Today’s IT leaders can no longer afford to be stagnant or complacent; they must constantly seek out new ways to drive innovation, improve digital capabilities, and do so while becoming more efficient and productive than ever before. The traditional mindset of ‘command and control’ has given way to an era that encourages cross-functional collaboration and the adoption of integrated IT solutions. Outsourcing, due to its ability to facilitate greater levels of organizational and operational agility, specialized resources, and reduced operating costs, has become increasingly popular among today’s CIOs.
However, although outsourcing offers a seemingly endless list of benefits to the enterprises that choose to employ managed service providers, who an organization decides to partner with ultimately determines the success of their outsourcing venture. With that said, establishing a strategic relationship with an IT sourcing advisor can provide IT organizations with the market insight and strategic resources needed to maximize benefits and drive successful results.
Finding a sourcing solution that addresses an organization’s current and future IT challenges, and cohesively aligns with its overall business goals, strategy, and culture is essential to achieving the level of agility and productivity needed to compete in today’s competitive climate. The following are 2 best practices that every CIO should leverage during the IT sourcing process:
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Seek Solutions, Not Products
As our world continues on its path to digitization, the IT community will continue to become more and more saturated with various service and solution providers. While this undoubtedly helps to create a more advanced and innovative marketplace, it also makes it more challenging for CIOs to see the forest through the trees, so to speak. All too often we find IT organizations that have made the mistake of partnering with ‘quote providers’ rather than full-service solution providers. In order to avoid investing time, money, and resources into a surface-level, nonstrategic partnership, IT leaders must perform the necessary due diligence to seek out providers that provide strategic value and solutions; not just quotes and products.
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Select a Partner with Insight & Influence
Engaging with an outsourced provider is a major decision, and is one that significantly impacts the operational capabilities within an IT organization. When evaluating various sourcing options, it’s absolutely critical that IT leaders seek out a partner that possesses acute insight into the marketplace and can provide the strategic resources needed to realize a more efficient and effective operation. Additionally, employing a service provider that already has a well-built out network of strategic partners and peers allows organizations to leverage the knowledge and experience of a greater resource pool.
With keen insight into market trends and a wealth of knowledge to draw on, I sourcing advisors, like Windsor Group, can provide the necessary consultation, guidance, and support to ensure that your organization’s IT sourcing process is both cost-effective and well-aligned with your organization’s strategic objectives. Windsor Group has executed hundreds of deals over the years, and this depth of experience has enabled organizations to select a sourcing partner that can deliver maximum value from an IT outsourcing initiative.
Interested in learning more about how IT outsourcing can transform your enterprise’s operational capabilities? Download, “The CIO’s Guide to Evaluating IT Sourcing Options”.
