BCI Launches Global BPO Certifications in APAC

Richardson, TX, April 12, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Various market reports over the last few months are clearly suggesting that BPO competition is heating up in Asia. Propped by vigorous and concerted government efforts, countries like Philippines, Romania, China, Thailand and Vietnam are upping the ante against India, seriously challenging the cost and talent advantages it enjoyed in the outsourcing space for nearly a decade. Let’s make no mistake, APAC’s USD 100 billion plus ITES & BPO industry needs close to three million professionals over the next two years. But what’s even more challenging is that BPO companies need reliable, trustworthy and truly talented professionals, if they are to retain their clients. Needless to say, therefore, if countries like India are to retain their traditional leadership in outsourcing, they will have to create a robust “talent breeding system” which extends countrywide and nurtures talents that see BPO as a long term career rather than as an interim job opportunity and a “pocket money machine”.

It is against this backdrop that the drive of the Texas based credentialing giant BCI (http://bpocertifications.com) to certify Asian BPO Professionals becomes immediately significant. BCI – BPO Certification Institute Inc., which has already certified close to 5000 BPO professionals in North & South America, is all set to launch its Certification and Credentialing programs in APAC. BCI’s Outsourcing Competency Research Center (OCRC and the Credentialing Management Center (CMC) in Richardson have been working for the last 7 years to develop a Global Qualification Standard (GQS) for BPO professionals worldwide and the company has received numerous certification requests from BPO companies and professionals as well as from Outsourcing Associations in the Pacific rim.

“We believe that BCI certifications – powered by a 28 stage credentialing and certification system - will soon be for BPO industry what a BS from MIT is for the technology sector. At BCI, we aim at catching the best talents and tagging them,” says Vivek. K, BCI’s Global Head, Alliances & Advocacy. “If they have to go up the value chain and enhance their margins, BPO companies need to look for talents with competencies validated by neutral third parties rather than just hiring people with a smattering in English. BCI is doing just that: creating a pool of Certified Talents,” adds Vivek.

BCI Chairman and the father of Intangible Intelligence, Ken Stanfield lends a different air to the whole debate. “It’s critical for nations today to create a talentforce that’s globally competitive because it not only bloods and nourishes their industries well, but also eases unemployment pressures as global acceptability makes talents internationally mobile and drives them away from seeking only domestic jobs. At BCI, our efforts are directed at assisting both organizations and countries in establishing a qualification and competence framework, which will help in preparing and grooming an internationally competitive talentforce.”

Coming to think of it, it is indeed surprising that an industry like BPO, which is emerged a champion revenue earner for many of the Asian countries, is still hamstrung by a complete absence of a credible and trustworthy qualification standard for professionals working in it. Hopefully, the efforts of the BPO Certification Institute, Inc., will begin making a difference to talent quality. But how long will they take is the biggest question. Countries like India cannot wait.

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