Outsourcing influentials to speak at second International Outsourcing Summit

(Manila, Philippines) – Industry experts will converge in Manila once again for the Second International Outsourcing Summit organized by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines. Top outsourcing executives, allied industry leaders, and prominent analysts who have confirmed speaking slots include Jack Jones, Global Solutions Executive, JP Morgan Chase & Co.; Avinash Vashistha, Chairman and CEO, Tholons; Armand Angeli, Cofounder and Vice-President, European Outsourcing Association (EOP); Nikhil Rajpal, Principal, Everest Group; and Ralph Schonenbach, CEO, Trestle Group; Mary Beth Loesch, Vice President for Marketing, StarTek Inc.; and Alfredo Ayala, Chairman, BPA/P.

The conference will be held October 26-27 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Other high-profile speakers from the BPO industry have confirmed attendance as well, such as Gerry Clark, Partner, TPI South East Asia; Esther Muchiri, Kenya Skills Task Force; Madan Padaki, CEO, MeritTrac; Fabrizio Opertti, Senior Integration and Trade Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank; Ramesh Gudalur, Head, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation; and Paul Kukubo, CEO, Kenya ICT Board.

“The strength of the speaker lineup is testament to the success of the first outsourcing summit, and the gains the Philippine has made in sustaining our position as the world’s number two center for offshore services. It is gratifying that so many leaders in the industry and support sectors are willing to share their knowledge and expertise to ensure that the second International Outsourcing Summit is a success,” said Oscar Sañez, CEO of BPA/P.

More than 10 countries from five continents are now represented among confirmed attendees, and at least 300 delegates are expected to join discussions with world-renowned industry leaders and experts. Topics range from the next decade of outsourcing, emerging outsourcing locations, business development, talent management, telecommunications, and new technology.

A post-crisis assessment of the outsourcing industry will kick-start the event, reviewing BPOs’ success despite the uncertainty as affected economies accelerated plans to outsource key basic and high-value process to over 150 locations around the world. The following panels will also discuss the next wave of challenges for outsourcing beyond economies of scale and associated cost savings, as risk management, redundancy, skill sets, and regulatory environments have become the next competitive differentiators for established and emerging outsourcing locations alike. Given these new realities, this year’s conference includes panels on new strategies for emerging locators and locations; competitive advantages in a changing business climate; and talent specialization and language acquisition as a differentiator for labor supply.

Aside from labor and location, new technology plays a prominent role at the summit, as telcos and Internet service providers alike deal with greater demand for bandwidth coupled with every-increasing options for wired, wireless, and last-mile connectivity. And with Web 2.0 becoming an increasingly viable recruitment, retention, and marketing option for outsourcers, IT managers need to strike a fine balance between maintaining security, and taking advantage of business opportunities available through online channels.

In recognition as well of the rise in non-voice services, six breakout sessions will cover vertical-specific outsourcing in retail, health services, government, banking and finance, marketing, and human resources. Their specific demands, challenges, and perception will be discussed in detail by leading practitioners and interest groups.

Sañez said, “This year’s summit has an even more comprehensive agenda for participants, as we acknowledge the increasing complexity of services that BPOs now offer. We want to parlay the success of outsourcing into the next decade and beyond, but we also have to face new challenges, especially with new players entering the market, new regulations affecting implementation, and new services demanded by clients.”

The second International Outsourcing Summit will also provide a recap of the first conference, and will provide extensive networking and business matching opportunities for delegates.

About the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P)
The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) is the umbrella organization for the fastest-growing industry in the Philippines. BPA/P has made several significant contributions that further strengthened the Philippines’ position as an emerging global leader in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. BPA/P undertakes research to support and promote industry growth, and regularly conducts CEO-level briefings; works closely with government to ensure a BPO-friendly investment and operating environment, and with the educational sector to provide a reliable supply of knowledge workers.