According to Forrester Research , Continental European countries, unlike the U.S. and the U.K., are reluctant to outsource operations to countries such as India. Very few large-scale offshore deals were signed in the region, and increase in the adoption of this trend is doubtful.

Accenture (a U.S.-based management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services provider) has merged its delivery center at Casablanca into its Global Delivery Network to improve systems integration and outsourcing capabilities for European clients. The Accenture Global Delivery Network has 76,000 professionals at numerous delivery centers and other Accenture and client locations around the world.

EDISON, N.J. and BRUSSELS, Belgium (March 20, 2008) – Crossing Media LLC, owner of HRO Today, FAO Today, CRO and HRO Europe magazines, today announced it has completed acquisition of the U.S. and European assets of SharedXpertise, owners and operators of SharedXpertise.com, the HRO Association and HRO World Europe Conference.

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. is building on its strengths and aligning its operations to focus on reaching $10 billion in revenue by 2010, company executives told attendees of the company's inaugural industry analyst and advisor meeting earlier this week.

ACS President and CEO Lynn Blodgett and members of his leadership team told about 50 industry analysts and advisors that the company will continue focusing on its expertise in business processes, information technology, and applied technology, and building on its deep client relationships to contribute to its 2010 goal.

Information Services Group, Inc. said it will acquire sourcing advisory firm TPI for $280 million in cash. TPI’s founder and members of management will invest 30 percent of their proceeds from the transaction in ISG stock at closing.

Growth in business process outsourcing, which includes HRO and FAO, showed the most significant downturn for a quarter ever, according to research firm TPI. The sector was indicative of an overall downturn in all outsourcing activities.

The trends were documented in TPI’s quarterly survey results.

Roseland, NJ and Newtown, PA (April 3, 2007) – Crossing Media, LLC CEO Elliot Clark today announced the acquisition of HRO Today, HRO Europe, and FAO Today magazines and their online properties from Outsourcing Today, LLC founders Harry Feinberg and Jay Whitehead. HRO Today and HRO Europe together represent one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing HR trade media groups, and FAO Today is the market leader in the outsourced finance and accounting market.

U.K.’s The Capita Group Plc has been selected the preferred supplier for a $570 million, 10-year comprehensive BPO contract from the Southampton City Council, the company announced.
The contract, if approved, calls for Capita to deliver a wide range of services including customer services, IT, HR, and procurement. Final negotiations are continuing, with a council decision due in July and the contract expected to commence on the October 1.

Denville, NJ-based NetFabric Holdings said it has established a subsidiary, NetFabric Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., to deliver business process outsourcing (BPO), human resource outsourcing (HRO), and managed services and software development operations for its clients. The center has been in operation for some time and has processes and employees with prior experience in outsourced service delivery for external customers in addition to meeting internal requirements.

FAO service provider Xansa has won preferred supplier status with the BBC for outsourced finance and accounting (F&A) services following a competitive bid against Capita, Infosys BPO, and the current incumbent EDS.

The contract, worth around $160 million over 10 years, will be one of the most prominent F&A deals let to date and will save the BBC in excess of $375 million during the life of the contract. This will be a major contribution to the BBC’s strategy to minimize the cost of its support services and release more money into their creative output.