Maximize Your Revenue... Want a quick analysis of the offshoring controversy? Think of the U.S. as equity and India as debt. "If you're the equity, leverage is a good thing." That's Nick Laird, CEO of Global Realty Outsourcing (GRO), describing the benefits of outsourcing business processes.

For example, according to Laird, "We do more discounted cash flow modeling -- more ARGUS runs -- than anybody in the U.S." With 300 employees -- 50 domain leaders here (Stamford and Charlotte) and 250 professionals in India (Chennai) -- GRO enables companies to outsource "complex analytical work, data aggregation and support functions."

But, "We don't sell services simply based upon cost." Rather, Laird says that GRO works with companies to make their internal processes "two or three times more efficient." Without identifying customers, Laird says that they include firms among the top 20 financial institutions, the top 10 real estate service providers and the top 15 mortgage servicers.

"Not a single person in the U.S. has lost a job because of our services." In fact, Laird argues, "We've made American jobs more interesting." Previously a job might have been 50% rote and 50% interesting. Now it's much less rote.

Security in India is "more stringent than the U.S." Employees are not allowed to take documents into or out of their workspace. Each worker has a locker for personal effects. Documents are shredded on an hourly basis.

According to Laird, 60% of the employees in India are highly skilled with the equivalent of CPAs or post graduate degrees. And because of the time difference, they can be working while you're sleeping. Wow. Welcome to the world of 24/7 real estate services.

Further Discussion... Yes, Nick Laird will speak on our panel Outsourcing: How Will It Impact Your Life? at Realcomm in San Francisco, June 3-4, 2004. You can save $100 by using the PikeNet Promotional Code, RC04PIKE1 (that's zero-four). Go to Realcomm, click "Register Now," and then the "Promo" link in the right-hand column.

--Peter Pike