Meritocracy drives BPO

NEW DELHI: BPO is the only industry driven by meritocracy in India, according to panelists at a Nasscom session on BPO careers.

No other traditional industry offers the same growth potential like the BPO industry offers its employees. A BPO employee, within a span of six-seven years, can become the assistant vice president of the company he works for.

BPO industry has evolved in India from being the call center of the world to doing quality focused high-end work. Foreign companies are outsourcing to India not only because of the cost arbitrage but also due to the quality of work being done in India.

Urging the younger generation to opt for BPO as a career, AMEX India senior vice president Gautam Chainani said, “It is a misconception that working at a BPO means answering or making calls during one's whole lifetime. Youngsters can also pick up domain expertise and get global exposure while working in a call center. They can also pursue MBA along with working to upgrade their managerial skills.”

He added, “The top three attributes that BPO companies look at while hiring its associates include ability to re-skill himself, ability to be a strong manager and a global mindset.”

Most of the panelists expressed concern over the lack of quality people in the BPO industry albeit a large English speaking population. According to estimates, by 2010, one out of every four high tech jobs in developed nations would be outsourced.

Currently, the BPO industry employs around 3.5 lakh people and this figure is likely to increase to 13 lakh by 2010. In this scenario lack of quality people could act as a hindrance to the growth of BPO companies.