For many companies, one of the obstacles of moving forward or expanding into new markets is the growing IT requirements of a more extensive operation. Our world has become very dependent on digital platforms, but IT has become such a broad concept that IT can mean almost anything. All of us, by necessity, have developed some IT skills; we need them to survive. But there are so many specialties like call centers, data storage, website management, Disaster recovery, and the list goes on. For this reason, the most logical solution to overwhelming IT needs is to outsource what you can if the quality can be assured.
Areas of IT Outsourcing:
There are various kinds of IT outsourcing like cloud computing, where your network is linked to a more extensive network to facilitate multiple platforms. There is offshore outsourcing, where a company will perform its specific IT roles in other countries; an example of this would be call centers. And there are numerous other ways a company can expand its operation digitally. Managed IT support services are a type of outsourcing where a company provides specific services such as Internet security, database management, or private networks.
Benefits of Outsourcing:
The main advantage of outsourcing IT is that it is a way to bring resources, technology, or knowledge to a company, without making significant financial commitments or hiring additional staff. It is somewhat like hiring networks or large groups of people to work for you on a job-by-job basis. In this way, you only pay to use the service, not create something new from scratch. It is also a way to increase your companies’ technological abilities significantly, almost instantly, making the expansion into new products and services much more accessible.
The Downside of Outsourcing:
Whenever a product or service leaves the control of the business, a company risks losing control over its quality. For example, a call center might not have the best people answering the phones, or their practices or language usage might cause misunderstandings. Your customers might be lost in a system of computer-generated responses and find no solution to their customer support issues. You also might experience breaches of security and loss of intellectual property. Great care should be taken at every step.
Governance:
Because of the ‘at arm’s reach’ nature of outsourced IT, a company must protect itself by having strictly defined protocols for their side and service level agreements on the supplier’s side. There must be ways of assuring quality and the recourse available if the service is not provided adequately. Communication is the key to developing control over outsourced IT services. The free flow of information will make sure the various departments are aware of the needs of the other services, and then the parties can build and commission better arrangements for improved results.
Outsourcing IT is something that is here to stay. Even the giant tech corporations use outsourcing and vendors on a regular basis. It can be the best path to expansion and efficiency, but it must be managed carefully with good oversight to ensure your customers do not experience diminished service.
