IT is a significant enabler for organisations in providing enhanced customer service, reduced operational costs and increased process performance. However, these benefits also bring issues via installation, maintenance, technological advances and culture change. To access the benefits and manage the issues an organisation can bring the responsibility and resource in-house. Alternatively the whole IT function can be outsourced to a specialist third party.

Drivers behind progressing along the IT outsourcing route include:

• Allows the organisation to focus on their core business
• Financial planning is improved as more IT expenditure can become a fixed cost
• Access to a broader skills set than could be justified in-house
• Operating as a facilitator of cultural change

There also points between completely in-house and completely outsourced.

If you are the buyer or supplier of an IT Outsourcing deal then you need to ensure that roles, responsibilities, objectives, risks, processes and evaluation are agreed, defined and documented.

Working as an integral part of the clients team, our Media and Technology group has extensive experience in advising and negotiating for either side (buyer or supplier) in creating and monitoring an IT outsourcing arrangement.

For more information on our approach please view our Smart City case study.

If you would like to discuss IT outsourcing please contact Paul Carlyle or Joanna Boag-Thomson.