Background Screening in India

As a major outsourcing hub for the global economy, India has to increase the comfort level for the overseas investor and the customers seeking business opportunity here.
Though a relatively new phenomenon in India, background screening is finding increasing acceptance. With multi-national companies setting up shop and increasing foreign direct investment flow, companies are background screening new hires to make informed hiring decisions.
Background screening goes far in helping an employer sieve out misrepresentation of information by an applicant. Early detection eliminates avoidable cost to the hiring entity. Companies are outsourcing the background screening function to agencies like AuthBridge Research Services due to pressures on their staff strength and costs.
Ajay Trehan, founder-director, AuthBridge, agrees that background screening is difficult in India and most Asian countries due to lack of organised public domain databases and reluctance of organisations and institutions to be more forthcoming with relevant information. Since its inception in August 2005, AuthBridge has verified over 5000 cases wherein major percentage of discrepancy has been with professional and educational details.
Most organisations are reluctant to verify details of past employees as the HR departments do not have set processes for background verification. Written verification in most cases is difficult to extract.
The challenge here lies in creating a higher level of awareness about background screening and building strong relationships with various sources of information like universities and employers. Relationship building is an integral part of this business as most universities, colleges and companies are reluctant to part with information quickly.
Standards and procedures for the verification process are continually evolving and accuracy of reports is subject to the availability and willingness of the sources. Quality and consistency of reports and adherence to agreed turn-around-times are AuthBridge hallmarks.
“Our clients are aware that as we are not the source of the data we cannot guarantee the accuracy of information collected beyond its origin. The auditable trail of our verification process is available to reconfirm our sources “, stated Ajay Trehan.