The State of Sourcing

Service-level agreements (SLAs) are the backbone of any system. SLAs are defined and measured to quantify IT efficiency into business value. SLAs defined between customer and vendor do not just add contractual value but ensure critical business applications are running at all times and at high levels of performance.

ValueNotes and Anunta in a recent study found that CIO/CTOs  of the banking and financial sector feel the need to improve their IT performance. However, they do not consider service level agreements important. SLAs are treated as compliance and not as an integral part of IT operations.

Continue reading ‘Negligence in monitoring SLAs hurting banking and financial sector’ »

It’s never a bad idea to invest in technology… right? Well at least many service providers of the Indian market research outsourcing industry certainly think so. Technology has always played a vital role in market research. It helps make processes more efficient, improves the quality of work, reduces errors and thus leads to lower overall costs.

Continue reading ‘MRO providers stocking up on technology?’ »

It was the first quarter of 2009. We were interviewing service providers to create our report on “Offshoring in the Publishing Vertical, 2009“. One such interview has left a lasting impression on us. Not because the company was unique in its offerings. Not because the person we were talking to was exceptionally eloquent. But because of one statement that was a commentary on the things to come -

Continue reading ‘Technology in publishing: What next?’ »

At the recent Global LPO conference 2010, held in New Delhi, the idea was to facilitate closer contact between buyers and vendors in the industry. The buyers spoke about their experiences and put forth their concerns. The vendors building upon experiences, offered advice to the potential buyers on how to approach, what to look out for, the value offered, etc. Among many other issues discussed, one that received attention from various speakers was – what do buyers and vendors need to do to facilitate a smooth and mutually beneficial relationship? 

The need to change and develop is something that cannot be stressed enough. For an industry as young as the LPO, and with the potential that it offers, the mantra is going beyond understanding customer needs. LPOs must stay ahead of the articulated needs. With most companies looking at outsourcing as a strategic move, they want it to contribute to their overall business performance. Outsourcing by and large has moved beyond the cost and labor arbitrage, and the same stands true for LPO industry. The idea is to move away from the tag of service providers to partners. Here we discuss just some of the many initiatives that LPOs need to take to start thinking and taking on the role of partners. 

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The comparisons between Apple iPad and this $35 ‘still unnamed’ mobile device are so unfair. The online buzz about this new product is almost deafening. Ever since the Indian government announced the launch of the ‘$35 m -device’ (lets call it that, since it does not have a name yet, and this anyway seems to be the most exciting ‘fact’ about it), discussions abound on its viability, price, wasted funds, its not-so-successful predecessors, apps that it can offer and its future. While debate on all of these is justified, some more thoughts:

Why is cost such a big issue?

Continue reading ‘Education at $35… Dreaming big?’ »

ValueNotes recently completed a study (in association with EDGE Forum) focusing on trends in adoption of exam technology by Indian exam authorities. As part of this initiative by MeritTrac, ValueNotes interviewed 75 key decision makers, including vice chancellors, controllers of exam, registrars and exam board directors. The study also comprised a nationwide survey of another key stakeholder in the education system – the student. This was primarily because the exercise of taking exams online will yield many benefits to the student population.

Vice chancellors we spoke to mentioned that there was a certain amount of reservation expressed by students and therefore adoption was slow. To bridge the perception gap of these university officials and students, we spoke with 400 students from across Tier I, Tier II and Tier III cities, studying mostly at graduate and postgraduate levels, with a few inputs from junior college and PhD students. The aim was to capture the students’ awareness, readiness and experiences with online examinations. Even as efforts are under way to make ICT an inherent part of our education system, are the students really ready? We share some of our findings here.

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It’s easy to dismiss technological alternatives to established time-tested tools as fads… And easier still, to get carried away by the sweeping power of technological innovation!  Well, in this case I am referring to the Kindle, Sony reader and the ever-evolving e-reader clan and the writing off of paper and print. Critics across generational divides have strong opinions supporting both sides. Technology drove the music industry’s evolution and the fade-out of non-adapters. Will this be replicated in the publishing industry, evolving rapidly in a digital era?

Almost everyone in the industry is trying to make sense of what lies ahead… Which technology will emerge stronger and which one will bite the dust?  Will e-readers replace print books entirely? Where will the industry head to if it doesn’t toe the line?

Continue reading ‘The content-technology tussle’ »