[in-enaction] BPO: India becomes a hub for architecture design outsourcing

India becomes a hub for architecture design outsourcing
New Delhi | November 27, 2005 2:28:16 PM IST

If one thought that the sophisticated malls, flyovers and skyscrapers 
abroad had an indigenous genesis, then one needs to think again.

India's booming business process outsourcing industry is cashing on 
rising costs and dwindling architecture professionals in the US and 
Europe, offering construction firms complete design and infrastructure 
support ranging from designs to 3-D simulation of skyscrapers.

Experts say that spiraling costs, squeeze on margins and talent shortage 
has compelled establishments abroad to eye Indian architectural design 
firms.

With a brigade of architects, graphic designers, and software 
professionals, Indian design firms are gaining from their inherent 
strengths with an already established credibility in the BPO sector.

"We have architects as well as 3-D animators and 3-D graphic designers 
who are doing these types of services. We are developing some kind of 
animation for them as well, which is called 3-D animation and 
walkthrough for the architecture firms and builders. We do it mostly for 
architects who get the work done for builders in UK AND USA, and 
outsource their work to us," said N K Chandok, an architect and 
proprietor of a New Delhi-based design firm.

With a set of guidelines and building specifications, architects 
conceptualise and design a variety of buildings ranging from hospitals, 
educational institutes, residential complexes and much more.

"They have very well accepted (us). Initially we started with the 
designs coming from there and we developed those drawings here. But 
ultimately we are doing their designing also whenever required. They are 
comfortable with us and that's how we have reached to this level," says 
Achal Kataria, one of the directors of a design firm.

Indian establishments are anticipating their share of pie from the 
booming sector as business queries from a number of foreign countries 
are coming in, said Kataria.

"Recently, we interacted with people from Singapore and from Australia 
also. Once I showed them the quality of work, which we are doing here, 
they were ready to send work to us. Now we need more people to work for 
us," he said.

Even with Philippines and Mexico as its fierce competitors in the field, 
Indian establishments are not leaving any stone unturned to make a mark 
in the booming sector.

After information technology, banking, legal and medical outsourcing, 
architecture outsourcing is definitely going to make waves in Indian 
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. (ANI)