The use of key geographic regions as sources of lower-cost services is expanding beyond the cost-driven motive of offshoring. The delivery of IT and business process services from these very regions is becoming part of a much larger set of business strategies defined as global sourcing. As IDC research is showing, global sourcing is increasingly being viewed as a strategic component of service delivery that is centered not only on reducing cost but also on enabling enterprise transformation and supporting the ability of companies to access new markets. Supported by a virtual team of analysts based in all regions of the world, IDC's Global Sourcing Strategies service identifies opportunities and analyzes strategies for IT and business services firms, technology firms with services businesses, technology firms in need of R&D/engineering services, and pure-play offshore services companies in this burgeoning area. The service leverages IDC's worldwide analyst coverage to deliver forecasts, local and regional trend analysis, and competitive analysis of key services players.

This service covers the following segments of the global sourcing services market:

• Regional services providers' revenue
• End-customer spending on global sourcing services
• Established IT and business process services firms' global sourcing services activities
• R&D/engineering services

Throughout the year, this service will address the following topics:

• Local and regional global sourcing services trends
• Labor and regulatory issues
• Customer preferences regarding global sourcing services
• Best practices regarding global sourcing services delivery
• The significance and key roles of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (the BRIC countries)
• Comparative analysis of global sourcing providers' strengths and weaknesses
• Spending and revenue forecasts for global sourcing services
• Country-level analysis

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. Which services do customers prefer to have (and not to have) sourced from which geographic locations?
2. How will global sourcing impact the future delivery capabilities of service providers?
3. What effect will the global sourcing phenomenon have on IT and business services pricing?
4. What is the structure of an optimal global sourcing model?
5. How does a global sourcing strategy offer opportunities regarding IT, business process outsourcing (BPO), and engineering services?
6. How do regional and local trends and preferences affect a firm's global sourcing services strategy?

IDC's Global Sourcing Strategies service examines the global sourcing of IT, business process, and R&D/engineering services, analyzing key trends and drivers and evaluating the competitive landscape for companies currently competing in, partnering in, or looking to leverage this service delivery model, including:

Accenture, ACS, Aricent, Atos Origin, BearingPoint, Capgemini, Cognizant, CPM, CSC, Deloitte, FirstSource, Fujitsu, Genpact, HCL Technologies, Hitachi, HP, IBM, iGATE, Infosys, ITC Infotech, Keane, Lockheed Martin, Luxoft, MegaSoft, Microsoft, Neoris, NIIT, Oracle, Patni Computer, Perot Systems, Reliance, SAIC, SAP, Satyam, Siemens, Softtek, TCS, Tech Mahindra, T-Systems, Unisys, Wipro, WNS, and Xansa.

This service focuses on the following core research. In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct additional research on specific topics, or emerging market segments, via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.

This study provides market forecasts on key IT services related to pure-play global sourcing providers. The study highlights shifts in spending on the sourcing of IT services by region for a five-year period.

This study provides market forecasts on key BPO services related to pure-play global sourcing providers. The study highlights shifts in spending on the sourcing of BPO services by region for a five-year period.

This document provides details on how players are enabling customers to enter emerging markets and offers a blueprint to vendors for optimizing their opportunities via global sourcing in these rapidly growing geographies.

This study assesses the trend by offshore players of capturing outsourcing/managed services deals and provides an analysis of a five-year view from 2004 to 2008.

IDC offers a complete market intelligence solution customized to meet your business requirements. The array of products and services available to you includes:

• The opportunity to have your specific questions answered through personal interaction with industry experts who cover the topics and markets in your service
• Around-the-clock access to our market intelligence on idc.com, IDC's personalized Web experience
• A view of the market's future with 12 months of continuous intelligence about its direction and the reasons behind it, along with actionable advice for taking advantage of existing and emerging opportunities
• Special client discount pricing on purchases of research from other services
• Complimentary admission to IDC's annual Directions conference, where you'll hear our latest forecasts and network with IDC analysts and other industry professionals
• Complimentary invitations to monthly executive telebriefings, interactive forums designed to provide you with insights about research and strategies directly from IDC analysts

To find out how our flexible packaging options can meet your specific business needs, please contact your IDC sales executive.

As a privately held company, IDC believes that our customers are our primary constituency. A large percentage of every revenue dollar is reinvested back into our products, including more analysts, more geographic coverage, and extensive primary research.

Our steady growth over the past 10-plus years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.