Outcome Based Offshore Outsourcing - What is it, Why the Interest and What Are the Challenges?

What is outcome-based offshore outsourcing?7. 7. Ability to incent more innovative behavior from
Traditional outsourcing models focus on input; forprovider
example man hours, person months, emails answered8. More cohesion of work being delivered
or number of calls processed. On the other handWhat are the challenges for buyers?
outcome-based focuses on output i.e. reaching a• Potential lack of transparency into how work is
business goal such as customer satisfaction, customerbeing performed
loyalty, support cost as a percentage of revenues etc.• Little insight into cost of service (unless visibility into
Why the interest in outcome-based approach?resource consumption is maintained)
• Additional administrative burdens associated with
1. From the buyer point of view, cost savings throughroot cause analysis (if service is not being delivered as
labor arbitrage has plateaued in many offshorepromised) and evaluation of service delivery
outsourcing relationships; labor costs in places like India• Resistance from vendor
have risen during the past decade. So these buyers• Measure of success needs to be tied to the
are looking for additional ways to realize value fromoutcome under the vendor's control
their offshore outsourcing efforts.• Often difficult to measure the outcome
2. Many offshore providers want to move up theTraditional model will continue be sufficient for many
value chain and add value in new and different ways -buyer organizations
they see it as a differentiator in the market place.Outcome based model is not for everyone. You may
3. Ultimately, buyers do not want to buy person hours,find that traditional activity based model is the better
but you want an outcome -- such as a completedsuited for your situation. If you cannot define the
product or a satisfied customer.outcome clearly and if they are not under the control
4. This model helps align the business goals ofof the offshore provider, it is hard to hold them
providers and buyers.responsible for the outcome. In addition, your
5. 5. Potential for higher eventual savings as labororganization may not be culturally ready to enter into a
arbitrage is replaced by productivity and synergiestrue partnership with a provider where you need to
between tasks as key savings driversshare strategic information. In some cases even if the
6. Freedom from operational issues such ascultural orientation is there, for competitive reasons you
interviewing and monitoring individual members of themay not be willing to share strategic information.
provider's staff