Outsourcing: An Apple For 3000-Indian Employees

For once, Apple Computers has been thinking inside the box rather than outside, and following the lead of its fellow global technology majors, it has also decided to set up a large scale technical support centre in India.

Sources confirm Apple is gearing up to hire as many as 1,500 people for its Bangalore-based facility by year-end, and will increase its staff count to a total of 3,000 employees by the end of 2007. Apple’s Indian facility worth $14-billion will be the firm’s first support centre outside of its Cupertino (California) headquarters.

To be set up by property developer RMZ Corp in its EcoSpace property on the outer ring road near Marathahalli in Bangalore, RMZ will create a 1.5-lakh sq. ft. setting for Apple’s first outsourcing venture in the first phase and 1.5-lakh sq. ft. in the second.

While, an Apple official said it was a tad premature to talk about it, and RMZ declined to comment, as well, a state government official affirmed the Apple proposal had received clearance from the government to invest in Bangalore. “But, they are yet to reveal the extent of investment or the total employment. They should be starting operations within the next two months.’’ according to the official. And, the rumour goes Steve Jobs, CEO – Apple Computers is likely to come to India to launch the company’s tech support centre. Expected to start operations within the next two months, sources confirm Jobs is expected to come on his first official visit to India.

Further, they affirm Apple decided to set up a high-tech facility in Bangalore, only after a rigorous examination of seven other Indian cities, and will set up its tech support along the lines of Dell’s Indian operations.

A record revenue performance in fiscal year 2005 (a growth of 68%), led by the surging popularity of its iPod music players, it is not clear; whether Apple’s Indian centre will result in job losses in its Cupertino facility. But, the flak has started to fly already as Americans respond with comments like:

Aee: “This can’t be true, can it? Apple wouldn’t be this stupid….”

Bee. “What?! I spent $300 plus for Apple CareT and they do this?”

Cee: “I know it’s about saving money, but BAD MOVE Apple! Let’s hope you do a better job in picking personnel than the other companies I’ve dealt with.”

Dee: “Awesome! Now I can talk to ‘John’ in India, who just got done watching Seinfeld episodes to learn how be more American.”

Now, now, you all, I think it’s just a question of sour grapes. You said it Aee, Apple is not stupid, and therefore that is the raison d’etre it is coming to Bangalore, as did a whole slew of other global giants, after realising what India has to offer, they can’t get anywhere else i.e. talent, skills, a highly educated workforce that is hard-working, as well as, dedicated. Those attributes Aee, are no longer available in the US of A, unless, you take into account all those Asians, who provide the grey cells and elbow grease that allows America to retain its position. If it weren’t for them, you dumb gringos would have run the country into the ground, the way your President Bush seems hell bent on.

Bee, I suggest you go and see if you can find anything to spend $300 on that is Made in USA. And, as for you Cee, Dell has no complaints about its personnel in India. Recently, CNNMoney.com quoted a Dell spokesperson as saying: “On the consumer front, one of the company’s best performing sites in terms of customer satisfaction is located in Bangalore.” That is saying something and a whole lot more Cee, as Dell has 30-centres around the world. While, K.S. Narahari, Director - Dell International Services says Bangalore has a strong brand equity, adding: “So, it is easy to convince people to come and work here. Talent is available here, both technical and non-technical - is good.” Anything else, you want to add to that Cee?

As for Dee, while you know nothing about other countries and their culture, leave alone their histories and geographies, for that matter, what do you know about your own country, the USA? Zilch! So take your hat off to an Indian, who takes time out to learn about your country, and knows more about it than you or your fellow Americans do!

Now, stop the bitching, and let the Indians do the work that can’t be done in America, because the country is going to the dogs, while idiots give orders for the killing of innocent civilians by bombing Afghanistan and Iraq, even as Osama bin Laden plays hide and seek with the great American GIs. Or, the great American army that holds innocent Iraqi civilians as prisoners, just so they can give play out their sadistic sexual fantasies. And, while America’s leaders gun for Iran, the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Indian Air Force) managed to show the All American Boys, or should we say Candy Boys, as they can’t seem to do anything, unless they have gum to chew or candy to suck, what those Indians can do with their out-dated and limited supply of arms, when faced with the most expensive arms arsenal and the latest weapon technology, as in the war games played out by the two Armed Forces in the war exercises conducted in India and Alaska, last year. The Indians, certainly, showed the Americans, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

And, if you think Apple user worries about tech support from India is justified, think again! As Harish Bijoor, a strategy consultant says: or different price levels, you get different quality of service. There are some ho pay low for their call centre operations here, and they get lower quality service. But, India also has the capability and skill sets to offer high quality service, provided the outsourcing company pays for it.” A statement ratified by the Dell spokesperson on CNNMoney.com