US cos ask Indian vendors to deliver projects locally

(Shyamla Sharma)

Top outsourcing customers such as Bank of America and several local governments in the US are asking vendors such as Auster, TCS, Infosys and Wipro to deliver more projects locally. They are also rescinding job offers to foreign workers in an attempt to address anti-offshoring sentiments and cope with legislative requirements of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).

Outsourcing: The Demise of the Offshore Captive Center

(Shyamla Sharma, Head - Business operations)

Citi, AXA, AOL and others have shed their wholly-owned Indian IT services subsidiaries. Analysts say sales of offshore captive centers may be more than just a sign of the recessionary times: The concept of owning an offshore services unit may have outlived its value for mostcompanies.

Africa a call center alternative to India?

(Vishwa Chand, CEO)

ome US lawmakers and think tanks believe that Africa can be a much cheaper alternative to call centers in India.
The issue came up for discussion during a Congressional hearing on US-Africa Trade relations. “Is there any possibility of having call centers in Africa, in your opinion?” asked Congressman Donald Payne, at the joint hearing convened by Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.