When the Deal Goes Sour: How Morgan Stanley Manages Troubled Outsourcing Relationships
March 19th, 2012
Fafian: Don't kill the deal if you don't have to.
By Bob Scheier
John Fafian, executive director of firmwide Sourcing at Morgan Stanley, believes in trying to fix broken outsourcing relationships before ending them. Listen to his views on why it’s often better to stick with the provider you already have, where legal and procurement fit in and the process of analyzing in-sourcing options if you are looking to bring work back on-shore.
Lack of Skills and Expertise Driving Data Analytics Outsourcing
March 8th, 2012
By Robert L. Scheier
Most IT outsourcing customers are looking for a way to save money, but a need for expertise is also driving more and more businesses to turn to outside service providers. This is especially true of businesses trying to make sense of the truckloads of information arriving daily at their data warehouses. They want people with specific industry knowledge and the skills to extract maximum value out of all that data – and even use that data to predict the future.
US Tech Companies Cutting Back on Offshoring Services
March 7th, 2012
By Dan Berthiaume
Despite public complaints from economic experts and politicians that offshore IT and BPO is costing American jobs, new data indicates that at least in the case of the US technology industry, offshoring is in the midst of a long-term decline. Results of the recent annual Technology Outlook Survey from consulting firm BDO USA indicate that only 32% of US technology firms are outsourcing manufacturing and services overseas.
Creating a Wildly Successful Outsourcing Program
February 24th, 2012
By Linda Tuck Chapman
Outsourcing is serious business and will have a long-term impact on your company’s future. Let’s improve the odds that it’s a positive one! Your customers and shareholders shouldn’t and won’t differentiate who delivers their services – your company or a third party. So the time you invest in planning your outsourcing program and sourcing the right service providers is time well spent.
Globalize and Optimize Your Shared Services Operations
February 22nd, 2012
By Brad DeMent
Shared services operations (SSOs) have transitioned from a simple means to gain quick cost savings to a critical component of corporate strategy. Historically, transactional services offered such as accounts payable processing, payroll, and IT help desks have been no-brainers for domestic SSO inclusion. The new norm for SSO has expanded to smaller, higher-value services such as accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, HR recruiting, and application development. This expansion has companies asking, “Why service only one country with SSO? What can be leveraged to service a region, or even all global locations?”
Small Outsourcing Deals Pose Their Own Big Risks
February 15th, 2012
By Dan Berthiaume
Driven by needs such as lower costs or specialist expertise, more and more BPO and IT outsourcing customers are turning to smaller contracts with a larger number of providers. According to the 2011 ISG TPI Index, the number of contracts in the $25 million to $99 million range grew considerably in the past year compared to those worth $100 million and more.
Ah, but smaller deals don’t necessarily mean smaller worries for clients.
Get More Accurate Outsourcing ROI in Six Easy Steps
February 8th, 2012
By Jerry Durant
Everybody wants ROI from their outsourcing projects. Many (on both the buy and the sell side) claim it. But relatively few have the knowledge or background to calculate it correctly. This not only makes it harder to make good decisions, but saps the credibility of whoever is doing the calculations.
Far too many operations and procurement professionals try to calculate ROI without a sufficient understanding of it.
Who is Maria Clara Choucair and How Did She Rock the World of Colombia IT?
February 7th, 2012
Choucair: People said software testing is something users do.
Testing firm’s founder overcomes skeptics and machismo with a ‘humanist’ operating philosophy
By James Bargent
When Maria Clara Choucair founded Choucair Testing in 1999, it was the first software testing company in Colombia and one of only a handful in Latin America. The company started with a workforce of one – Maria Clara Choucair. Thirteen years later, Choucair Testing has 450 employees, branches in Medellin and Bogota and Lima, Peru, and a host of big-name clients.
Upstarts Threaten Big Players in Potential LatAm BPO Boom
February 6th, 2012
Santiago: Sustained vertical drive.
By Dan Berthiaume
Latin American nations make up about one-quarter of the 2012 list of Top 100 outsourcing locations compiled by global outsourcing research/advisory firm Tholons, and that is no accident. As Manuel Ravago, president for research at Tholons, explains, Latin America is an up-and-comer in the world of BPO. And more agile smaller countries might make the most of that.
Examine More Than Cost Savings When Judging the Nearshore
February 2nd, 2012By Patrick Haller
When making sourcing decisions, a lot of attention is paid to the pricing structure and qualifications of service providers, while their actual location is sometimes a secondary consideration. However, when assessing a destination, it’s important to realize that what might be favorable today can morph into a nightmare scenario tomorrow. Don’t be caught unaware and unprepared for the ever-changing dynamics of the Nearshore.
