From left: SiTF BSC Chairman, Charles Fan and IAOP Chairman Michael F Corbett at the new partnership signing ceremony.
SINGAPORE, 6 MARCH 2009 - The Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) has joined an international organisation which is seeking to transform the world of business through outsourcing.
Last week the SiTF became an affiliate member and the official local chapter for the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), which has 40,000 corporate, professional, and associate members worldwide.
The AOP is the global, standard-setting organization and advocate for the outsourcing profession. Its Asia members include Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
The membership was confirmed on 27 February 2009 with a signing ceremony between the SiTF, represented by the Best Sourcing Chapter (BSC) Chairman, Charles Fan and IAOP Chairman Michael F Corbett.
The IAOP’s client-side members are, on average, responsible for US$60 million per year of outsourcing spending with some overseeing outsourcing programs worth billions of dollars.
Global outsourcing strong
A recent IAOP membership survey that found nearly 75 per cent of organisations will do the same or more outsourcing in response to the financial crisis, and that greater contract flexibility is their top need. But 25 per cent reported lower volumes and 19 per cent said they have renegotiated prices on existing contracts.
The survey found that outsourcing users are most concerned about safety and cost savings, with more than 53 per cent saying they are doing more due diligence and also favor working with larger providers.
The SiTF has some 400 members from multinational corporations and local companies. The main charter of the federation is to assist its members in business development, market intelligence, overseas trade missions, networking and alliances.
Beneficial new partnership
Corbett said that each association can leverage on the new partnership and bring greater benefit to their respective outsourcing members.
BSC chairman Fan said the membership was a significant milestone for the SiTF BSC Chapter as that partnership would greatly benefits its members.
The IAOP’s 2009 Asia-Pacific Outsourcing Summit, ‘Outsourcing 2009’, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 12 – 13 May 2009, will explore Asia’s role in the new global economy.
