Knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) is a form of outsourcing, including legal process outsourcing. These are both high-value-added forms of business process outsourcing (BPO). KPO firms provide domain-based processes and business expertise, rather than just process expertise, and actually make many low level business decisions – typically those that are easily undone if they conflict with higher-level business plans.
KPO is one step ahead of Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO). BPO industry turning into Knowledge Process Outsourcing. KPO Industry handling more high skilled work than BPO Industry. KPO helps companies to create huge business opportunities. KPO firms provide domain-based processes and business expertise, rather than just process expertise. Intellectual Property Research, Pharmaceuticals Services, Medical Content & Services and Writing Services are typical KPO Services. In today’s generation KPO has lead in outsourcing business. KPO service providers also face various challenges. The Knowledge Process Outsourcing is becoming the high valuable interests of companies for their business strategies and protection. KPO services can reduce design times, manage hardware efficiently and provide research on markets thereby helping in informed-decision making.
KPO or knowledge process outsourcing can be termed as high value added forms of business process outsourcing or BPO. Unlike random customer service or handling of low end inbound and outbound calls KPO firms deliver high end domain specific processes and business expertise. It may include research and work on intellectual property, equity and finance, market analysis, database management etc. In fact on a broad sense, it can include white collar jobs from any and every industry. Be it media outsourcing, legal process outsourcing (LPO), a KPO can be set up in any near shore or offshore center on any given industry and vertical.
I have included some KPO services that are outsourcable:
*Research, Development & Analysis
*Business and Technical Analysis
*E-Learning Solutions
*Cartoon Animation & Design
*Business Management & Market Research (Qualitative and Quantitative)
*Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Healthcare
*Medical Services
*Writing & Content Development
*Legal Services or Legal Process Outsourcing
*Media Outsourcing
*Intellectual Property (IP) Research
*Data Analytics
*Logistics and Data Warehousing Analysis
*Network Management
*Corporate Training & Consultancy
The major benefits of the KPO outsourcing services are described below.
*Cost reductions.
*Standard operational efficiency.
*Expert man-power.
*Time Saving.
*Profit Increments.
*Large man-power without raising costs.
How KPOs can innovate
KPOs can go a step further than standardized processes. They can define quality for highly subjective and judgmental processes (output) and create systems to check. For instance, Integreon has a concept to measure output and define efficiency: the EWU (Equivalent Work Unit). Industrializing processes will not be enough; companies must standardize complex processes to achieve scale. Complex analysis requires not just domain experience, but more importantly, domain expertise. For this, companies can provide training programs for complex skill sets and establish high professional standards. Given the regulatory-sensitive nature of the information that flows into KPOs, employee due diligence, and security and confidentiality practices should be mandatory.