Outsourcing services center stage

Beijing's booming outsourcing services are being spotlighted at the ongoing China International Fair for Trade in Services, and attracting global industry leaders.

After 10 years of rapid development, gross sales of the city's overseas outsourcing services have soared from $400 million in 2006 to $4.5 billion in 2015, according to Zhong Mingbo, director general of the Beijing Association of Sourcing Service.

The outsourcing sector of the fourth China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services, also known as CIFTIS or the Beijing Fair, held a matchmaking conference for international software and information enterprises to share their experience and promote cross-industry integration.

Gagan Sabharwal, director for Global Trade Development of the India National Association of Software and Services Companies(NASSCOM), said: "Our association has set up branches on the basis of location, technology, function and other concepts for members to exchange their best practical experiences."

In recent years, India has occupied a leading position in the global outsourcing market and NASSCOM brought its rich global experience to this year's Beijing Fair. "Their tips could be worth hearing," Zhong said, indicating that Chinese in the sector expected to learn from as well as build cooperation with their industry counterparts from India.

People attending the event said they are keenly aware of the challenges ahead after the sector's continued growth during the past year.

Though Japan is one of the main players in the international outsourcing market, Japanese providers expressed their concern and strategies to seek a larger market presence.

"We should better integrate the latest technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence with our service to solve such problems," said Masayuki Osuka, chairman of the Global Business Committee of the Japan Information Technology Service Industry Association, who said he was impressed by the international perspectives of guests and speakers during the event.

Zhong said, "Our focus has been transformed from technology itself to how much value our service can create for users."