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New Study Details What Makes Outsourcing Relationships Work
Why do some outsourcing relationships shine and others fail miserably? A new study by Capgemini lists nine steps to relationship success.
Booz Allen Hamilton Study: Data Security Is Becoming a Distinguishing Factor When Selecting a Supplier
The firm wanted to know how senior IT executives dealt with the security risks involved in outsourcing. The result is a new report, Outsourcing Security: Concerns Growing. Suppliers, here's what matters to IT buyers.
Buying Consortia: A Hybrid Outsourcing Solution To Remove the Headaches of Indirect Spend
Today companies are joining buying consortia to purchase non-core supplies and processes that don't give them a competitive edge. Read how this hybrid outsourcing solution allows members to both save significant sums and share knowledge.
IT Outsourcing and Pricing: How Much, How Long, and What to Price?
How do buyers know if they negotiated the right price for their IT deals? Frank Usher says asking the right questions is crucial. Here's how to frame those probing queries.
Mitigating Outsourcing's Biggest Risks for 2006
Four primary areas of risk await buyers of outsourced services in 2006. Industry experts share their recommendations for handling them.
Trends Suggest More and Bigger Utility Outsourcing Deals on the Horizon
Since utilities are asset-intensive companies, optimizing operational business processes is vital to most utility providers. Read about three trends energizing utility outsourcing.
Customer Segmentation, Location Attractiveness Key to Utility Call Center Outsourcing
Deregulation and business changes are causing utilities to investigate new areas of value capture. Outsourcing call centers does this. Robert Joslin outlines key considerations for success, including how to determine if offshoring is the right option.
Four Ways to Unlock Value in Government Outsourcing
Buyers and suppliers need to work together to minimize risk and create value. Everest's Samir Jog shares four ways to do that.
Four Rules For Successfully Changing Suppliers
Many view having to change suppliers as the ultimate outsourcing nightmare. Larry Miller's first task at STMicroelectronics was to switch to Unisys. Here are his four rules for change.
Convergys Study: Companies Don't Have Workforce Agility and It's Costing Them Plenty
A Convergys-sponsored study on workforce agility discovered many companies are overspending as much as 10 percent through things like excessive headcount and inappropriate training. And they could add another 10 percent to the bottom line if they hired the right people. Bonnie Tichman explains.
VoIP Solves Technology, Labor Challenges for Growing US Call Center
VoIP slashed turnover and capital costs at a national call center operation without sacrificing voice quality. Five9's ASP solution sounds good to customers. Third in a series about this new technology.
Service Level Agreements: A Better Mousetrap
Is there a better mousetrap to catch your supplier in the maze of service level agreements? Bruce Leshine and Mel Van Howe believe the performance decrements model is a better method because the emphasis is on making sure the supplier corrects problems in a timely manner rather than generating credits that are inconsequential to both parties.
India Responds to Growing Concerns Over Data Security
In the absence of a strong legal framework to address concerns related to data theft and IP protection in India, Indian suppliers are resorting to globally accepted certifications on quality and security. Industry experts, however, believe that certifications alone aren't enough. How will India face the challenge?
Harnessing the Full Power of Offshore Outsourcing - Part III: Designing to Fully Capture Offshore's Potential
In the final installment of our offshore savings series, Stephen Dunn, Joe Fernandes, and Samir Jog share four principles to help a company achieve full value from its offshoring effort.
META Predicts Offshoring Will Continue to Grow at 20 Percent Clip Through 2008
The research group predicts the offshore outsourcing market will continue to grow nearly 20 percent annually through 2008. Currently it estimates the total offshore market is greater than $10 billion.
Harnessing the Full Power of Offshore Sourcing - Part II: Avoiding Corporate Decisions That Limit Savings
Corporations offshore to save money, then make decisions that limit the savings possibilities once the outsourcing begins. An Everest offshore team discusses the common mistakes corporations unwittingly make.
Outsourcing Makes Labor Law Compliance 'No Sweat' for Hanna Andersson
American retailers want to comply with the No Sweat Initiative, which guarantees humane work conditions and forbids children under 15 to work. How do you comply if you import goods from around the world and don't want to visit every factory? Answer: you outsource.
A Good Sale: How Outsourcing Can Help Retailers' Bottom Lines
Every industry vertical has its unique challenges. But the retail sector has a full shopping cart. Mike Atwood explains how outsourcing can help retailers and makes some predictions for the future.
The Art of Governance
Companies take great care in selecting their suppliers. But after they outsource, many don't devote any more time or effort to the original business challenge because they believe it's now the outsourcer's challenge. Mike Atwood believes this is a major mistake. Read why.
A Surprising New Study: SLAs Now Have Teeth
A new study by Oblicore found 59 percent of its respondents do not monitor their SLAs well. Yet 64 percent have added financial penalties if their suppliers do not perform.
The CON-fidence-Games Aspect of Outsourcing Arrangements
In our study of what makes outsourcing relationships fail, we found executives on both sides of the fence whose corporate scenarios cause them to appear to be taking advantage of each other. This article examines outsourcing's con games and what the parties need to do to win.
What Causes Outsourcing Failures?
Outsourcing Center has been studying the risks and causes of outsourcing failures. This article presents some of the findings from the Center's 2004 survey on Leading Causes of Outsourcing Failures. This is the first in a series of five articles and several downloadable research papers on the topic of failure.
Partnering for Performance
The city of Minneapolis knew that outsourcing its IT functions and assets to Unisys would enable them to focus on value-added services for internal users and external customers, but there were huge obstacles in front of an outsourcing initiative. So they first researched both successful and failed outsourcing deals to determine what they needed to do upfront to ensure their success.
Presenting the Winners of the 2004 Outsourcing Excellence Awards
Long before offshore outsourcing became a component, outsourcing was already established as a strategic business solution that enables enterprises to do business more efficiently and cost-effectively, thus making them more competitive in the marketplace.
Best Practice Tips from Indian Experts
7 tips for ensuring your data security
HRO's Experts Share Best Practice Tips for HR Outsourcing Initiatives
Five HR experts offer their best practice recommendations on implementing an HR outsourcing initiative.
Required Reading on the Realities of Business Transformational Outsourcing
In part 4 of this four-part series on business transformational outsourcing, we share three essential principles for structuring a BTO relationship for successful outcomes.
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Should You Increase the Scope of Your HR Outsourcing?
Your first venture into HR outsourcing is successful. Now you want to add more functions. Peter Bendor-Samuel shares five tips to add scope.
Best Practice Tips from the Ottawa Manufacturers' Network: 4 Steps for a Successful Relationship
Contributed by Roy Sunstrum and Damian Hanel, Ottawa Manufacturers' Network
Best Practice Tips from the Ottawa Manufacturers' Network: 4 Steps for a Successful Relationship
Contributed by Roy Sunstrum and Damian Hanel, Ottawa Manufacturers' Network
A Design for a Successful Sole Sourcing Approach
Five factors determine the success of a sole source outsourcing. Everest's Peter Bendor-Samuel, Todd Furniss, and Eric Simonson describe how a carefully designed sole source can streamline contract signing, realize benefits faster, and build a stronger relationship.
Part 3: A Diamond In The Rough
Governance: Protecting the Crown Jewels of Procurement Outsourcing
Governance tends to be one of the most difficult aspects of outsourcing. Yet it is vital to a relationship's success. Roger Swantek of EDS describes how to create a successful governance program for procurement outsourcing.
Cost vs. Value of Using an Outsourcing Consultant
Sole source initiatives are successful when the buyer manages the process. Peter Bendor-Samuel, Todd Furniss, and Eric Simonson discuss the steps buyers can take to keep a sole source outsourcing on track.
The Correct Way to Sole Source, Part 2
Sole source initiatives are successful when the buyer manages the process. Peter Bendor-Samuel, Todd Furniss, and Eric Simonson discuss the steps buyers can take to keep a sole source outsourcing on track.
Business Transformation Outsourcing Reinvents the Wheel to Create Strategic Impact
Peter Bendor-Samuel discusses how business transformation outsourcing can make a tactical process strategic.
The Correct Way to Sole Source
Many companies worry a sole source outsourcing is not beneficial to the buyer. Actually, sole sourcing is efficient and time effective if done wisely. Everest executives describe the proper parameters. Part one of three.
Troublesome Findings from Outsourcing Center's Study on Decision-Making Processes
There's a troublesome trend in decision-making processes in the outsourcing community. Here are the details, along with the best-practices suggestions.
Vantage Study Outlines 20 Best Practices to Create Value in Provider-Buyer Relationships: Transforming a Bully into a Better Outsourcing Partner
Almost 80 percent of the respondents to a Vantage Partners Study said strong working relationships with suppliers delivered at least 25 percent more value than their poor, adversarial relationships. Read the study's list of 20 things to improve your outsourcing relationship.
Optimal Outsourcing - When Both Parties Are Reading from the Same Play Book
These days, many governments are changing their former approach to outsourcing,
resulting in higher-value outcomes. Read about the foundational aspects and
successful accomplishments of one such government outsourcing "partnership."
Lifting the Winner's Curse
Unlike most auctions, both buyers and service providers in an IT outsourcing
transaction pay if the winning service provider offered an irrational price to
get the deal. Stephen Dunn offers tips to buyers on how to avoid the winner's
curse.
The Coming Sea Change in Offshore IT
Using an offshore service provider can be a daunting task. Stephen Dunn describes the options for both buyers and service providers.
Getting Ready to Outsource
Proper preparation happens before the outsourcing procurement begins. Frank Usher discusses five critical steps before the RFP hits the streets.
Seven Key Questions for Drafting Effective Exit Provisions
Exit provisions are among the most valuable contractual protections for a buyer. Here are seven important considerations in building a strong exit strategy.
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Work We Go: Advice for Starting an Outsourcing Relationship
When it comes to structuring an outsourcing relationship, the details make the
difference between blue chip deals and fiascos. How you undertake the behind-the-scenes
work before an outsourcing relationship begins is crucial. This is Part 3 in
our creating a successful outsourcing relationship series.
The Importance of Buyer Flexibility Helping Them Help You
Sometimes buyers exert inflexible controls over their service providers. Although
well intentioned, these controls often result in hidden costs and barriers
to value creation. Learn how to avoid this mistake.
The Importance of Picking The Right Partner
In IT deals, many buyers think price is the determining factor. But if you're
dealing with a high quality service provider, it's the people and the cultural
fit that really make the difference.
No Dress Rehearsals
Advice for Starting an Outsourcing Relationship
What makes an outsourcing relationship work? A perfectly executed contract is
NOT the answer. An outsourcing arrangement is a long-term relationship whose
expectations
and attitudes must be realistic. Here's how to do it right.
Build Relationships Around Service Provider Strengths
One of the best ways to create an enduring outsourcing partnership is to
build the relationship around the service provider's strengths. Peter Bendor-Samuel
talks about how to find the right provider.
Don't Skip on the Details
Structuring and Documenting the Real Content of Outsourcing Agreements
Don't shortchange the exhibits in your outsourcing contract. They contain
the core of your outsourcing agreement, including the price of services and
your service level agreements.
Making an Existing Relationship More Valuable: Creating a Win-Win Solution When Trouble Arises
Outsourcing relationships sometimes get off track. Focusing on value is
the key to a successful turnaround.
IT Contracting With the Financially Challenged Survivors of the New Economy
We all watched the dotcoms become dot bombs. But you still want to do business
with one. Here's how to structure your contract to lower the risk.
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Outsourcing Negotiations
Ask anyone how long it takes to negotiate an outsourcing deal, and the
answer will likely be the same: much too long. In fact, some would say,
the outsourcing will take at least as long to negotiate as you have time
available to negotiate, and probably longer.
Ten Key Questions for Developing Effective Service Level Agreements
The first and most important step in developing an effective SLA is to ask
the right questions. This article will give you those questions and some background
on how to choose the right answers.
Reference Checking in Seven Easy Steps
One of the challenges in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process is to ensure
that bidders responding to an RFP are actually capable of providing the services
requested by the buyer. Use these forms to evaluate a potential supplier.
How to Get the Most From Working with an Outsourcing Consultant
How do you work with an outsourcing consultant to maximize your investment
in their services? Steve Brown of Everest Group will share 10 tips from the
outsourcing buyer's perspective.
Value Drivers: The Road to Improved Performance
In difficult economic times, corporations seek to improve their financial
performance. One way to do this is to understand value creation. This is a
technique that helps companies improve their product quality, financial performance,
customer satisfaction or time to market.
Five Tips for Vendors: How To Win the Beauty Contest
George Atis provides some pointers for vendors that should go a long way
towards impressing buyers and expediting the closure of a deal.
Deciding What to Outsource: Careful Choices and an Advocate Increase Chances of Success
Outsourcing relationships have a better chance for success if they have
an internal champion who believes in the cause. Find out what you need
to know.
Preparing for an RFP: Analyzing Risk
This article summarizes some of the key considerations in the next phase.
The goals of this phase are to develop a detailed analysis so you can
determine the current costs for the function you are planning to outsource,
analyze the risks, and prepare an RFP.
Negotiating the Best Deal For Your Outsourcing Buck
For a company considering an outsourcing transaction - IT or business
process outsourcing (BPO) - there are ways to improve the chances of
getting the best deal for your outsourcing buck.
Planning for an Outsourcing Evaluation: The Key First Phase
An outsourcing evaluation should follow a disciplined, managerial approach
from planning through negotiation and implementation, to ongoing management
of the relationship.
What Mistakes Can IT Buyers Make? Let Me Count The Ways
The Internet has made offshore outsourcing easier in many ways. But the basic
problems inherent in these relationships haven't changed. The speed has
increased but the problems are the same, says Nich Mills, a partner with
Procure-IT Strategic Contracting Consulting, an outsourcing consultancy
in the Netherlands.
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