The global outsourcing market has expanded rapidly from $45.6 billion in 2000 to a projected $405.6 billion in 2027. It‘s an industry fueled by organizations seeking specialized expertise, efficiency gains, and technology-driven transformation.
Global Outsourcing Industry Market Size
India holds the biggest share at over 50%, but Eastern Europe, China, and the Philippines are major hubs. The US and UK lead in total contract value.
Outsourcing Contract Value by Country 2021
| Country | Contract Value | Year/Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $85.6B | 4% |
| United Kingdom | $35.9B | 12% |
| Germany | $20.7B | 21% |
| France | $19.8B | 7% |
| Australia | $17.5B | 13% |
Business process outsourcing accounts for over 25% market share currently. ITO and software development services represent a $178 billion opportunity as digital transformations accelerate across sectors.
Outsourcing Market Share by Service Type
Let‘s analyze the 7 outsourcing leaders enabling organizational change worldwide.
1. Accenture
- 2021 Revenue: $50.5B
- Employees: 624,000
- Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
- Founded: 1989
With over 75% of the Fortune Global 500 as clients, Accenture delivers technology innovations from intelligent operations to cloud, quantum computing, extended reality, and cybersecurity.
Recent acquisitions expand expertise in supply chain, sustainability, health, and change management:
- Operations consultancy Exton helped develop dynamic delivery plans for a national postal service
- Creative agency Yesler builds emotionally intelligent brands through applied neuroscience
- CS Technology and BRIDGEi2i add data science and AI capabilities for contextual insights
Key Financials
| Business | 2021 Revenue | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting | $28.7B | 57% |
| Outsourcing | $18.7B | 37% |
| Other | $3.1B | 6% |
Sample Clients
- Daimler – Supply chain optimization
- AstraZeneca – Improving clinical trial productivity
- Heineken – Quality forecasting using IoT data
- Hunter Douglas – Ecommerce platform modernization
"Accenture brought together global expertise on advanced manufacturing, supply chain and sustainability to help us transform. They are a key strategic partner." – Michael White, CEO, Louis Dreyfus Company
2. Infosys
- 2021 Revenue: $16.3B
- Employees: 303,000
- Headquarters: Bangalore, India
- Founded: 1981
Infosys builds next-generation services on cloud, analytics, AI, cybersecurity and IoT to accelerate digital transformations globally.
Revenue by Region
| Region | % Revenue |
|---|---|
| North America | 60% |
| Europe | 24% |
| Rest of World | 16% |
Flagship platforms like Infosys Cobalt enable rapid cloud migrations, applied AI, business process automation and cybersecurity-as-a-service.
Recent acquisitions expand expertise in customer experience, data, 5G networks:
- WongDoody reinforces creative and marketing services
- GuideVision fortifies SnowMirror platforms for cloud data governance
- Blue Acorn iCi builds ecommerce solutions targeting consumer industries
Sample Clients
- Daimler – Software platform modernization
- Siemens Gamesa – SAP S/4HANA implementation
- BP – AI chatbots for order inquiries
- Procter & Gamble – End-user computing transformation
"Infosys drives our tech modernization and innovation agenda while also accelerating business value." – Ravi Kumar, President, Infosys
3. NTT Data
- 2021 Revenue: $15B
- Employees: 123,884
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Founded: 1967
Part of Japan‘s largest telecom NTT Group, NTT Data leverages IT expertise honed over 60 years to enable digital transformations.
NTT Data partners with companies across many industries to navigate rapid technology shifts and deliver immediate business impact:
Revenue by Industry
| Sector | % Revenue |
|---|---|
| Financial Services | 42% |
| Public Sector | 15% |
| Healthcare & Life Sciences | 15% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Retail & Logistics | 7% |
| Technology & Communications | 7% |
| Automotive | 6% |
Sample Clients
- City of Las Vegas – Smart city solutions
- Dell Technologies – SAP S/4HANA deployment
- Hertz – Global reservation platform
- Novant Health – Epic EHR optimization
"NTT Data‘s focus takes the dread out of a system conversion. They made this transition seamless operationally." – Dan Walston, VP, Hertz
4. Capgemini
- 2021 Revenue: $15.8B
- Employees: 325,000
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Founded 1967
With over 50 years helping leading global brands evolve systems and processes, Capgemini combines domain expertise in industries from automotive to life sciences with the latest capabilities in cloud, data management, connectivity 5G/edge, software engineering, cybersecurity, and intelligent automation.
Some recent recognitions:
- Leader in IDC MarketScape for IoT Consulting and Systems Integration
- Leader in ISG Provider Lenz Quadrant for SAP HANA and S/4HANA services
- Leader in Whitelane Research IT Sourcing study 2022
- Top IoT Services Company on InsightsSuccess’ 2022 Enterprise Solutions list
Breakdown by Service Type
| Service | 2021 Revenue |
|---|---|
| Applications & Technology | 47% |
| Operations & Engineering | 39% |
| Strategy & Transformation | 14% |
Sample Clients
- Carrefour – Supply chain analytics platform
- Fiat Chrysler Automotive – Global dealer management system
- Air France-KLM – Digital workplace transformation
- CMA CGM Group – Core transport management overhaul
"Capgemini enables our digital journey at all levels to offer customers and partners sustainable value." – Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO, CMA CGM Group
5. Wipro
- 2022 Revenue: $10.4B
- Employees: 243,128
- Headquarters: Bangalore, India
- Founded: 1945
From its early days in manufacturing, Wipro has grown into a leading global IT, consulting and business process services company across industries from finance, healthcare, consumer goods, to technology, communications, energy, and more.
Strategic partnerships expand capabilities:
- Analytics/IoT partnership with IBM around hybrid cloud and security
- FullStack Fulfillment Lab collaboration with Amazon Web Services
Sustainability commitments include achieving Net-Zero by 2040 and ensuring all new buildings are LEED Platinum certified. Wipro is recognized among the World’s Most Ethical Companies and Canada’s Top Employers.
Industries Served
| Sector | % of Revenue |
|---|---|
| Banking, Financial Services, Insurance | 31.4% |
| Healthcare & Lifesciences | 16.1% |
| Consumer Goods, Retail, Transportation, Government | 15.2% |
| Technology | 14.6% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Communications | 6.3% |
| Energy, Natural Resources, Utilities | 6% |
Sample Clients
- Nokia – Design partnership on 5G use cases
- Metro AG – SAP template rollout
- Enel Group – Digital backbone integration
"Wipro helps us boost performance through applied innovation while diversifying into advanced energy solutions." Francesco Venturini, CEO, Enel X
6. IBM
- 2021 Revenue: $57.4B
- Employees: 282,100
- Headquarters: New York, United States
- Founded: 1911
With over a century of technology innovations, IBM provides integrated solutions across hybrid cloud, data/AI, quantum computing and security. Global Business Services drives digital transformations through consulting and business process outsourcing.
IBM deploys breakthrough technologies at scale for clients worldwide:
- Blockchain-based supply chains to enable ecosystem transparency
- Watson AI infusion for personalized education platforms
- Quantum machine learning to advance materials discovery
- 5G testbeds and edge networks accelerating smart manufacturing
Revenue by Geography
| Region | % Revenue |
|---|---|
| Americas | 38% |
| Europe/Middle East/Africa | 32% |
| Asia Pacific | 30% |
Sample Clients
- Vodafone – Hybrid cloud transformation
- Bank of America – Application modernization
- Dell – IT spend optimization
- Kroger – AI demand forecasting
“IBM is helping us rethink supply chains through transparency, traceability and efficiency to build a more sustainable food system." – Danielle Schaff, VP Sustainability, Kroger
7. Cognizant
- 2021 Revenue: $18.5B
- Employees: 319,900
- Headquarters: New Jersey, United States
- Founded: 1998
Founded as an in-house technology unit of Dun & Bradstreet, Cognizant today delivers digital strategy consulting, business/technology services, and optimized business process outsourcing with advanced automation.
Cognizant serves top companies across sectors including:
- 8/10 top North American banks
- 9/10 top insurance firms
- 8/10 top logistics businesses
- 7/10 top retailers
Strategic acquisitions in 2021 reinforce expertise:
- DevOps consultancy EI Technologies
- AI data science leader Inawisdom
- SaaS platform Tin Roof Software
- Australian cloud specialist Servian
Revenue by Industry
| Sector | % Revenue |
|---|---|
| Financial Services | 37% |
| Healthcare | 28% |
| Products & Resources | 21% |
| Communications, Media, Technology | 14% |
"Cognizant‘s depth of industry knowledge combined with technology expertise yields meaningful results embedded within our teams.” – Jane Moran, CIO Consumer Banking, ANZ Bank
The outsourcing partners powering modern business must deliver both strategic vision and tactical execution across technology capabilities and domain expertise. While offshoring drives cost advantages, risks around visibility, flexibility and quality of delivery must be managed.
Established global outsourcers have the scale, automation and governance models to enable smooth transformations – but change management, cultural adaptation and aligning incentives matter hugely.
No partnership can substitute for empowering your own people and processes to unlock innovation and stand out competitively. But as technology disruptions accelerate across industries, leveraging outsourcing selectively lets you focus investments on the capabilities delivering true differentiation.
