IT Outsourcing via the Offshore Model
By Subhi Elmughrabi
IT outsourcing, done via the offshore model, can be very advantageous for organizations that prefer to focus on their core business when that does not include strong IT competency. There are certainly vendors with expertise in the necessary IT competencies that can provide the needed business solutions better, faster and cheaper than your own organization can. However, managing the outsourcing process before and after is very essential for its success.
Here are three quick tips for IT outsourcing when considering an offshore model:
1) Strictly evaluate your service provider
Evaluating your service provider and going through a complete due-diligence effort is essential before signing contracts. Face-to-face discussions, checking their references and asking for feedback from their previous customers will help to ensure you have chosen the right organization with which to team.
2) Measure and follow-up
It’s very important to follow-up from the beginning by setting a disciplined schedule to review the vendor’s performance. Agreeing to specific performance metrics that meet, or exceed your corporate standards and reviewing them regularly with the vendor is critical to staying on track. In addition, making occasional ad-hoc calls or even visits to the offshore location will ensure your vendor sees you as someone who is paying attention and holding them accountable.
3) Communicate effectively
You should have one designated, project manager or liaison to lead the interaction between your team and your IT outsourcing vendor. And, if you do have a medium-to-large offshore presence, you may want to consider using a National who will be more effective with the language, dialects, local customs and culture.
GCN provides businesses, SMB to Enterprise, with voice, data, cloud, colocation and data center services solutions from over 150 partner providers worldwide. Not as the typical telecommunications agency or reseller, but as their technology advisor. We determine and tailor the best solutions to meet our customers' needs world-wide. We save our clients the time and trouble of managing one or more service providers and leverage the best solutions for them at the most cost effective price.