What is KPO: Knowledge Process outsourcing?

A form of outsourcing in which knowledge- and information- intellectual, analytical related work is done by people with a pay scales much higher than the BPO sector (business sector) generally in a different geographical location.

To handle the problem of a shortage of skilled professionals and to have the opportunity to hire skilled workers earning lower wages in another location for a lower cost of the resources, Companies resort to knowledge process outsourcing. Examples of KPO functions are intellectual property or patent research, R&D in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, data mining, database creation, and a range of analytical services such as equity research, competitive intelligence, industry reports and financial modeling.

India has a lot to offer to the KPO companies.
The ideal KPO requires a worker with domain specialization, computer skills & English proficiency. With the Indian way of education which lays great emphasis on higher education & specialization, a talent pool with specialized knowledge in any field is readily available. This skilled and trained manpower is accessible at very low cost as well.

Some examples of global KPOs having laid their roots in India for having a cheap base are: McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, Reuters, IMS Health, Harris Interactive, Ipsos, Maritz, AC Nielsen, TN0S and the WPP group. 

Two major Indian KPOs are The Smart Cube and EVALUESERVE,

There is tremendous potential in the KPO space. Only companies that have a strong pedigree, domain expertise, clear focus on the high-end space, a proactive solution orientation and a collaborative mindset will emerge as the winners. KPO is fast growing and is estimated to grow by 26% in the next 10 years.