But the share of outsourcing could be 6 by 2009

If the offshore, which involves foreign computer services to be "consumed" in France, is much less developed in France in the Anglo-Saxon countries, the movement is actually launched. With as destinations lights the India and the countries of the East. Today, this represents less than 2 of the turnover of the French SSII (10 in the United States), while the centres of services established in the province (which allow a reduction in logistical and salary costs without leaving) account 6 to 8 percent. But the share of outsourcing could be 6 by 2009.

On the it job market, the mutations should be many. But not necessarily with the consequences that believed. While the offshore is often synonymous with destruction of jobs in the national territory, trades of computer, they seem to have a bright future ahead of them in any case.

40 of the relevant benefits

The recruitment figures are what give the Vertigo... In 2005, Capgemini has hired 4,000 people in France, and 1,500 were recruited in Unilog, group LogicaCMG, i.e. an increase of more than 20 of the workforce in one year only! Evidence that if the offshore raises concerns in terms of employment, this does not prevent the sector of information and communication technologies to recruit mass. In 2005, the SSII created between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs net in France and hired 40,000 people. In 2006 alone, "Syntec informatique" (the professional Chamber of the publishers of software and computer service companies) believes that the sector should grow five times faster than the whole of the French economy.

All functions are yet not hoarded in the same fashion and some trades have more future than others. It all depends on the activities which may or may not be carried out abroad. Only 40 of the benefits are, according to Syntec. It is priority development, testing and a part of maintenance, the activities that do not require to be close to the customer and can be carried out in industrial way. Today, the India, which for some years was computing its engine of growth, form of excellent developers and programmers including the wage cost is up to five times lower. Is it fear of disappearing these trades of the French landscape No, but they will take another form. "The needs are today more sharp areas, note Richard Peynot, senior analyst at Forrester Research, analysis firm specializing in the technology sector. Programmers who work in the simulation 3 D and advanced such digital calculations can be hardly replaced by posts abroad because it requires very specific expertise and a cultural background that Romanians or the Indians have not yet.

Double jurisdiction

By contrast, the phases upstream (analysis of the need, the Council, the design, specification) and downstream (the validation of the test at the time of the integration, deployment solutions), as the steering of the project itself, cannot be conceived that locally, and therefore France. Related patterns in these professions of closeness to the customer are particularly wanted, like double skills. Technical and managerial for example: "Need us people capable to manage teams scattered across multiple sites and multicultural, in terms of language, of understanding and sharing of priorities", note Jean-Yves Grisi, Executive Director of Pivolis, recently became the French subsidiary of the Indian system integrators KPIT. The double technical and functional competence is also preferred. In Unilog group LogicaCMG, where 75 of the new recruits are young graduates, knowledge trade bonus as well as technical know-how: "Know the customer environment allows to better understand his need, his trade issues and be more efficient," said Thierry Siouffi, Member of the executive board France. And as a result of offshore, new functions draw: international team leader, responsible for quality control, responsible for coordination... The projects being more atomized, it also create more link.

In addition to the trades that evolve, offshore has a further impact on the software: it forced them to rethink their organization. A project in France, Romania and India to work, it requires discipline, more explicit procedures (due to the problem of the language), more follow-up to avoid misunderstandings, tighter coordination because all the teams do not work under the same timezone... In short, more than professionalism. "A project can succeed only if front office expresses the most formal manner the need for the client", note Hubert Tardieu, Executive Vice-President, Board and Atos Origin systems integration, software presents to Bombay for ten years, with 1,200 employees and 2,000 by the end of the year. It must create more uniformity. "If the team of developers in Bangalore, the client to the defence should realize nothing." "Procedure must be the same," said Miguel de Fontenay, President of the Executive Board of Ineum Consulting.

Such constraints, some software, including the smallest, prefer to opt for the "nearshore" (any destination within three hours by air from Paris) or implementing service centres in the province, which also require industrialized processes, but that are still easier to manage. Steria, in turn, chose a middle way. This software is present in India but a partnership and therefore has no own structure: "We have at our disposal a thousand Indian engineers in Bangalore." "This allows to have the necessary resources needed without having to manage recruitment, turnover verging on the 40 and the increase in wages, of the order of 8 to 10 per year," argued its President, François Enaud.

More requirement

Potential gap between the system integrators who have made the bet of the offshore and other One thing is sure, the companies who will be able to work in offshore mode will be able to manage, tomorrow, more complex projects. Because having recourse to the outsourcing, win in quality and innovation. Indian companies have methodologies very standardized, more mature than those in France. "At their contact, businesses are drawn to the top because they are obliged to adopt the same level of requirement," observed Richard Peynot of Forrester Research. Not to mention that it can conquer new markets: "thanks to our implementation in Romania, a year ago, we can be more present in Eastern Europe," said Pierre Pasquier, President of Sopra Group.

Whatever the chosen operating mode, essentially for the SSII is to preserve their competitiveness. The India form each year ten times more than the France software engineers (300,000 against 30,000) and did not intend to be confined forever to the standardized and repetitive tasks. Large companies have already opened subsidiaries in France and are positioned on all segments of the market, including the Council and the management of project. To cope, the French system integrators must innovate, renew themselves and push their employees to do the same. Regular updating of skills, acquisition of new skills... "The youth out of school five years ago, who worked in the computer but not on new technologies, are now outdated." "Must be a minimum of vocational training and not only every five years", says Sylvain Breuzard, CEO of Norsys, an overview of 160 employees. Master and adapt: alternative for offshore to be more an opportunity than a risk for the job.