), a leading global firm focused exclusively on the global services and outsourcing industry, helping buyers, suppliers, governments and trade bodies, better leverage global services and mitigate risks.
About IAOP®
IAOP® (http://www.IAOP.org) is the global, standard-setting organization and advocate for the outsourcing profession. With a global community of more than 110,000 members and affiliates worldwide, IAOP® is the leading professional association for organizations and individuals involved in transforming the world of business through outsourcing, offshoring, and shared services.
Public Relations Contact: Sudeep Misra | Head of Marketing, Neo Group | Sudeep@neogroup.com | +1 415 839 8050
Atul Vashistha
CEO, Entrepreneur, Global Advisor, Author, Board Member and Speaker. Fan of fair globalization, social entrepreneurs and the need for good governance!
PULSE: IAOP's Blog Driven by and for Outsourcing Professionals: Global Sourcing Sprawl: Monitoring and Managing Gl... http://t.co/w3YYy2Kx4h
Entry And TSA Pre clearance. (2/2)
Now I personally understand. #TSA or our intelligence system is inadequate. I get picked for secondary security check. I have Global (1/2)
#disneyland is slipping. #glutenfree menu is no longer available. Said to ask each location. Not helpful!
