Britain’s transport industry: seeking solutions from the supply chain

Posted: 02/03/2016 - 04:36
Author: Sarah Baxter

Across all sectors of the UK economy, consumer-facing businesses are finding themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, consumer expectations are inexorably rising; driven ever higher by rapidly evolving technologies and an ‘at your fingertips’ service culture. At the same time, however, the hangover of the recession together with competitive markets means businesses continue to squeeze more out of fixed (or more likely, reduced) budgets. The transport sector is no different.

Change your story to change your culture...

Posted: 02/02/2016 - 00:40
Author: Damian Scallon

Pulling into the snowy parking lot and contemplating today’s meeting, my mind wandered to a line from Michael Margolis, the CEO of Get Storied, “If you want to understand the culture, listen to the stories; if you want to change the culture, change the stories.” Carl, the site manager of Excel, the inside-outsourcing service provider at this motorcycle plant, had called a few weeks back and enticed me to visit by stating, “I have a great story for you.”

Second strongest quarter in a decade for EMEA outsourcing, says ISG

Posted: 01/30/2016 - 11:47
Author: John Keppel

We’ve just published the latest Outsourcing Index from Information Services Group (ISG) (which measures commercial outsourcing contracts with an annual contract value (ACV) of €4 million or more), and found that the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region posted a strong finish to the year, with annual contract value (ACV) rising 17 per cent in the fourth quarter, to $3.1 billion, fuelled by the signing of five mega-relationships. It was only the third time ever that the region surpassed €3 billion in ACV in a quarter, and the first time since the third quarter of 2012.

Nearshoring in Europe to increase customer experience

Posted: 01/29/2016 - 00:56
Author: Karl Brough

There is a significant shift in customer experience management in Europe as more brands shun traditional offshoring destinations in favour of customer contact centres closer to their customers. In an increasingly competitive global market, organisations are seeking to boost revenue and profits by strengthening customer relationships and using customer service to gain competitive advantage.

AI 101: an introduction to automation and artificial intelligence in outsourcing

Posted: 01/27/2016 - 21:22
Author: Gareth Stokes

The traditional view of outsourcing has tended to see cost reduction as one of the primary drivers for any customer. The idea that the ‘total cost of ownership’ of a particular business function over the term of the outsourcing contract should be lower is very often part of the business case. Similarly, seeing outsourcing as a means of transforming a collection of assets on the balance sheet into a recurring service charge, and reducing (or at least apparently reducing) capital costs is another common refrain at the outset of deals.

How ITO pricing models will change through 2016

Posted: 01/25/2016 - 21:35
Author: Sameer Jain

It wasn’t all too long ago that pricing models offered by information technology outsourcing (ITO) services and firms fell strictly into the “static” category. In fact, thinking of these agreements as anything but fixed or rigid in nature simply didn’t make much sense based on the layout of the outsourcing landscape. Customers requested a certain type of IT or software development and service providers fit this requisition into an inelastic pricing structure that had little room for change or adaptability.

The robots don't want our jobs!

Posted: 01/22/2016 - 22:15
Author: Jamie Liddell

Robots hit the headlines over many national and industry outlets this week. The clincher statistic, as reported by Bloomberg, The Times, and most of the international press, is that over five million jobs will be lost by 2020 as a result of developments in artificial intelligence, robotics and other technological change.

Coming home, going bi-modal and the robot invasion: six outsourcing predictions for 2016

Posted: 01/22/2016 - 02:29
Author: Eleanor Matthews

As we enter a new year, it’s always fun to gaze into our crystal balls and anticipate the key trends and forces that will shape our industry in the coming year. Granted, given the pace of change and disruption that has come to characterise the outsourcing space, the business of prognosticating is becoming an increasingly risky one. That said, here are some thoughts and observations – in no particular order – from Alsbridge regarding what to expect in the coming twelve months.

Is automating Accounts Payable processes worth the effort?

Posted: 01/22/2016 - 00:37
Author: Tim Nissen

According to the Institute of Finance & Management, 61% of top global companies have implemented full Accounts Payable (AP) automation. This occurrence has had its challenges.

Primarily, the universal commonality of budget allocation is the obstacle to overcome. When a company’s CFO is prioritising expenditures, their eye remains on cash flow and compliance/risk mitigation. AP must factor into these objectives to achieve funding for automation (or for anything else; with decisions being made by priority).

Rising to the IT challenge

Posted: 01/20/2016 - 00:19
Author: Sebastian Grady

Wandering around the Gartner Symposiums at the end of last year, listening to the keynote speakers and chatting with CIOs from some of the world’s leading brands, it is clear that the year’s theme was very apt. “Rise to the Challenge” reflects both the exciting opportunities and the daunting demands on IT departments. At a time when budgets continue to flat line, CEOs are looking to digital transformation as a crucial step to their future business success, and they expect their CIOs to pull out the proverbial IT rabbit to support this goal.

Outsource in 2016: new year, new ownership, new opportunities

Posted: 01/18/2016 - 23:34
Author: Jamie Liddell

As it’s my first column of 2016, a belated “very happy new year!” to all Outsource’s readers around the world. I hope the old year ended wonderfully for everyone, and that 2016 has started superbly on all fronts. As many of you will now be aware, the turn of the year has seen some rather gigantic developments here at Outsource.

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