India's domestic outsourcing market is gaining momentum. Most outsourcing service providers are turning inwards both to diversify risks and partake of the growing opportunity on home ground. Focus is now shifting from telecommunications and technology outsourcing to financial services outsourcing in the country. Of these, the Insurance BPO services market is expected to grow to USD 1.5 billion in size in the next three years- a substantial increase over its current USD 720 million size.Interesting to note here is that unlike their European & North American peers, Indian carriers are not driven by cost compulsions but rather are challenged by volume and manpower constraints resulting in the built-up of a favorable disposition towards outsourcing (See Image).

Carriers see vendors as partners providing best in breed knowledge and performance to enable them to focus on their growth objectives. Indian vendors and multinational vendors have only recently started catering to the outsourcing needs of the domestic market. With the increasing incidence of outsourcing in insurance sector, critical manpower base and know how specific to the Indian geography are also evolving at the vendor end. More firms are likely to realize profitability once the market acquires sufficient breadth and depth.

Celent recently published 'Outsourcing Trends in Indian Life Insurance' which captures the key issues and trends in the domain.