Posted by albert on December 11, 2008
Business Process Outsourcing is one of the techniques commonly used by Internet Business firm nowadays. What is BPO? BPO is the entrustment of certain business functions or processes to an external service provider. For instance, instead of having their own company design sports gear, exerting their own effort, they can hire another company to do the job for them.
Business process outsourcing enables entrepreneurs to find ways save time, effort and money for their company. In these instances they have to entrust the job to another firm. In return, they give the service provider a specific amount as payment for the services rendered. In this matter, business may expand and increase competitiveness through utilizing the outsourcing process. This may vary also in the performance and the trust gained by the companies. In the business marketing, outsourcing provides easy access for the company to export their product around the globe. The company may gather more clients with ability and saved resources brought about by outsourcing their other functions.
Business process outsourcing has developed and has been growing rapidly in the business market. Competition is also a factor in business process outsourcing. It is important for the company to choose wisely in dealing with others in terms in outsourcing services. As evidence business process outsourcing has been a factor in the development solid marketing.
Posted by james on November 20, 2008
IT offshore outsourcing is projected to increase by 5.2% in 2009. This is a remarkable recovery of IT offshore outsourcing from the previous economic recession wherein the industry only got 4.2% in 2006 since the two years of decline. That is the good news. The bad news is that IT offshore outsourcing does not gain sufficient popularity among Chief Information Officers (CIO’s) of the world’s major companies. This happens due to the contradiction with media stories about great waves in IT offshore outsourcing when famous US company Dell Computers shift its customer support services to India. Such shifting of customer support services is also followed by Citibank.
IT Outsourcing Data
The good news was being confirmed on the latest 2008 survey of Society of Information Management (SIM). A considerable leap of 5.2% IT budget allocation for offshore outsourcing by world’s IT leaders in 2009 will likely to cover up the IT offshore outsourcing losses in 2007 and 2008, amounting only to 4% and 3.2%, respectively. The previous years’ data even negatively forecasting that IT offshore outsourcing might eventually die.
Although most CIOs in today’s major companies lack so much confidence in offshore outsourcing, they are made to embrace it due to two factors. First is the crisis on the current global economy. The hiatus among US banking systems in 2008 greatly influenced major corporations to outsource IT-related tasks for cost-saving purposes. Second is the crisis on the scarcity of relevant skills-package among IT professional pool in the US. The possibility of hiring domestic IT workers is deemed impractical. These factors prompted the CIOs to consider IT offshore outsourcing as the only solution to the problem. Well, the year 2009 could be a make or break for the IT offshore outsourcing. The outsourcing service providers have to prove themselves worthy of the trust handed down by the world’s IT leaders.
Posted by james on November 18, 2008
The multicore chips technology within most computer processors are composed of a combination of two or more separate cores or central processing units in a single integrated circuit (IC). If you are familiar with dual-core computers of Intel and quad-core processors of AMD, you would know that the former has two cores and the latter has four, as their names imply. This multicore technology is the hottest subject of computer enthusiasts today as it has significant promises on the furtherance of computer processing speed and more efficient multi-tasking capability. Looking at the other side of the coin, however, it has been found out that it could bring disaster to the IT department of an organization. Carl Claunch, an analyst of Gartner, shared some problems that might arise when companies would decide to embrace the multicore technology during Gartner’s Symposium ITxpo.
Multicore Chips Processor
First, Claunch emphasized that there are specific coding skills required for this new technology. Thus, companies may find it necessary to hire additional IT staff that would be comfortable enough to work with this new design. Furthermore, it would also be important that changes from the previous system to the current technology setting are properly monitored and interpreted. Second, there would be a need for new development tools. Because most of the pre-existent development tools were created to work with the previous technology, some of them may become obsolete and incompatible with the new one. Third, the new technology may have effect on software that cannot be predicted. To date, benchmarking processes are still being conducted by experts to determine if the new technology can function well when used with the software that companies use. This is with reference to the probability that application softwares utilized by company data centers may not work desirably with the architecture of multicore chips. Fourth, software licensing arrangements are also a consideration. Software licensing is generally based on computer models being used and employing a multicore system may require a company to spend a few more dollars. Lastly, the impact of the new technology on specific applications could greatly vary. The chip could either speed up business processes or it could disrupt or damage an entire system.
Despite of the risks associated to it, the multicore technology is purportedly supported and recommended by hardware manufacturers. So whether we should go for it or not, it wouldn’t largely matter. If a business entity needs to adapt to current global market trends, it would also have to adopt the kind of system that is being used by its prospective clients. Failure to do such would be as good as being locked up in a closet while doing business only with those who are also stuck with the old system. Indeed, the decision to embrace the multicore chips technology could be seen as the most important technical decision that many businesses would have to make sooner or later.
Posted by james on
Perhaps it would be an exaggeration to use graphic designer and Photoshop savvy interchangeably. Nonetheless, the market’s common qualification for a graphic designer is to have skills on Adobe Photoshop. With the release of the latest Photoshop CS4 Extended, most computer geeks highly recommend to take advantage of 64-bit processor architecture. This is because the previous 32-bit processor architecture can only support up to 4Gb random-access memory (RAM) capacity and beyond this memory would fall as excess, and ultimately useless. In a 64-bit processor with 64-bit OS, 4Gb could just be a starting point for high-end application software like Adobe Photoshop CS4 where graphic designers could exhaustively utilize for much demanding photo and video editing.
photoshop-cs4-on-64-bit-computers
Does it really matter if you are using 32-bit or 64-bit? Well, technically size does matter. A 64-bit processor can run faster, about twice, compared to 32-bit processor when running on at least 4Gb RAM. Since Photoshop C4 is a high-end photo and video editing software, it could run efficiently on a 64-bit system. It is also anticipated that future editions of Photoshop would go farther from 32-bit system compatibility. So getting used to the 64-bit system (64-bit processor and 64-bit OS) is the first step to take the lead in the graphic designing race.
Some of Photoshop extensions include new pixel grid, adjustment panel, masks panel, and content-aware scaling, plus some enhancement to previous Photoshop versions. With these high definition color and pixel adjustments, consuming 3Gb or 4Gb of both RAM and virtual memory can be quite common. So utilizing a 64-bit system proves to be highly advantageous in creating highly sophisticated graphic designs.
Posted by james on
Globalization has slowly been eliminating the dividing jurisdiction among countries even in economic ends. Today, local products are not the only things that can be shared by the world, the effects of globalization have already extended to the realm of manpower acquisition. Instead of sending workers to a foreign country having to provide relocation expenses that would go with same wage cost, the advent of Internet access and the computer technology has made it greatly possible to send the work or the function directly to the workforce while eliminating the need for relocation expenses and paying for much lower wage costs. The process of sending the work to distant off-country locations is popularly known as offshore outsourcing.
More big companies worldwide are now enticed with the idea of offshore outsourcing - the transmission of any of their system operations to a service provider based in a foreign country. This allows companies to reduce labor cost while being given outputs that adhere to the company’s specified standards Since most key market players are situated in first world countries where labor costs are very high, outsourcing to developing countries that require relatively lower compensation could prove to be the best resort. Hence, there are two main factors that are considered when adopting offshore outsourcing as a business strategy – the cost associated in outsourcing a specific operation and the quality of service that an outsourcing facility could provide.
The advantages of outsourcing can be generalized into three. First, the company who would choose to outsource a function would be able to focus on their core operations and are more likely to concentrate on ways to improve company procedures. Planning and budget estimation for operations to be outsourced will be eliminated. Instead, operational costs for the operations to be outsourced will also be fixed based on the market price of service providers. Second, the output quality level of those operations being outsourced will be increased. The competition of global service providers in their own specialties allows every company who seeks a service provider to choose from several facilities who could best give them optimal service at very reasonable prices. Factors that need to be considered when choosing a service provider would be the skills of a facility’s manpower, the kind of technology being utilized, and the accessibility to transportation, communication, and logistics. It is as if you are employing the best of employees that the world could offer. Lastly, expenses that for employee compensation would also be reduced significantly. Offshore outsourcing solution providers are generally located in developing countries where wage cost is relatively low and the number of unemployed skilled workers is high.
Posted by rommel olido on October 30, 2008
A particular business is considered successful when its performance is always consistent. Although, outsourcing provides advantages that lift up business performance, there are still many risks that will create potential concerns. Engaging with only one outsource service provider for example, has made some businesses loose their edge over their competitors. Because most companies who engage in outsourcing are dependent on the knowledge and technology of their service provider (vendor), they expect their business needs addressed, but unfortunately, some service providers fail to perform what was agreed. Another concern is, when a company uses only one service provider, the relationship can turn out to be difficult. Business knowledge tends to reside with the developer and if the vendor holds the majority of this knowledge, the company is at a disadvantage.
To avoid those problems in outsourcing, an innovation has evolved in this industry. Appearing to have similar purposes with outsourcing, multi-sourcing has very different objectives. Most outsourcing companies are moving away from large IT contracts and instead outsource from more than one vendor. A vendor that can successfully handle a wide range of tasks, such as networking, business processes and application development is very hard to find. Through multi-sourcing, a particular company can use the resources and expertise of various vendors. A company can be open to more options for a specific process and function when this strategy for business is applied.
Multi-sourcing is indeed offering a new strategy for experienced outsourcers and companies looking to outsource for the first time. As outsourcing deals begin to diminish in size, the risks related to global sourcing from a single vendor should also begin to reduce.
Posted by Jessica Madrazo on October 29, 2008
SEO Writers are different from print writers. SEO writers eat, breathe, and live on keywords. Unlike print where one can use any system he/she is most comfortable with: 1. think of a topic, 2. write the article, and 3. wave the title for last; or go juggle your 1, 2, 3’s, SEO writing on the other hand, depends on a specific system, bound by drawn parameters, and trapped in a space, and glittered with talent sparkles. And most of the time, when working for an outsourcing company, there is no he or she, rather, only it, THE content writer. This is to assure a client of full coverage depending on the needs, with a substitute ready for any unpredictable episodes, the output preserved and still in standard.
As for the process, before an SEO writing project even commences, they need to receive a detailed content outsourcing work order from the client, stating the topic they are to write about, sometimes, along with certain titles clients would like them to use, or previous write-ups they would prefer the writer to evolve around. Once this is ascertained, it is time to identify the keywords you are to scatter your article with, and trail your words around these definites. This is the aspect where some web writers differ. Some, especially those only beginning to enter the scene, might find themselves writing a full article, only to rewrite, restructure, or replace certain words to correlate more with the keywords defined. As time progresses and the craft ceases to be one but rather, becomes more of a habit, keywords are written fluidly as the article is being built around ideas.
The average 450 word article most SEO content writers from the Philippines can spin in an hour would reach 2. Anything over two spun article in an hour would most likely be identified as poor content, with questionable grammar, badly placed keywords, and lost ideas. This writing requirement that is placed on web writers is another ingredient in the normal daily writing routine. It is necessary to spin, sometimes as much as 5 articles from a single base article written. The base article taking longer to write than the rest of course.
If you have any doubts on outsourcing your content writers to populate your website, submit entries for your blogs, or write your press releases, just remember: 1. it would take them half the time to write the articles, 2. they could take one look at your article and generate the keywords from repetitive visits to keyword tools, 3. they could shred an article ala blender and put it back together in no time. All those, within your set time, standards, and budget.
Posted by tarhata on
The outsourcing industry has created fresh opportunities for the Philippines to be Asia’s business process outsourcing (BPO) force. This is due to the expansion of demands for business process and IT outsourcing solution that reach through different time zones and into the international scale. Due to this, offshore outsourcing is duly practiced.
Offshore outsourcing means an organization actually hiring an external unit to do its business functions. These services are usually provided in other countries with completely foreign subsidiaries.
In the aspect of local and global marketing, the founding of technical support outsourcing companies in our locales is considered a feasible step for these foreign corporations to implement cutback measures. Thus, it allows them to track down radically required cost reduction schemes but with high quality production.
The Philippines has emerged as an IT outsourcing solution that aims to provide offshore outsourcing services to the global market. Low cost of labor and excellent work done by Filipinos has gained the taste of these companies that have been looking for such quality conditions. Moreover, a gradual rise in growth percentage was predicted in the coming years despite the global rundown. Hence, IT outsourcing consultant companies in the country will be experiencing an affirmative impact of this so-called prediction. Philippine outsourcing then, is fast developing its lead in the Asian outsourcing industry.
For this reason, the Philippine information technology outsourcing prospects have become a positive sign of better days to come for the many skilled professionals that are only waiting to be given the chance to prove their worth.
Posted by rommel olido on October 14, 2008
The growing demands for Offshore Outsourcing services have strengthened the potential of the Philippines Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) to become a global leader in this industry. Philippines have already stepped out of India’s shadows as strategic destination for outsourcing. This is supported by reports that India is losing competitive edge in this industry because of the emergence of various BPO service providers across Asia Pacific Region.
Filipinos show great passion and skills in the field of Information Technology. The high quality and low cost of work has attracted many foreign companies to engage in outsourcing with our country. Moreover, it has effectively provided these entities with competitive strategies undeniably vital in any business.
The technology-enabled services like web development, creative design, virtual assistant and search-engine optimization are commonly outsourced in this industry. Outsourcing is the process of contracting business functions to a BPO service provider. The services also include business planning and analysis, as well as the installation, management, and servicing of the network and workstations.
Philippines is now finally, regarded as the top destination of business process outsourcing. The support of Philippine government in this industry and the large pool of IT work force have made this industry visible worldwide. Our country consistently improves its economy due to revenues gained from this industry. Expert said that business process outsourcing in our country would not be affected by global financial crisis; instead, the demands for outsourced services will continue to grow in the coming years.
Posted by Jessica Madrazo on October 9, 2008
There is no perfect system, and in offshore outsourcing, this cliché is highly magnified. The rising exodus of many companies outsourcing many of their functions is solid proof that this is, at present, the most practical solution to saving up hundreds and thousands of IT and business dollars. However, money should not be the only perceived factor involved in outsourcing. There are both blatant and furtive issues that are best acknowledged and addressed when and before outsourcing.
Asses your company, your staff, and your needs and incorporate that to what the outsourcing firm has to offer. Work an ideal system for those terms, and get the most of your offshore outsourcing team. Concede to the realities that are brought about by the undeniable situation, that, both good and bad, can still be wielded to both parties’ advantage.
Reality # 1:Time
16 hour straight operations. While you and your on site staff are sleeping, your outsourced staff are continuing the development of your work. Setting the scene as a US and Philippine contract, there is an approximate difference of 12 to 15 hours (if you’re on EST) and 15 hours (if you’re on PST). Since most outsourcing firms’ operations start at 6 am, they come in for work by the time that you’re on your way out.
Waking up, coming in the office the following day, progress has already been made, deadlines have been beaten, and you got better sleep the night before with the knowledge of less workload the following day.
Given you and your firm a very good coordination arrangement, and design an organized process, this may be the upper hand you have been looking for, enough to outperform rivals in your field.
Reality # 2: Still Time
People from different parts of the world, working on different time zones, different shifts, but on a single project.It sounds complicated, and it really is. Pending issues and questions on an aspect of a project continues to be pending -until the following day, when the outsourced staff has had time to read your mail, respond to it, and wait anxiously for it to reach you.
What could have been a five -minute conversation with a person across the room has transmogrified into an exchange of emails if the message was not sent out as clearly as you would have liked.
The situation isn’t as desperate as you may imagine. Good outsourcing concessions may not easily resolve a problem like this, but can certainly orchestrate a mitigation. Slight changes in the schedule may be made, moving a few hours on both parties to lengthen time for easier correspondence.
Before grumbles are collected from both your in-house and offshore counterparts, everyone, including you, does not need to live off-beat work hours everyday. Arrange this schedule only when necessary. Another option may also be a prescheduled meeting, like every second and fourth Monday. This will give enough time for updates, reports, and requirements when things are going smooth.
Reality # 3: Cultural Difference
This is probably one of the main concerns of every company considering to outsource its services. The reality is, the difference in cultural background may affect not only how your Filipino counterparts interact with you and your staff, but also react differently to customer situations.
When faced with this problem, remember that it is not at all the lack of experience, but rather, the difference of experience. If they deal one on one with your customers, train them. If it is more on design or technical functions of a product, inform them of what you expect. A good side of outsourcing to the Philippines is the country has been gratefully influenced by the US. Solving the cultural barrier isn’t as difficult as it may seem.
Reality #4: Language
The Philippines is the widest English speaking country in Asia. Communicating with your staff is not a very big challenge. However, there still may be some obstacles faced with actual speaking. Although Filipinos understand, write, read and speak English, listening to the language with all the works such as twangs and everyday expressions sometimes pose some challenges primarily because it is not their first language.
There is no need to be all paranoid about this. Just start by speaking very slowly to your outsourcing staff. By ensuring that the message is understood would be enough, you will find that his/her skills will greatly improve in a short period
Reality #5: Culture and Language Combined
The many experiences in outsourcing IT services to the Philippines is the repetitive avoidance of the word no, and the habitual addressing of “Sir” and “Ma’am.” The aversion of “no” typically comes from the wish to satisfy every client requirement, however, this comes as a problem when the product remains to be undelivered. For these cases, you would be better off communicating these kinds of additions to the project manager, to identify the best course of action, its possibility, and its means.
The “Sir” and “Ma’am” is one of the habits Filipino staff find hard to rub off. Culturally, everyone unfamiliar to you is addressed in this very courteous manner. Say straight out you prefer to be called by your first name and avoid unnecessary protocols, and they’ll be sure to take it on during your next communication.
Reality #6: Communication
Understand that since there is a very wide distance between you and your staff, meeting face to face is near impossible. Almost all communication will be via email, urgent matters via messengers, and important meetings via conference calls.
It’s definitely not as effective as face to face meetings. Certain messages may be misinterpreted, and vital non-verbal messages obviously missed. This why a good follow-up note confirming what has been discussed in the most recent conference call will help.
Reality #7: Limited Expertise
Carefully digest the words and note, “Limited Expertise,” not “Limited Skills.” The reason why most people hire an entire team is because expertise comes rare, and expertise in all fields is even scarcer. In most cases, a staff that has first rate programming proficiency will not always turn out to be the best person to check the quality assurance. Assess your staff, identify their expertise, and capitalize on their strength, this is the basic rule in managing people.
Reality #8: Turnovers
A rising number of skilled workers in the Philippines has created an increase in the demand for those skills. With more and more outsourcing companies being put up and expanded all over the country, the market for IT careers have also risen. The rate of turnover has skyrocketed along with these numbers. This may affect the services delivered to you because of potential knowledge loss, with the possibility that the staff you had last month may not be the one you will have tomorrow.
To minimize this problem, outsourcing companies try to impress to their prospective clients that what is being marketed are services, and not people. If this is successfully followed, it would ensue better output and assurance for the clients.
Reality #9: Costs
Because of the distance between you and your work pool, creative means of one on one and team meetings are designed. For some outsourcing companies, phone calls, conferences, and web-based meetings have underlying costs.
When considering an outsourcing company, include the issue of communication in your list of questions. Find out if it is part of the extra costs, or considered as a complimentary service for your contract.
Reality #10: Environmental Factors
Even with the accelerated speed of telecommunication and utilities improvement in the Philippines, it cannot be expected to be just as good, as reliable, and as updated as that of the US. Although there are fewer incidents of internet service disruptions and power outages, they are still issues to contend with largely due to environmental factors. The Philippines is a country often visited by typhoons and some of its cities are situated near the earthquake belt - the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire. This sometimes results to the loss (although mostly bearable) of essential services in outsourcing, and you might expect a few offline times for your staff.
Some Philippine rallies are known to be very moving, and might cause some difficulties like travel nuisances for your staff in getting to the office, however, the current government is very stable in handling economic and political issues so work stoppage due to political flux may be placed in the least of your concerns.
Reality #11: Plain Reality
Out of sight, out of mind for some, but even if you only virtually or electronically interact with your outsourcing personnel, they still are humans. Have enough insight to realize if the workload forwarded to them is still in the range of human beings, as with how you synergize with your onsite staff. Recruits treated well, function well still applies for your online staff. Remember this, and you get the best returns from your hired outsourcing team.
