At the Reuters India Investment Summit we asked Managing Partner of IBM Global Services Sandip Patel about the first thing he would like to outsource from his daily life. His response, perhaps instinctively, was automating the cleanup of thousands of his emails.

Anantha Radhakrishnan, Vice President at Infosys BPO, yearned for extended telecommuting to cut down on travel time (and probably cost as well!!) when asked the same question.

Evidently, productivity improvements and radical cost-cutting measures are weighing heavily on the minds of corporate big wigs these days.

The BPO services industry, which was once able to fund disproportionately high wages and lavish perks for employees, is now plagued with rumours of disappearing stationary and depleting entertainment budgets all in the name of cutting costs.

Head honcho of outsourcing giant Genpact, Pramod Bhasin even expressed delight at the plight of BPO professionals who are being forced to settle for slower wage growth, disappearing perks and restricted job hopping.

“We got no guarantees when we were young. We had to work hard and with some of this notion coming back I tell you I look forward to it,” Bhasin said.

A comment that perhaps several would like to contest passionately.

To hear Patel’s comment click here.

To hear Radhakrishnan’s comment click here.

To hear Bhasin’s comment click here.

The executives were featured during the summit, held in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, India.