| Taking a look at the current financial crisis, one | | | | work force. |
| may not feel too optimistic about business | | | | Today, the Indian BPO companies are creating |
| process outsourcing (BPO) industry in India. | | | | comprehensive roles for employees by expanding |
| However Mr. P.G. Raghuraman, Lead Delivery | | | | globally and providing them the opportunity to |
| Centers for BPO in India, Accenture, sees the | | | | work on multiple verticals. It is indeed a fast |
| positive aspects in the growth of BPO service | | | | growing industry as it provides ample opportunity |
| providers and also potential for the industry to | | | | for growth and entrepreneurship. |
| attract young professionals as their chosen | | | | This change in the role of BPO sector from |
| career. | | | | transaction-processing to high end specialized |
| According to Nasscom study, the current size of | | | | services has led to the growing demand of skilled |
| BPO industry is $11 billion and it is expected to | | | | workforce. Today the industry needs capability |
| grow by five-fold in size to $50 billion by the year | | | | development. Even the professionals with degrees |
| 2012. This growth in Indian BPO will add nearly 2.5 | | | | like M.tech, MBBS, MBA, CA, ICWA are taking up |
| percent to the India's GDP from the export | | | | work in domain specific back office processes in |
| earnings and employment to nearly 2 million | | | | advisory,analytical and consulting arena. This |
| people. | | | | requires a clear relationship between IT/BPO |
| There is popular belief that,there are numerous | | | | industry and the academic world which train the |
| job opportunities but fewer career opportunities in | | | | workforce with industry specific jobs. |
| BPO sector. This is not true,the Indian BPO | | | | Nowadays even parents are becoming more |
| industry has boundless career opportunities. This is | | | | supportive to the youngsters who want to join |
| evident from the fact that, over the years the | | | | the BPO industry because they genuinely see it as |
| BPO services have grown from just voice to | | | | a long term career. There is a realization that, |
| other customer relationship management services | | | | BPO are not only about call centers but providing |
| like human resources,finance and accounting, | | | | the right opportunities, skills and global exposure. |
| learning and procurement, animation and | | | | In a nutshell the employees in the BPO industry |
| multimedia, legal transcription, content | | | | are now getting challenging careers with |
| development, as well as industry-specific services | | | | tremendous job opportunities,hands-on |
| focusing on the health care,insurance, | | | | experience,information about the culture and |
| pharmaceutical and utility industries. | | | | customs of various countries across the globe. |
| The companies in the life science industry are | | | | This experience in understanding and appreciation |
| quite familiar to the process of outsourcing. They | | | | of diversity is valuable for their personal as well |
| outsource some of their critical process like drug | | | | professional growth. |
| discovery, product manufacture,clinical trials and | | | | Of late, BPO industry does get support from |
| data management. Thus the mainstream BPO | | | | reputed academia. There are companies who |
| service providers requires special knowledge and | | | | provide training programmes specifically designed |
| skill set to perform the traditional life science | | | | for the BPO sector in collaboration with some of |
| functions such as clinical data management and | | | | the renowned institutions of India. More courses |
| monitoring of drug safety. | | | | of this nature are being designed by other |
| India happens to be one of the most attractive | | | | companies to provide outsourcing services. This |
| destination for such specialized functions due to | | | | one step forward towards making BPO as a long |
| low cost benefits and availability of high skilled | | | | term career opportunity. |