Sodexo Shares Questions Businesses Should Ask Providers Before Outsourcing IT Services

According to Gartner research, worldwide spending on IT will approach $3.8 trillion by 2020
Sep 29, 2016 11:45 AM ET

GAITHERSBURG, Md., September 29, 2016 /3BL Media/ -- Businesses, nonprofits and public institutions worldwide are on pace to outlay $3.4 trillion on IT services in 2016.[i]  That figure is projected to rise to $3.8 trillion by 2020. Sodexo, the world leader in Quality of Life Services, with business in 80 countries understands the importance of a smart approach to IT outsourcing in its operations and on behalf of its clients and customers.

Organizations working in an increasingly connected world rely on information systems and technology (IS&T) that enhance company performance and productivity. That means ensuring systems onsite or outsourced drive technology solutions to enable business growth and operational efficiency. Sodexo’s vice president of operations and infrastructure IS&T, Tim Porzio, shares critical insights on selecting vendors for outsourced IT.

“According to Deloitte[ii], 31 percent of IT services in 2016 have been outsourced and forecasts show that organizations will continue to farm out those services for years to come,” said Porzio. “That being the case, businesses, nonprofits and public institutions will all need a thoughtful approach to selecting a provider before handing over the ‘keys to the data kingdom.’”

In blog post published today on Sodexo Insights Porzio addresses 5 questions to ask prospective providers before outsourcing IT services. They include:

  1. How do you ensure our data is properly secured?
  2. How do you monitor your system and what are your procedures for incident management, change management and disaster recovery?
  3. What is the depth and skill set within the organization?
  4. What is your application and technology roadmap?
  5. What are the terms of the contract?

Equally important, Porzio shares thoughts on what to look for in the responses provided by prospective vendors, along with additional follow-up questions. With companies, regardless of industry relying on an increasingly wide array of outsourced IT services – some mission critical – a savvy approach to vendor selection can go a long way to optimizing operations, reducing costs and ensuring data security.

Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.

Learn more about Sodexo at the company’s corporate blog, Sodexo Insights.

 

[i] Gartner Market Datebook 2Q16: http://www.gartner.com/technology/research/it-spending-forecast/

[ii] Melin: Insights on Multilingual Customer Support, IT Outsourcing and Customer Care: http://www.misgl.com/blog/6-statistics-shaping-it-outsourcing-this-2016-infographic/