One of the most over-used expressions in business is win/win. Especially if the win/win proposition does not appear to be mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
But in the world of IT outsourcing, there are two mutual benefits that virtually guarantee a win for both parties — need and safety:
- The client has a need for cost-effective alternatives to the expense of hiring, sometimes training, always paying, and managing the turnover of salaried IT staff members. The vendor has a need to treat its customers with fairness and respect, which translates into competitive rates, cost/benefit, competent talent, responsiveness, accountability, and risk mitigation.
- The client requires the safety of service-level agreements, nondisclosure (NDA) and confidentiality agreements, data security, reliability, and trustworthiness. The vendor requires the safety of clearly defined requirements, a worthwhile project or engagement, a revenue stream, a sense of its own value, and a referenceable client.
As long as need and safety are on the list of the outcomes from every IT outsourcing engagement, customers can be sure the priorities of the vendor are properly aligned.
Why Should I Outsource?
The fear many companies have of IT outsourcing recalls the classic American situation comedy WKRP in Cincinnati. The disc jockey in that show, Dr. Johnny Fever, once said:
“When everybody’s out to get you, paranoid is just good thinking.”
The perception of IT outsourcing isn’t quite so suspicious. Most companies don’t believe that everybody’s out to get them. But many companies — especially insurance companies — believe everybody’s out to get their data. Since those companies rarely if ever work with anyone they don’t put under NDA, that’s as unwarranted as it is illogical.
Their concern can be overcome with three simple questions:
- Do you have a need?
- Can the need be filled safely by an outsourcing vendor?
- Can the vendor fill your need and share your desire for safety?
If the answers are “yes,” you can stop worrying. Instead, consider how outsourcing can give you the freedom to concentrate your time, energy and money on what you do best.