Are the US and emerging markets ready for the generic drug boom?

One of Barack Obama's key goals as president is to reduce healthcare costs, particularly those related to prescription medications, by increasing the importation of generic drugs. However, the majority of these, or their ingredients, are manufactured in China, and to build confidence in such products, which are often considered unsafe, the FDA will require updated IT systems and solutions.

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Call center outsourcing: staying closer to home

Recent political events have somewhat dampened the explosion of interest in India and the Philippines as locations for call centers. Some US firms now favor nearer locations such as Canada and Mexico. However, for many companies, the cost savings afforded by these locations will outweigh the (often exaggerated) risks.

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eSecurity: catching the worm

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IT services: heading offshore

The battle lines have been drawn, with tier-one providers such as IBM Global Services, CSC, EDS and CGEY all gearing up to grow their own units in India. With price competition driving the move, many of these companies are being forced to build their offshore businesses or risk a reduced ability to win major projects.

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Outsourcing: moving offshore without sinking

Many firms could save money by following HSBC's lead and moving support operations offshore. But for a company with less global presence than the banking giant, this process can be challenging. As well as choosing the right local partner, enterprises need to build support for the process among their own staff - rather than running the risk of alienating them.

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Prudential: taking the Indian option

Insurer Prudential's decision to 'export' jobs to Mumbai is a bold move; it could both cut staff costs by 80% and improve quality of service. As utilities look to reduce costs and fight the downward price pressures that erode margins in the residential sector, they might do well to follow suit. The Pru's high profile example should encourage such moves.

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Retail banking IT: increased investment driving IT spend in India

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TCS/Pearl Group: a recipe for Indian BPO on British soil

It was announced recently that negotiations are at an advanced stage for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to take over the operation of life and pensions administration for the closed book portfolio of UK-based insurer Pearl Group. The deal involves the transfer of existing Pearl non-IT staff to TCS and marks a significant watershed in the UK's outsourcing market.

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Utility call centers: next stop India

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