(CNN) — The Internet has revolutionized many business sectors and has single-handedly created one — virtual assistance.

In recent years, thousands have switched their corporate jobs to work as virtual assistants for new bosses they may never actually meet. As independent contractors, they are engaged in all kinds of work ranging from bookkeeping, travel arrangements via phone, e-mail or fax, data entry, tax advice, accountancy to technology support. In spite of the fact that some bosses are only just coming to realize that administrative support can easily be done virtually, virtual assistance is in vogue.

Virtual assistance services have sprung up in such countries as the US, Australia, Canada and the UK. And the industry is now so popular that trade groups and websites begin to assist virtual assistants and try to attract potential clients.

The popularity of virtual assistance is attributable to the following two factors.

First of all, it is cost-effective. Employers are exempt from paying for extra office space, furniture, equipment or software, as well as additional cost for training, pensions or work insurance.

Secondly, virtual assistance sometimes can help employers make full use of time differences to meet deadlines.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/19/globaloffice.virtual.assistant/

Popularity: 2% [?]

China, internet, Outsourcing, virtual assistance

An agreement was signed between CineGroup, the world leader in the animation industry, and Conghua Animation and Comic Industry Park in Conghua, a county-level city under Guangzhou on May 4, 2008.

With its 30 years of history and highly qualified talents, the CineGroup turns out over 30,000-minute three-dimensional animations, standing in the front of the global animation field.

And the Animation and Comic Industry Park in Conghua covers a total area of about 113 hecters and has a total investment of 2 billion yuan. It consists of various sections on training, outsourcing and original animation etc, and has gradually been built into a development platform for the animation and comic industry.

According to the agreement, CineGroup will work with Conghua on projects of animation outsourcing bases.

Popularity: 2% [?]

agreement, animation, China, CineGroup, Outsourcing

Microsoft China plans to set up an IT training center in Wuxi, one of China’s top 15 most economically developed cities, to prepare skilled professionals for the city’s emerging IT industry.

Microsoft China and the Wuxi government have signed a deal to establish the training program. According to the deal, the city’s hi-tech zone Wuxi New District will provide infrastructure for the training center and Microsoft technical platform and program. The center is expected to give professional IT training to 10,000 students each year.

Wuxi, with its solid industry foundation and overseas business network, plans to have 100 companies providing international outsourcing services and exporting software by 2010. Each will employ at least 2,000 staff and will have an export volume of $30 million. And the city has been active in seeking cooperation with foreign outsourcing companies.

“We are delighted to have Microsoft as a partner to help us in our endeavor,” said Yang Weize, Party chief in Wuxi. “We believe Microsoft’s experience will help us develop a large pool of IT professionals in Wuxi,” he said. And Zhang Yaqin, head of Microsoft China said the company is willing to help Wuxi to achieve its outsourcing goal.

Currently, outsourcing is a big trend for business development. As a professional company providing virtual assistants for businesses, BPOVIA Ltd is always your source in China.

Popularity: 7% [?]

China, IT training, Microsoft, Outsourcing, Wuxi

Despite earlier reports suggesting that an increasing number of foreign-funded enterprises in the Pearl River Delta region and other parts of South China are moving elsewhere, a survey, conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) in partnership with Hewitt Association Consulting (Shanghai) Co Ltd, shows that most foreign-funded enterprises in South China plan to increase investment substantially.

The 419 firms polled are companies in which members of AmCham South China have invested and joint ventures and representative offices in South China.

The survey demonstrates that the foreign-funded enterprises plan to increase investment by at least $16 billion over the next three years, part of which will come from profits of on-the-ground operations. And 90% of the firms polled said they have been making profits or would become profitable within two years.

“The results indicate a high level of satisfaction with and optimism in the business environment in South China,” said Harley Seyedin, president of AmCham South China.

As a growing number of overseas investors are interested in exploring the vast Chinese market, BPOVIA Ltd based in China, a professional services provider for outsourcing companies, welcomes all clients across the globe.

Popularity: 2% [?]

AmCham South China, BPOVIA, China, foreign-funded enterprises, investment, Outsourcing

Foreign investment in China continued to surge in the first quarter of this year. Realized foreign investment reached $2.74 million during the first quarter of the year, up 61.26% on an annual basis and in March alone foreign investment was $9.28 billion, up 39.6% year-on-year.

The number of newly set up enterprises declined. From January to March, government-approved foreign-invested enterprises numbered 6,949, down 25.26%, which means that large enterprises are increasing investment in some large projects. Commerce Minister Chen Deming said that the number of projects with an investment of over $30 million for the first two months increased 2.5 times the number of the same period last year.

In spite of worries that corporate income tax law that came into effect this year might impede the FDI flow, “the latest figures show the investment strategy of large enterprises were not influenced by these policy changes,” said Wang Zhile, director of the research center for transnational corporations under the Ministry of Commerce.

Experts said that the sustained increase in FDI indicates that China is still attractive for foreign investors despite the tax increase for foreign enterprises. “It shows that China remains an attractive market for multinationals” because of its large market, vast manufacturing capacity and relatively low costs, said Wang.

China now encourages foreign investors to participate in reforming State enterprises through mergers and acquisitions and expects more high-tech enterprises and restrict projects in heavy energy-consuming sectors.

For foreign investors and businessmen interested in the Chinese market, BPOVIA Ltd based in China is ready to provide its professional services to facilitate your business processes in the country.

Popularity: 2% [?]

BPOVIA, China, enterprises, FDI, investment, Outsourcing

"Over the last three years, the Chinese, Philippines and Malaysia have emerged as very strong contenders in the IT-related services," Milan Sheth, partner of business advisory services and leader in technology and telecom Verticals, Ernst & Young India, told ZDNetAsia in a phone interview.

"It will be naive not to take the threat from these countries seriously," Sheth said. The Philippines, he said, has emerged as a very strong threat to India in the provision of voice-related services.

  Read more…

Popularity: 5% [?]

BPO, China Business, India, Offeshoring, Outsourcing, Threat

Beyond Outsourcing To Smartsourcing
Robert Malone

With outsourcing increasingly becoming a way of life in the global economy, the key question for many businesses is how a well managed outsourcing process can translate into business improvement across the board.
Read more…

Popularity: 2% [?]

Outsourcing, smartsourcing