Peter Bendor-Samuel, CEO of outsourcing consultancy Everest Group, believes the technology capabilities that these two firms may share is something that will become more evident in the longer term. More immediately, he noted that Xerox is getting the leader in transactional BPO, which includes such processes as accounts payable, and patient billing, which will create cross-selling opportunities for both firms.

Bendor-Samuel said that if Xerox didn't act, it risked being left on the sidelines in a consolidating IT services market. "This is the one acquisition that makes sense for them," he said.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010.