Intellect, the trade association for the UK Technology industry, has launched an online survey which seeks to assess key trends across the offshoring industry. The association is asking professionals who are engaged with the sector to participate in the survey.

The research will provide a valuable insight into the future of offshoring at a time when it has grown increasingly important to UK businesses. Globalisation has opened up markets across the world; by taking advantage of this offshoring has increased the opportunities available to UK enterprise, enabling them to develop innovative models of business for the 21st century. To gauge these future trends, the survey asks a number of a questions about the major issues faced by the industry including:

• Will it be the bigger players or the specialists who thrive in the future?

• Will we see an increase in public sector awareness and usage of offshoring?

• Is offshoring still politically sensitive or is it now seen as standard business practice?

The survey, based online, is open to all business and IT professionals with experience in offshoring. It will be live until 11 July 2008 and can be found at:

Intellect survey

Industry experts have welcomed the survey:

Paul Morrison, senior manager, Alsbridge, said, “Offshoring is at a crossroads with no clear view of what the future holds. There are a number of directions in which it could head, with widely varying implications for businesses in the UK and beyond. Intellect’s survey provides a canvas to capture the wide spectrum of professional opinions on offshoring’s future”.

Hilary Robertson, BPO Strategy Director, Steria said, “The survey is a valuable means to increasing our understanding of a sector which is continually growing in importance to the UK economy. I’m delighted to be able to contribute and hope that that other industry professionals will join in with this exciting project”.

As the first phase of Intellect’s offshoring research the survey’s findings will be incorporated in a whitepaper on offshore futures to be release in October 2008.