TRENDING the organisation . Change is a constant and pivoting has become essential , making it a complex task for companies to stay up-to-date , find the right talent and ensure IT teams are provided with opportunities for ongoing learning . If a service provider cannot step in and take on the burden , then they are not delivering any value .
Yes , outsourcing brings all the advantages of costefficiencies and skills and scale , but what other areas of your business is your service provider supporting ? Do they have different strengths and can they bring different skills or services to the table when your outsourcing needs evolve ?
Craig Allen , Head of Information Technology
Advisory , qwerti
This value conversation is not just down to cost , either . There will always be that careful balance between the IT team and the outsourced organisation . Value lies in finding shared growth and collaboration as service providers enhance business operations and the role of IT .
This is particularly relevant at a time when new technologies and trends are constantly reshaping
Change is constant and pivoting has become essential , making it a complex task for companies to stay up-to-date , find the right talent and ensure IT teams are provided with opportunities for ongoing learning .
Companies do not just go for outsourcing because it is a stop gap in complex times or until the economies of scale tip in its favour . You are paying a premium for this service because it offers you access to an ecosystem of talent and support that helps you to manage your ERP , CRM , websites , networking equipment , servers , conferencing equipment and more .
There is not one person who knows everything and who can support the organisation across every one of these touchpoints . This is a scale of work that three , even four , talented employees would not be able to handle .
For some enterprises , moving to an insource model makes sense as they have the economies of scale that allow for them to bring all the talent indoors . However , for smaller companies it makes financial sense to outsource IT to a company that brings a plethora of skills to the table . It cuts the costs and the risk .
When talking of risk mitigation , outsourcing also brings with it a layer of trusted quality . The company invests into certifications , skills development , and KPIs – many service providers require that their talent undergo quarterly certification to ensure they stay ahead of the technology curve .
Value is in lock-step with constant education as companies know that they have access to skills that are relevant and on a par with global standards of excellence . Instead of the company paying for internal skills development , their premium pays for talent that arrives readymade and ready to resolve challenges .
So , going back to the question as to how a company knows if it is outsourcing its IT properly ?
It is answered by a service that extends beyond box ticking and banality , instead opening the doors to a pool of talent and expertise that can help your internal teams thrive through skill transfer , reduce your costs and optimise your organisation . p
20 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com