For the first time though there is a number which can be quoted with some authority. HFS Research, a US based Analyst for the global services sector, tried to quantify job losses associated with the rise of the robots and automation. It came up with an estimate of about 1.4 Million in job losses by 2021.
The job losses are concentrated in the area of low skilled jobs, those which are highly repetitive and do not require a formalized education.
The total numbers have already been disputed by Nasscom (India's Industry Association For Software Services). It points out that there will be a huge demand for higher talent to get the automation and robotic processes going which effectively will partially offset the job losses.
It remains to be seen what the final numbers will be...but at the very least the BPO/Outsourcing industry has been put on notice that there are challenges ahead.