From a survey of 100 IT director-level professionals conducted
by PSD for Computer Weekly, 78% believe that the UK software
development industry will survive, despite the growing trend to
offshore programming roles. But it is likely to be smaller, and
more specialist than the industry today.
“There will be an industry but it will be considerably reduced
in scale. Niche development teams focusing on bespoke products for
specific industry sectors will prevail. However, the bulk of
general development will end up outsourced,” said Dylan Davies, a
senior business analyst.
“Coding will definitely move offshore, as it is cheaper to do
and you get a better qualified person doing the job for less
money,” said Julian Griffiths, director of retail information at
Polo Ralph Lauren.
Others said that the costs of offshore outsourcing will rise,
ensuring that at least some software development continues in the
UK.
“India is not producing enough graduates to keep up with demand,
and rising salaries for programmers are narrowing the cost benefit
compared to the UK. China might be an alternative, but they do not
speak English as well as the Indian graduates,” said one IT
professional.
Another Big Question respondent said, “The public sector is
reticent about offshore outsourcing in general, and unless the
rules change in relation to where the data can be held there will
still be a call for development in the UK.”