The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - BPO/outsourcing at the real local level

BPO/outsourcing at the real local level

Went to a chamber of commerce "mixer" yesterday, doing the sales promotion thing. The chamber serves a suburban area in the Ohio valley.

One guy there was an Indian (full beard, maybe a sikh?) who stated that he had moved in from Cal. to open a local office of his company, which deals in GUESS WHAT kiddies - BPO, business process outsourcing. He said "everyone in this room probably talks to someone from India who has an American accent on the phone every day" and stated that his company's mission was to find ways to reduce costs through outsourced call centers, etc.

Now, most of the people in the room are small time entrepreneurs. The room's mood was favorable when this guy spoke, like "rah! great! more money for us! Welcome!" My own interpretation was decidedly different.

I wonder if the people in the chamber who were approving EVER considered that many of their clients and customers are subject to BPO and therefore will fall a few quanta in income as this guy tweaks up the local redneck run businesses to "top efficiency".

Personally, I felt like a bunch of cockroaches had been dumped in my basement by someone, even if this is only the visible tip of the iceberg...

Bored Bystander
Thursday, February 19, 2004

Just out of curiosity, where exactly in "a suburban area in the Ohio valley"

I'm in the greater Cincinnati area myself -- actually a bit east (Amelia).

Sgt. Sausage
Thursday, February 19, 2004

Sargeant, hrumph-ahem... shoot me an email... small werld.

Bored Bystander
Thursday, February 19, 2004

Blue Ash here... did you guys sign up for the JOS meetup in Cincy?

dir at badblue dot com
Friday, February 20, 2004

Just found the meetup page. I'm so there.

Any ideas on a meetup location?

Bored Bystander
Friday, February 20, 2004

If we're talking north of the city -- and folks can handle sushi/japanese -- we could do a meetup at Akira's on Tylersville Rd. If downtown -- maybe Benihand's on 6th street.

I mention Japanese because it seems as though everyone in the Cincinnati Orkut community is also in the Sushi community...

I figure a restaurant would be a decent place... Thoughts?

dir at badblue dot com
Friday, February 20, 2004

How about a strip club instead?

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Saturday, February 21, 2004