The history of outsourcing goes a long a way back. Modern outsourcing started with manufacturing outsourcing which in the past involved big company names such as Coca-Cola. It outsourced supply chains so that they may be able to have more time to focus on the marketing aspect of the business. From this simple beginning, outsourcing has gone a long way since then.
The Roots of Outsourcing
It has been said that outsourcing started ever since people began producing and selling items such as tools, food, and household items. As society and communities grew, people began to do specialized works and traded with other people goods for services and vice versa. Looking at it, it can be said that people a thousand years ago were already practicing a form of outsourcing.
When the industrial age came between the years 1800s to 1900s, companies were vertically integrated and did not practice outsourcing. Each company took care of everything from production to manufacturing to deliveries. Companies in these era handled their own payrolls, taxes, and hired their own lawyers. Everything was an internal affair. This kind of setup however does not encompass all organizations at that time but this was the trend at that time.
As time passed by, specialization contracting gained popularity especially in the field of service industry. This was the beginning of the modern outsourcing practice. During the industrial revolution, services such as insurance, engineering and architecture have begun to be outsourced to 3rd part organizations although the client company and the specialized organization usually just belong to the same area or country.
The Beginnings Of Offshore Outsourcing
Onshore outsourcing was growing to be more and more productive for businesses. It all started out with outsourcing low-valued items such as apparels and toys and transcended to outsourcing items with higher values such as appliances and other electronic gadgets. In the history of outsourcing, it was manufacturing that first left the main land to offshore destinations. This move by businesses was for the chance to save on costs.
At first, offshore outsourcing garnered a few apprehensions from business proprietors. But with the improvement of logistics, offshore outsourcing gained popularity. With the development in education and skills of lower wage countries, the value of offshore outsourcing became higher. In fact, during the 1970s, computer related manufacturing was also outsourced offshore. The process of outsourcing just grew and has never stopped since.
Outsourcing Today - Today, outsourcing different functions has never been easier with the help of the information technology. Data can easily be sent and received through the information superhighway. It is not uncommon to see in your daily items such as in the R & D of your prescription drugs that they are outsourced to companies in other countries.
Top Outsourcing Countries Today - Top outsourcing countries today includes Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile,China,India,Indonesia,Malaysia,Mexico, Philippines,Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam.
Global Outsourcing Market Today - Acccording to McKinsey, the global "addressable" Business Procurement Outsourcing or BPO market is worth US$122 - US$154 billion, of which: 35-40 retail banking, 25-35 insurance, 10-12 travel/hospitality, 10-12 auto, 8-10 telecoms, 8 pharma, 10-15 others and 20-25 is finance, accounting and HR. |
