Outsourcing prospects are high
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Nezam Uddin
BUSINESS process outsourcing (BPO), according to Wikipedia, is a form of outsourcing that involves the contracting of the operations and responsibilities of a specific business function (or processes) to a third-party service provider. This was originally associated with manufacturing firms such as Coca Cola that outsourced large segments of their supply chain. In the contemporary context, BPO is primarily used to refer to the outsourcing of services that can be done through the use of Information Technology (IT). That's why some people call it ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services).
Mckinsey, an international investment consultancy firm, forecasts that, the global BPO business will amount to $180 billion by 2010. India will be on the top position. China, the Philippines and Malaysia will follow India. If Bangladesh makes a target of grabbing 1.0% of the total global market share, then it can experience a large boost in its foreign exchange earnings. This sector is very lucrative compared to other sectors as all the earnings from this service will remain in the country.
But what is the current situation of Bangladesh? Are we prepared enough for grabbing such a lucrative market? The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has issued some licences, beginning from April, 2008. Cost of each license, with a duration of three to five years, is only five thousand taka. For call centre entrepreneurs, BTCL will give leased internet connection at discounted rate.
The best example of BPO in our country are the call centres which are the customer care centres of different cell phone operators. Mobile phone users call for help to help line. There are also other instances of BPO in our country. Currently we are doing software development outsourcing on a limited scale. Foreign investors directly or with joint collaboration are opening local offices here and employing local programmers at good salaries.
Till now, the track record of Bangladesh has otherwise been good. It has been observed that, Bangladeshi programmers are good at problem solving. And software development cost is low compared to other countries. Graphics Design and Animation can also be two more sectors which can be added to the BPO basket. Some random information says that, the development of a 05-minute animation in Bangladesh costs one-fifth of what it costs in India.
Though BPO is highly technology-driven, this sector requires, according to IT specialists, only 10% technical expertise, 50% marketing expertise on international level and the rest general knowledge. Bangladesh has got enough manpower. What it has to do now is to train and prepare its manpower to serve the global customers.
BUSINESS process outsourcing (BPO), according to Wikipedia, is a form of outsourcing that involves the contracting of the operations and responsibilities of a specific business function (or processes) to a third-party service provider. This was originally associated with manufacturing firms such as Coca Cola that outsourced large segments of their supply chain. In the contemporary context, BPO is primarily used to refer to the outsourcing of services that can be done through the use of Information Technology (IT). That's why some people call it ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services).
Mckinsey, an international investment consultancy firm, forecasts that, the global BPO business will amount to $180 billion by 2010. India will be on the top position. China, the Philippines and Malaysia will follow India. If Bangladesh makes a target of grabbing 1.0% of the total global market share, then it can experience a large boost in its foreign exchange earnings. This sector is very lucrative compared to other sectors as all the earnings from this service will remain in the country.
But what is the current situation of Bangladesh? Are we prepared enough for grabbing such a lucrative market? The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has issued some licences, beginning from April, 2008. Cost of each license, with a duration of three to five years, is only five thousand taka. For call centre entrepreneurs, BTCL will give leased internet connection at discounted rate.
The best example of BPO in our country are the call centres which are the customer care centres of different cell phone operators. Mobile phone users call for help to help line. There are also other instances of BPO in our country. Currently we are doing software development outsourcing on a limited scale. Foreign investors directly or with joint collaboration are opening local offices here and employing local programmers at good salaries.
Till now, the track record of Bangladesh has otherwise been good. It has been observed that, Bangladeshi programmers are good at problem solving. And software development cost is low compared to other countries. Graphics Design and Animation can also be two more sectors which can be added to the BPO basket. Some random information says that, the development of a 05-minute animation in Bangladesh costs one-fifth of what it costs in India.
Though BPO is highly technology-driven, this sector requires, according to IT specialists, only 10% technical expertise, 50% marketing expertise on international level and the rest general knowledge. Bangladesh has got enough manpower. What it has to do now is to train and prepare its manpower to serve the global customers.