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Outsourcing
as a concept is nothing new. During the early years of commercial
computing, many large sites acquired large amounts of computing
capacity and sold the excess to business entities, both small
and large, who took advantage of cheap computer services offered
them. These outsourced services initially took the form of payroll
applications, benefits deductions, and withholding taxes, eliminating
the need for in-house accounting departments.
Now, into
the IT age, more and more companies are joining the outsourcing
bandwagon. From virtually no activity in 1980, the outsourcing
market has grown to $150 billion in 1998. Outsourcing of marketing
and sales processes represents approximately 14 percent of the
market or $21 billion of the same year (Source: The Outsourcing
Institute). Corporations that have not started to outsource continue
to weigh the benefits and the disadvantages of outsourcing, while
others choose to be a lot more careful and farm out activities
on a limited basis.
Why
Outsource
-
Outsourcing cuts down operating costs by nearly 40 percent, according
to Martyn Hart, chairman of the National Outsourcing Association.
In the United Kingdom, outsourcing can save a business between
10 and 30 percent on costs. When outsourcing is carried to third
world countries, such as the Philippines and India, businesses
can expect to save up to 40 percent.
- Outsourcing
offers a more flexible service, allowing the clients to concentrate
on their core businesses and enhance their position in the marketplace.
-
Outsourcing
provides a competitive edge. You could outsource to the best
in the world, up the value of your product, and lower the cost.
Outsourcing Solutions
Large
companies—such as America Online (AOL), Intel, and Phillips,
among others—have resorted to outsourcing intellectually
based activities like research, product development, logistics,
human relations, accounting, legal work, marketing, and market
research. These companies usually maintain an offshore facility
with a staff of 1,000 employees or more and are able to shoulder
the relative cost of an outsourcing venture in their business
model.
However,
smaller companies are left at a clear disadvantage because they
cannot take advantage of the outsourcing support enjoyed by
their bigger competitors. They do not have the same resources
or the know-how to absorb the risks of an outsourcing venture.
This
is where Outsourcing Solutions, Inc. (OSI) comes in.
Based
in Cebu City, the second-largest city in the Philippines, and
known as the IT hub of the country, OSI offers outsourcing support
to smaller companies minus the risks. Started in 1998, the company
initially offered data entry and book formatting services and
later evolved into a highly specialized service-oriented company
that has provided outsourcing solutions to partners such as
Lexis Nexis, Xlibris, Bank of America, Mother Earth News Archive,
Sound Choice, and Cannon Creek, among others.
The
OSI client service model works by creating a team of professionals—ranging
from one to fifty employees—dedicated to a specific client.
OSI is responsible for the recruitment, the training, and the
management of this staff. Having a dedicated team is an advantage
in that it allows the workers to concentrate on the client’s
needs, enabling greater flexibility and more sophisticated projects
without cost adjustment.
Beyond
administrative capabilities, OSI has developed technical competency
and expertise valuable in project start-up and expansion.
OSI
provides cost-effective, top-quality services such as:
- abstract
creation/abstracting
- book formating
- copyediting
- cover design
- customized
research
- data archiving
and collection
- data capture
- data conversion
- data entry/input
- data processing
- data warehousing
- document
conversion
- document
proofing
- document
scanning/OCR
- e-book formatting
- encoding
- financial
research and analysis
- graphics
design
- HTML coding
and conversion
- imaging
services
- indexing
- information
linking
- Internet
research and surveillance
- IT consulting
- keying/keyboarding
- mail list
creation
- news harvesting
- proofreading
- SGML tagging
- transcription
- website
design, development, and maintenance
OSI is currently working with one of its clients in providing
customer service through outsourced call centers.
Find a business solution right for you. Visit Outsourcing Services now!
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