A strikingly high number of executives say their IT outsourcing projects met their return-on-investment goals, casting a positive light on one of IT's more complex areas, a new study reveals. But despite the positive results, the dark side of outsourcing persists, with many executives wishing they could go back in time.
According to Deloitte Consulting's new survey, "Why Settle for Less?", 83 percent of executives said their outsourcing projects met their ROI projections. Seven in 10 said they are satisfied or very satisfied with their projects.
But Deloitte found a few shortcomings. For example, when asked what they'd do differently, nearly half of respondents said they'd redefine service levels to better align with corporate goals. (For instance, companies can do more to consider any future transactions, like mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, and make sure the outsourcer is aware of the long-term strategy.)
A little more than one-third admitted that their companies should have spent more time evaluating service providers. Companies often rush into choosing outsourcers because of tight project deadlines. "The earlier the client begins the process, the better equipped they are to make the right decision and the more time they have to plan," says Peter Lowes, head of Deloitte's national outsourcing advisory practice. "The relatively modest cost of doing this typically has a huge economic payback in terms of deal economics achieved with time on the side of the buyer, more time to negotiate better terms and lower operational risk."
Source: CIO Insight, http://www.cioinsight.com