Report reveals outsourcing focus

IT services provider Savvis has released the results of a recent study which reveals that most successful organisations are spending more of their budgets on IT infrastructure outsourcing, says Web Host Industry Review.

The study's results echo those of Symantec's 2008 'State of the data centre' report, which showed that 45% of companies are turning to outsourcing and training to resolve a lack of staffing issue.

Independent research group Vanson Bourne compiled the study in February on behalf of Savvis, in which the company surveyed 314 IT decision-makers in the UK, US and Singapore.

Advanced Computer Software, the owners of out of-hours software provider Adastra, has bought a hosting and outsourcing firm to accelerate its roll-out of hosted software services, reports EHI Primary Care.

ACS has acquired Business Systems Group (BSG) for £15.5 million (R197.8 million). The company said the acquisition would enable it to provide hosting, managed services and outsourcing capabilities to its customers across primary care.

Vin Murria, CEO of ACS, told EHI Primary Care that Adastra was facing increasing demand for hosting solutions, which the purchase of BSG would help it meet.

Wipro Technologies says it is working to add customers in untapped industries and developing markets to maintain growth during the economic downturn, said joint chief executive Girish Paranjpe, according to Wall Street Journal.

The technology arm of conglomerate Wipro, India's second-largest outsourcer by sales, is trying to make inroads among clients in industries such as healthcare, utilities and media, where its customer base has traditionally been small, Paranjpe said in an interview.

At the same time, it is expanding its presence in emerging economies like China, India and Brazil.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, will outsource its Southbridge chips to Taiwan-based Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and will close some assembly and testing plants that are not cost-effective, sources reported, according to China Knowledge Online.

A senior executive of ASE said the company will help carry out chip testing and packaging work for Intel's Southbridge chips, and estimates that Intel's deal will boost the company's operating revenue by 40% in the second quarter of 2009 from a quarter earlier.

Siliconware Precision Industries in Taiwan and American Amkor Technology will also benefit from Intel's outsourcing plan.