Alsbridge Lays Out Eight Tips for Provider Site Visits

In the wake of the Satyam scandal and the Mumbai attacks, companies should carefully prepare for provider site visits, according to Alsbridge, Inc., the leading outsourcing consultant.

A provider site visit should be a well-planned and executed data-gathering mission, said Alsbridge CEO Ben Trowbridge. The visit team should make the visit a form of pre-due diligence before provider selection and contract signing.

Alsbridge recommends a checklist for site visits:

1.      Set Your Budget. Site visits are not cheap -- from the United States, business class airfare to India averages $8,000 per person. Other expenses include lodging, ground transportation, food, tips, passport, business visa, and medical preparation. Always overestimate expenses in case you extend your trip.

2.      Select Participants. Include executives from functions being outsourced (e.g., the vice president of infrastructure), functional subject matter experts (e.g., the senior manager of the help desk), and business executives receiving the services outsourced (e.g., the vice president of business operations).

3.      Set Visit Objectives. The site visit team should create at least three primary objectives. Your team, not a small select group of people, should set the objectives. Involve everyone in the process so that everyone owns the outcome.

4.      Decide When to Visit. Make site visits based on how you structure your bid process. Some clients want to visit all providers who respond to the request for proposal. In other cases, the client wants to visit only the two or three finalists. Don’t assume providers will accommodate you at any and all times. There may be national or religious holidays that could impact your trip.

5.      Identify Sites. Ask each provider candidate for a list of its Centers of Excellence (COE) for the industry and function being outsourced. This makes it easy to decide which locations to visit.

6.      Plan Sooner, not Later. Plan well in advance to keep costs down. Get all travel documentation (provider invitation letters, passports, business visas) and health requirements (shots, prescriptions, overseas medical insurance coverage) in order. Work from a daily logistics plan with specific questions for each provider.

7.      Assess Capabilities and Culture. Rate providers on:

·         People – Is there a match between company cultures? Can we work with the team?

·         Process – Will they leverage industry standard processes effectively to benefit our project?      

          Will we have to alter our methods to adapt to the provider’s process?

·         Technology – What technology does the provider bring that will give us a competitive    advantage?

A daily debriefing session is the best way to capture information while it is still fresh.

8.      Register with Your State Department. – U.S. residents can register travel plans free at https://travelregistration.state.gov. This speeds contact in emergencies. Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page, and visas with family and friends.

For the original Alsbridge thought leadership article, go to: http://www.outsourcingleadership.com/outsourcing-viewpoints-feb10.shtml.

For more information on outsourcing advisory services, contact Alsbridge at 214-696-6410 or visit www.Alsbridge.com.  For research and insight on outsourcing, visit www.outsourcingleadership.com.

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About Alsbridge:

Alsbridge, Inc. is an award-winning global advisory firm providing unparalleled expertise in information technology and business process outsourcing, shared services, finance and accounting, and benchmarking. The firm is fact-based and client-focused, with a proven methodology that fosters success.  Alsbridge defines client goals and scope, finds the best cultural fit with providers, refines the best solutions and eases transitions and implementation. Founded in 2005, Alsbridge is the proven, effective difference.

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Jo Trizila

Trizila Communications, Inc.

Office: (972) 247-1369

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