It’s easy to hear a buzz word in the industry and make assumptions. However, what happens when those assumptions prove incorrect? And what happens when those assumptions are the bedrock under which a sourcing contract is being shaped, priced and a customer/service provider relationship is developed?
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If a customer misunderstands what outcome-based contracting is (and perhaps confuses it with output-based contracting as this statement suggests), the customer’s expectations are already misaligned with the service provider’s and what each party should be committing to.
Outcome-based models are by no means new to the sourcing world. But now, with a greater understanding and implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the customer side, they have grown again in popularity. We see a resurgence in customers demanding greater innovation and more cost-effective service, particularly in process-driven services such as finance and accounting.
But with the potential for misunderstanding and customers confusing output for outcome, will we start to see an increase in issues arising from outcome-based contracts?
Strategic Planning for Outcome-Based Model
A true outcome-based model requires a considerable amount of strategic planning from the customer before engaging with service providers. A customer needs to be capable of introspective analysis to understand, develop, and communicate its business values and strategic agenda.
However, this flow of information will need to go both ways as the parties will need to determine whether they share the same business values and approach on which to base the relationship. While trust will be of utmost importance, this flow of communication should be subject to early contractual commitments of confidentiality.
Both parties may want to share, at a high level, their business strategies and potentially confidential information about business projections and future aspirations. This should be done in a controlled and respectful manner, sharing only the information that will benefit the relationship, with the requisite protections in place.
Securing Organizational Buy-In
Ultimately both parties need “buy-in” from senior stakeholders and commitment from every level of the organization before a strong working relationship can be established. All levels of the customer organization have to want to work with a service provider as a strategic partner and see the benefit in the service provider, helping them achieve their organizational goals.
This is more than just the parties outlining and agreeing to specific contract outcomes. A well-developed and robust business case should be circulated to ensure that internal alignment. In turn, the service provider has to want to align its business with the customer and trust that the customer will commit to a true risk and reward model.
Each party will need to invest in the process at an early stage. The customer will need to have the right resources available for its internal analysis and baseline of existing services. Both parties will need their project teams to invest time and effort in deal structuring and seeking to exclude external factors that may impact the measurable outcomes that the service provider is remunerated upon.
Early investment of this type (on both sides) will be vital in demonstrating commitment to the process and a successful, working contract. The time spent in the early stages of development of core principles, agreed measures and conducting due diligence means that there is a significant level of work done before the parties reach contractual negotiation.
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If customers are not capable or cannot spare the resource to take on these tasks, they would do well to consider using a consultant who understands the complexities of an outcome-based approach. Someone who can assist with baselining the relevant existing services and create a true risk and reward program is critical.
Although not yet at the contracting phase, the work effort involved in this early stage of development should be documented and agreed to by the parties. In addition, the baselines from which the outcomes can be measured, the outcomes themselves and any risk factors that may adversely impact the service provider’s efforts should also be agreed on and clearly documented.
Outcome measurements will involve negotiation and discussion between the parties. Each measurement should be capable of being objectively monitored rather than an internal metric understood by only one of the parties.
Governance Structure for Outcome-Based Model
Strong governance is critical in most (if not all) sourcing relationships, but it is even more important when working on an outcome-based model. Governance structures should be developed early in the relationship and be robust with the ability to flex over time in line with the relationship needs and both customer’s and service provider’s businesses.
It is of paramount importance that the parties – at all levels of the relationship – adhere to the agreed structure. Like with all sourcing models, if one party deviates from the model, the relationship is strained and trust is lost.
The parties will need to trust each other sufficiently to afford a greater level of transparency than is customary with other contractual models. If a party experiences changes in its interests, business strategies or demands, it is important that this information is shared in sufficient detail to allow the parties to address what changes may need to be made.
This information will also shed light on whether that should cause a re-baselining or a change in measurable business outcomes. These will be difficult to legislate for at the outset, but the contract should afford the parties sufficient flexibility to ensure the ongoing success for both parties.
Some may feel an outcome-based contract implies a greater level of understanding and a more sophisticated level of contracting between customer and service provider. However, more simplistically, it involves strategic planning, a clear demand from the customer for increased innovation and cost savings, and a genuine alignment of the service provider’s and customer’s interests.
Outcome-based contracting is not suitable for all services. Still, for business processes, the model is a joint endeavor that rests on the strength of the relationship and an honest, open sharing of information including risk and reward.