This IDC study is an analysis of the major procurement business process outsourcing (BPO) contracts signed by U.S. providers between May 31, 2005, and August 1, 2006. IDC has observed 53 procurement BPO deals that have been signed by U.S. procurement service providers. This study presents these engagements and investigates key adoption trends and drivers, key categories of industries and organizations at the forefront of adoption, and the evolving composition and characteristics of procurement BPO engagements themselves.

"The sun is quickly rising on the procurement BPO market, with 2006 having seen deal activity of decidedly promising proportions," said Shruti Yadav, research analyst with IDC's BPO Services program. "IDC's analysis comments on the expanding and diversifying origins of this activity, unearthing trends around the kinds of vendors and client organizations driving the growth and the changing nature of these engagements themselves."