Outsourcing is not as easy with SLA's and metrics

Information technology enabled services (ITES) or BPO has enabled India, Philippines and other developing markets to grow and provide badly needed jobs in those markets. I used to consult in the outsourcing industry as a consultant for Cap Gemini. Entrepreneurs attempting to get into BPO need to be aware that it is extremely difficult to get and sometimes maintain a contract. Service line agreements (SLA's) are loaded with penalties and metrics that many Indian companies avoid bidding for the RFP.

Outsourcing is quite a mature industry now, four years ago when I was consulting margins were high. Four years later corporations are getting smarter by putting more metrics and clauses into contracts to protect themselves.

I urge anyone reading this post to go and learn more about outsourcing if they are trying to become a provider of ITES in Africa.

Neo IT
Outsoucing Law
Outsourcing Center
Outsourcing Central

If you have any direct questions about BPO you can email me at nas146 AT yahoo DOT com.

Nubian Cheetah

Africa Outsourcing

Over the years I've spoken at conferences and seminars about Outsourcing in Africa and

other developing markets. It's not a question if Africa will grow as an Outsourcing destination, it's a when. Right now outsourcing in Africa is minuscule at best compared to the likes of India, Philippines or Russia.

Here are some key things Africa needs to grow into a outsourcing destination.

1. We need redundant and reliable Internet broadband infrastructure.
ex. Eassy fiber cable and SAT-3 cable are starters, also we need more Internet
infrastructure.

2. We need the Diaspora to come back and start building the Infosys, Wipro's and Tata's of
Africa.

3. We need Governments to earmark or allocate IT parks or Tax free zones only for science, Hi-tech or outsourcing related businesses.

4. We need more IT education, we simply lack this right now. Africa needs more programmers in Java, html, and other related IT fields.

5. Last but not least, we need to change or mind-set or frame of vision. Nations are not built
overnight, nor can we always depend on the government for handouts. Entrepreneurs are the
ones that build markets and nations. America was built by industrialists and business men!