Global IT players Accenture, IBM reinforce analytics

Accenture and IBM, leading international IT firms, are in the process of growing their consulting and analytics offerings based out of their Indian outsourcing operations. Accessibility of faculty for this work in India coupled with prospects of gaining a bigger share of the clients’ business is said to be driving such initiatives. Meanwhile, the clients also expect that their suppliers would not only provide them with technological expertise, but also a comprehensive business and knowledge insight.

Quoting the executive director of Accenture India Rekha Menon, a report in The Economic Times says that in the natural process of things, analytics was the next thing to happen. She said that they would be visiting the prominent B-schools in India as they require staff that is able to explore data, analyze the information and come about with high-quality business insights that clients are able to utilize to enhance their business.

In November last year, IBM had made an announcement to establish a sophisticated business analytics center in Bangalore in India. Later the IT major has revealed its plans to expand its offerings to include business analytics to four of its major indusruy verticals – banking, retail, healthcare and telecom.

The report quotes the IBM India vice-president for global delivery, Rajesh Nambiar as saying that the expectations of the clients vis-à-vis international delivery was growing. According to Nabiar, the clients now demand more intense business analysis that would enable them to comprehend the manner in which their operations would improve and exactly how technical expertise would assist in this aspect. Thus, it has become imperative not only to hold discussion with the CIO of the company, but also the CFO and other people involved.

Meanwhile, Dell Services’ consulting practice chairman Jim Champy is of the view that there was adequate availability of personnel having analytics abilities in India and at reasonable cost. Moreover, these personnel were capable of delivering high-end services that would enable the IT firms operating from the country to make increased profits.