The 2016 version of the Global Services Location Index, released by A.T. Kearney, explores the top outsourcing countries and analyzes what sets them apart from one another. For this year’s ranking, the consulting firm examined the offshoring landscape in 55 countries around the globe and ranks the top destinations for global offshoring.
This research paper measures the offshoring potential based on three categories:
1. Financial attractiveness
2. People skills and availability
3. Business environment
Romania ranks top 13 in the worldwide index and top 3 in the European index
Located at the Eastern border of the European Union, only one hour ahead of Berlin and three hours’ flight from London or Barcelona, Romania became a flourishing technology hub in the last decade. The IT sector has been Romania’s wonder child that keeps growing each year.
Even if Romania doesn’t offer the lowest prices in the outsourcing business, the country is highly competitive when you take into account the level of technical proficiency and soft skills in the country.
Young and motivated professionals with European values and a mastery of not only English but in many cases German, French or Italian as well, are a crucial part of Romania’s appeal for the outsourcing sector.
According to the A.T. Kearney ranking, Romania has risen five positions in the last year.
“Labor costs in Romania are lower than in Poland, but the business environment is still trying to catch up. According to the Employers’ Association of the Software and Services Industry in Romania, large international IT vendors currently operate approximately 50 centers, most of them BPO- and IT-related.”
One of Romania’s biggest strengths is its wealth of technical talent. Internships and vocational training are particularly strong, driven by a culture of self-learning. With this powerful set of skills Romania remains an attractive location for companies interested in shoring operations.