BPO cos not worried over Democrat win (Outsourcing-India)

[OhioChick]

< 13 Nov, 2006 0014hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK >

BANGALORE: Two years ago, US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry created a scare in the Indian IT industry with his anti-outsourcing rhetoric.

To the relief of the industry, Kerry lost that election. Now, Democrats have taken control of the US Congress and Senate.

Is the industry worried? Not much. The general sentiment in the tech community is that Indo-US business momentum, irrespective of the Americans' political preferences, will continue.

The outsourcing industry is seen to have evolved and grown since the presidential elections in 2004. "Outsourcing today is a sector of higher visibility and acceptance.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/BPO_cos_not_worried_over_Democrat_win/articleshow/421466.cms

~snip~ "Democrats are expected to be busy making policies on combating terrorism and handling issues of Iraq and Afghanistan rather than worrying about Indo-US economic relations,"said Atul Jalan, CEO, Manthan Systems.

Dems better "restart their anti-outsourcing campaign."

[brokensymmetry]

1. The good news just never ends, does it?

(Sigh).

[Vorta]

2. Can outsourcing be handled?

Is there a way of taxing the communications such that it's not profitable to replace American workers with call centers in India and Manila?

Ask just about anyone who has to deal with this: it's not simply that these aren't American workers. They are not doing the same job American workers did. The outsourced operators have virtually no ability to resolve problems. They read from scripts, don't help you, and then tell you that they have answered all your questions, thank you, goodbye. It's annoying.

I found a workaround for awhile. For a short time you could press 2 for the SPanish language gate and be transferred to an op center in Texas. But boy do the outsourced centers catch up fast. You can now opt for the Spanish gate and be connected to a worker in India who speaks fluent Spanish. Damn! Berlitz must have made a fortune doing that.

[Lithos]

3. Outsourcing is okay

Provided the playing field is level. However it is not.

L-

[Skittles]

4. correct

it is not a "global economy" to me as long as I cannot compete for jobs with people in India and Brazil because I cannot live on their wages

[Lithos]

7. It's more than that

Consider that education in India, China and many other places are free and that the government is subsidizing a large portion of the tech industry in each company with the proviso all monies stays there. Consider as well that the US is giving what amounts to a large welfare check to US industry; I would have called it subsidies as well, but they spend their money on Executive perks and moving jobs off shore which really means very little benefit is returned to the US taxpayer.

L-

[Skittles]

8. the Democrats better be taking some action on this

ABSOLUTELY

[OhioChick]

10. Damn Straight. n/t

[meegbear]

5. I heard a story on the BBC about the new outsourcing ...

Africa. One of the benefits, they reported, is that US customers could understand their English better.

[bleedingheart]

6. Eastern Europe is also a factor

the company I work for just opened offices in Poland.

[w4rma]

9. Democratic win. (nt)

[Zhade]

11. They sure as hell better!

And NAFTA better be in their sights, too.