Choose your outsourcing mode
Like a buffet table offering an array of sumptuous choices, outsourcing
has evolved into a smorgasbord of complex services – and so are the
terminologies that go with it.
The term offshore outsourcing became a buzzword since the boom and
simply involves hiring the services of contractors abroad (think India).
But an interesting article noted a variety of options by which outsourcing
is offered to potential clients:
- Nearshoring for those willing to stray no farther than Canada or Mexico
- Inshoring for those who prefer to bring foreign workers to America
- Rightshoring for those desiring a custom package of in-house and
off-site, foreign and domestic.
And yes, there’s also something called microsourcing which involves
selecting processes to outsourcing instead of a company migrating its
entire IT department to India.
Can we blame the anti-outsourcing backlash in the US for the evolution of these
outsourcing flavors? On the one hand a nice euphemism can go a long way - "Honey, my career has been rightsourced to India" certainly sounds nicer than "I am jobless".
More likely, the buffet of outsourcing options is reflecting the maturation of the outsourcing industries. Businesses are very demanding of their employees. It's only natural that they are as demanding of their service providers.
The fact that the menu is growing is a clear sign of dynamic and competitive market forces at work.
