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Third Eye View, by Rajan Chandras
Rajan Chandras is a consultant with a global IT consulting, systems integration and outsourcing firm. Write him at rchandras@gmail.com. See More by Rajan Chandras India Outsources to US Tech Workers
The buzz in the local Indian trade magazines is about IBM recently grabbing a multi-year outsourcing deal from the Indian operations of Vodaphone, the global communications giant. Deals like these demonstrate that countries like India and China are more than merely the source of competition for US-based IT firms (and US-based consultants), they offer a solid opportunity for those willing to brave the geographical and culture gap. As I pick my way through Indian news and newsmakers during my visit here, it's becoming abundantly clear that looking at India as a source of competition for the West is only half the story. Consider the following major outsourcing deals struck in 2007, all happening in India: • IBM wins five-year Vodaphone outsourcing deal mentioned above; value unknown, but expected to be several hundred million dollars • HP wins three-year, value-unspecified "comprehensive IT outsourcing and transformation project" with Brittania Industries, a leading Indian consumer foods company. According to the HP India managing director, the Britannia contract would enable HP India to "leverage its worldwide expertise to make the differentiation." • IBM wins a 10-year outsourcing deal from a large local mobile communications player, Idea Cellular, worth between $600 and $800 million. The fact is, India (and China, etc.) present a huge opportunity not just for US corporations to offer their wares and services, but also for US technology workers willing to look beyond US shores. As the "wage arbitrage" between US and Indian salaries continues to dissipate and US corporations like IBM, HP, Dell, and others make increasingly wider inroads into the Indian markets, it seems only a question of time before US IT workers find opportunities to help large Indian outsourcing deals succeed, and to share their expertise with Indian companies implementing cutting-edge technologies in areas such as business process management, complex application architecture, enterprise data management and business intelligence... significant cultural and other differences notwithstanding. The opportunities will arise, but the question is, is the US technology worker willing to brave the journey?  This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers. Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service. Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.
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