GBS WORLD NEWS | WEEK 3 | SEPTEMBER 2024
East African country, Kenya has partnered with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce to create IT and BPO job opportunities for skilled Kenyans, facilitated by Qhala Trust. The initiative, starting with a pilot in Nakuru County, was signed by Kenyan and German officials in Berlin. It aims to address labor shortages in Germany while tackling youth unemployment in Kenya. The program plans to offer training in digital skills and create 1,000 remote work opportunities by 2025.
Flatworld Solutions, a global ITO and BPO provider, has opened a new office in Ahmedabad, India. The office will serve as an offshore development center, focusing on mobile and eCommerce development for a major Los Angeles-based client. CEO Jacob Williams highlighted the move as part of Flatworld’s commitment to expanding global services. The company, with 3,500 employees and over 18,000 clients, aims to leverage Ahmedabad’s talent pool and thriving IT ecosystem.
Rome has introduced a virtual call center using AI to improve monitoring of local public services. The system, developed by the Municipal Agency for Quality Control (Acos), can handle 2,000 calls in five minutes. It will allow citizens to participate in surveys by responding with simple “Yes” or “No” answers. A trial, focusing on cemetery services, will begin in November 2024, with plans to expand the system’s language capabilities in the future.
GBS.World has announced the release of a free eBook titled “5 Outsourcing Paint Points Facing Business Buyers.” This resource offers insights into streamlining business operations, reducing costs, and accessing scalable talent pools. It features an in-depth analysis of outsourcing drivers, top challenges, and practical solutions. Based on a survey of over 380 global executives from Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US, it provides valuable market intelligence for global business buyers.
In South Africa, the 15th annual API Summit was held in Cape Town. The event brought together over 550 property investors, developers, and leaders from more than 30 countries, and featured forums like the Africa Proptech Forum, API Hospitality Forums and a panel discussion on growth opportunities for landlords in the BPO sector. With over 100 speakers, the event facilitated impactful networking and set the agenda for Africa’s evolving real estate landscape.
The Luxembourg-based tech-enabled fund administrator, Alter Domus, has entered into an outsourcing partnership with Partners Group to support operational functions for over 1,000 of its closed-end product entities across the US, Europe, and Asia. The deal includes fund administration, client due diligence, and corporate services. The partnership leverages Alter Domus’ global footprint and technology capabilities to enhance service efficiency. Both companies will invest in a bespoke technology roadmap and joint governance for the collaboration.
In global news, the recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) market, valued at US$7.20 billion in 2023, is expected to reach US$20.6 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.2%. A recent report by Maximize Market Research highlights key market trends, drivers, and challenges in the RPO market. Growth is driven by AI, automation, and analytics integration, improving hiring efficiency. Regional insights indicate high demand across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other regions.
