Well, nothing is permanent but change. And even the best should change for better. So, the world's first, most popular and the only qualifications and designations for agent-level talents in non-voice BPO - the CBPA® - Certified Business Process Associate - and the CBPS® - Certified Business Process Specialist - of BCI - are set to change; perfectly in keeping with the evolution of business process outsourcing, and the attendant changes in the skills and knowledge demands from agent-level talents across the world.

The transaction processing (TP) space in BPO worldwide has evolved considerably over the last five years with numerous new services adding on the one hand, and many existing ones multiplying and going up the value chain. BCI studies have concluded that this change essentially has meant that a good part of the erstwhile TP domain is now being classed under Backoffice Services; and another part has either gone into the Finance & Accounting space or become a part of KPO. In keeping with these changes internationally, the BCI BPO Professional Certification Council consequently, has decided to change the BCI fresher and specialist level designations in Transaction Processing - CBPA and CBPS. The designation CBPA® now becomes CBSA - from Certified Business Process Associate to Certified Backoffice Services Associate. The designation CBPS® now becomes CBSS - from Certified Business Process Specialist to Certified BackOffice Services Specialist.

All CBPA® and CBPS® certified professionals worldwide are being sent notifications by BCI of this change and how can they benefit from this change and upgrade under several new programs that the BPCC has launched attendant to this decision.

BCI's Africa focus got another shot in the arm with the appointment of VTech as BCI's first Silver partner for Uganda. VTech will be Uganda's first organization to offer international BPO certifications and WROX-BCI IT certifications in the Ugandan market. Notably, Uganda needs at least 15000 new BPO talents every year, if it's BPO industry wants to achieve the critical mass required for playing in the global market. Indeed, several organizations in Uganda, including the Makere University, have been offering BCI curricula and trainings based on BCI's HCMS21 for the past couple of years, but in recent months, the Ugandan market has raised its pitch for the standardization of BPO qualifications through BCI Certifications.

World's best-selling and most renowned IT content and knowledge brand WROX is set to have its own range of IT certifications. Branded as WROX-BCI certifications, these products will be validated, accredited and finally approved as designations by BCI and the entire certification process will be managed by BCI Global. Notably, WROX is an extremely popular brand among IT professionals and has sold over 1 million books on every IT aspect conceivable. All BCI training partners as well as universities with ICOS® will offer these programs. To be available in global markets by September 2012, the WROX-BCI IT Certifications will pack in them several exciting and never-before advantages, including the "bundled" advantage: each Wrox BCI certification will cover multiple platforms and multiple vendors in all possible technology areas, thus making these programs first-of-their kinds on the market.
For more details please write to us at wroxbci@bpocertifications.com

Perhaps, ever since the inception of business process outsourcing, paucity of organized learning content aligned to and written on internationally practiced skills standards has been the naughtiest stumbling block for BPO talent developers and service provider-organizations. This block is set for a fix now. In what is a major breakthrough for the global BPO training industry, BCI has appointed Wiley International as its first Official Worldwide Content Partner. Wiley will publish official study and reference guides for various BCI certifications and also guides and aids for instructors. With the first set of books due for release in June 2012, the Wiley's BCI Learning Series will become the world's first suite of resources designed for training of various levels of BPO talents and managers on international HCMS21 standards. The books and preparation material of the Wiley-BCI Learning Series will be made available to every individual registering for a BCI certification. The resources being developed by Wiley also include DVDs on videos, simulations and practice examinations.
For more details please write to us at content@bpocertifications.com

Mauritius, one of the world's most promising outsourcing destinations held the 2011 edition of its annual International BPO Conclave between November 6-November 8, 2011 in the picturesque Port Luis. Rajiv Gupta, the BCI CEO and several other business heads and policy makers converged on the island to deliberate on aspects ranging from FDI in outsourcing to making Mauritius a preferred outsourcing destination. Organized by the Ministry of Information & Communication Technology, the Conclave yet again proved that Outsourcing tops the agenda of the Government of Mauritius and there is an aggressive focus on making the island an outsourcing hub of the South African Development Council (SADC) region in the Indian Ocean. Most notably, Mauritius is among the very few neo-BPO nations that have the most developed infrastructure for IT and ITES industry and a well-knit, integrated policy framework for ICT regulation and promotion. Needless to say, BCI and many departments of the government of Mauritius have been working together to help expand outsourcing sector in the island.