Date:24/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/24/stories/2005062401410500.htm

Back Homeshoring could emerge as next big IT trend, say experts

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , June 23

HOMESHORING could soon emerge as a new trend within the IT sector. According to Ms Hanneke C. Frese, an independent HR consultant based in Zurich, homeshoring - though not mainstream now - could possibly emerge as an interesting option for the technology sector, given the pressure of finding the right talent.

Speaking at a Nasscom event on HR in knowledge-based industry, she said: "At a time when corporations across markets are looking to bring down costs, innovative approaches are being tried out to meet their business imperatives. Therefore, nearshoring and offshoring would continue as companies look to innovative ways to cut costs to be competitive. Interestingly, as human resources, key to the knowledge industry, are hard to find, they would continue to attract talent as is the case with Scotland, which is wooing its people back home with better job options."

With higher levels of attrition and increasing pressures on human resources, workforce is being offered flexible work options, wherein they are allowed to take work home, she added.

Mr Monty Mohanty, Chairman of Codelinks, said that the company has tried a similar approach on a pilot project for the employees.

What started with about seven employees taking work back home could be extended to a larger team.

However, this does not mean that the entire work would be handled out of their homes. This is just a flexible option for them.