To reduce costs and keep IT resources focused on the core business, more organizations are choosing to outsource network management. To deliver on this promise, it’s essential to choose the right service provider. This in-depth report explores the key considerations, including solution portfolio, partnerships and processes.
Source:http://whitepapers.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=1285495&promo=100503
Shares of Affiliated Computer Services, Inc (NYSE:ACS) closed the trading session at $59.64 below calculated support at $61.36 breaking current long setups, raising concerns by the bulls, as this move might give the bears the upper hand.
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (NYSE:ACS) provides diversified business process outsourcing and information technology outsourcing solutions to clients worldwide. The Company serves various industries that include communications, energy, financial services, government, healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing. Some of its IT outsourcing services include data center and midrange server outsourcing, network and desktop outsourcing, and help desk/service desk management. Some of its business process outsourcing services include administrative and insurance consulting services, travel, transportation, and logistics services.
Affiliated Computer’s stock was trading in a well defined range with support at $61.36 and resistance at $65.09; given that this range was broken traders will be closely monitoring the stock?s price action for clues of direction.
From a technical perspective it can be expected that previous support becomes resistance, as the new range gets defined, however, given that Affiliated Computer’s stock is still near the broken support, traders will be focusing on $61.36 to see if the stock can bounce back and return to its previous range.
Traders wanting to establish a short position in Affiliated Computer can do so if the stock breaks the intraday low, or if the stock bounces back and selling materializes at previous support of $61.36. For traders wanting to establish a long position the current setup is to wait for the stock to get back to calculated support, given that the stock is still near from this level.
Source:http://www.tradershuddle.com/Trading-Ideas/186919192010-trading-idea-affiliated-breaking-down.html
Small businesses really are the engines of our economy. Unfortunately, the recession has taken its toll. Many of those that have managed to stay alive (and there are a lot… small businesses have a certain grit about them) have had to make cuts, or have had to put initiatives on hold. Which is why, perhaps now more than ever, IT outsourcing makes a lot of sense.
When businesses have to deal with a lack of resources for IT—be it staff, budgets or expertise—outsourcing can fill in the gaps. But the big IT outsourcing guns, such as CSC, IBM, EDS and others, aren’t typically on the radar of small businesses. And offshoring IT is seemingly even less of an option, since a big part of successful offshoring is negotiating the right contract and then managing the offshore deal once work gets underway.
Small and midsize businesses more often seek out local companies, many of whom are small and midsize businesses themselves. But expect more options to hit the market.
In fact, just this week, office retailer Staples unveiled a new service designed specifically for small businesses that want to outsource any part—or all—of their IT operations. The move is an acknowledgement of the growing need small and midsize businesses have and a central part of Staples’ strategy to become more than an office retailer and instead become also an office delivery business that services companies large and small in all of their office needs.
The new Staples Technology Solutions is supposed to be able to handle tech products and services for business customers, ranging from computer equipment and printer maintenance to managing all the company’s IT needs. The company says it could provide a full IT department to a small business (defined as a business with 10 to 250 employees).
Staples Technology Solutions is the upshot of Staples’ acquisitions of Thrive Networks, a tech consulting firm, in 2006, and Corporate Express, a European office supplier to businesses, in 2008. The new unit will offer customers services on a contract basis and charge monthly fees.
Clearly, services such as the one Staples’ new unit is offering can help small and midsize businesses make up for shrunken revenue, shrunken IT staff, and shrunken IT budgets.
But small and midsize business execs also need to consider how outsourcing some or all of their IT operations can also help propel their companies forward.
Just like bigger companies, outsourcing IT means getting back to core business operations. And focusing on what you do best means getting better at what you do best.
Source:http://advice.cio.com/beth_bacheldor/staples_turns_out_an_it_outsourcing_option_for_small_businesses
(Source: Datamonitor)IT services vendor Computer Sciences Corp (CSC) has won a six-year extension to its business process outsourcing (BPO) contract with Florida-based Sunshine State Insurance Company. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Under the deal, CSC will support Sunshine State’s personal and commercial property business from an upgraded technology platform that automates more of the underwriting process. The extension will provide technology and services for improved risk management and selection, business analytics and advanced Web 2.0 capabilities.
The company’s processing services cover Sunshine State’s underwriting, rating, policy issuance and administration, agency point of sale automation, customer service, print and imaging, financial accounting and reporting to bureaus and industry databases. It has been providing the services since 2000. It currently administers the property business on the latest versions of its POINT IN policy administration system and front end automation software Agency Link.
Jim Cook, president of Business Solutions and Services at CSC, said: “By incorporating process innovation and the latest technologies within our BPO operations, we are able to provide cost-effective property and casualty insurance operations, now serving more than 45 companies including 10 based in Florida.”
Last month, CSC won a five-year outsourcing contract from Indiana-based insurance and annuity provider Conseco Services to provide on- and off-shore technical resources to maintain and support two of Conseco’s insurance administration systems. In November, it won a $2.9bn contract from Zurich Financial Services Group to provide data center and IT infrastructure managed services.
Source:http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3880651#
Telecommunications company Bell Aliant is cutting 100 jobs in three provinces in Atlantic Canada, handing the work over to a Montreal-based outsourcing company.
Brenda Reid, who handles communication and public affairs for the company, said the affected workers are responsible for internal information technology operations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
The work is being taken over by CGI Group Inc., an outsourcing and consulting company.
Reid said Bell Aliant is trying to find other positions for the workers within the company, although she said they might not find work for everyone.
The jobs affected are non-unionized positions.
The company said the decision is a cost-saving measure, but Reid won’t reveal how much money will be saved.
“The initiative is being implemented to ensure we are operating as cost effectively as possible in a competitive environment,” she said.
Over the past 18 months, the regional telecommunications firm has eliminated 1,000 jobs.
Cable and wireless companies took a three per cent bite out of Bell Aliant revenues last year.
Troy Crandall, a telecommunications analyst with a Montreal investment firm, said the only way Bell Aliant can keep shareholders happy is to make cuts to offset declining sales.
“You’ve got internet that’s been out there for quite a while, growth is slowing, the same with wireless,” he said. “The only way for you to have the same profit as last year is for you to cut your costs by a dollar to make up for the lost dollar of revenue.”
Bell Aliant is also consolidating customer service from 16 locations to five — a move that will affect about 200 people. Crandall said that’s part of a larger war.
“This whole cost-cutting initiative — we’re seeing it at Rogers; we’re seeing it at Telus,” Crandall said. “It’s not just Bell Aliant. They haven’t even seen the worst of the competition. It’s continuing.”
Bell Aliant isn’t saying whether there are more cuts to come, but EastLink is preparing to add wireless to its lineup.
Crandall is forecasting a two per cent drop in Bell Aliant revenue this year.
Source:http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/02/18/nl-aliant-jobs-180210.html
Contractors who are working in the UK’s IT industry could be among those to be affected by outsourcing trends.
The latest Labour Market Outlook survey From the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed that a number of UK firms are planning to outsource jobs abroad this year.
According to the report, ten per cent of all companies are looking to outsource their workload to different countries.
In the IT sector this number rises to 41 per cent, with many firms opting to outsource work to India and eastern Europe.
More than half of the firms (51 per cent) who said they are planning to use foreign workers said they would relocate to India, while 37 per cent are to opt for eastern European nations.
Gerwyn Davies, CIPD public policy adviser and author of the report, said “Despite rising unemployment, employers are still struggling to recruit the people they need and we are turning abroad to plug the gap.
“To help minimise further outsourcing of jobs abroad, the government needs to do all it can to curb rising wage costs. A good start would be abandoning the national insurance contribution increase, planned for 2011.”
Source:http://www.brookson.co.uk/news-and-press/19625287/contractors-could-be-affected-by-outsourcing-rise.aspx
Indian IT companies have over-leveraged their traditional advantages of offering cost-arbitrage and skilled labour. Local IT companies need to get a global makeover to bid for government and civilian outsourcing contracts in other countries, senior associate dean at Harvard Business School, Professor David B Yoffie, said in an interview to ET. Excerpts:
How do Indian IT companies fare in the global scene?
Some of the big US and European companies have come to India and have capitalised on the traditional advantage that India offers: namely high-quality talent available at low cost. IBM has 75,000 people here, Accenture has 100,000 employees while HP has 50,000 people. The traditional advantages that India offered have already been tapped.
What kind of strategies do Indian IT firms need to have?
All Indian IT companies need to be more creative and create newer services and go beyond their labour arbitrage strategy which has served them well for 15 years. Many IT companies are beginning to realise that offering simple BPO or outsourcing jobs is not going to be profitable as in the past.
What kind of impact will this make on outsourcing to India?
I don’t think there is an imminent threat and will not destroy the IT industry in India. But the long-term challenge will be to develop newer services and find other areas in the value chain to operate. For example , cloud computing is a challenging area Indian IT firms can tap. When companies such as IBM, HP, Google and Microsoft start hosting all their IT activities for a larger number of companies, then the traditional role of outsourcing will begin to change dramatically.
What are the challenges?
Making a transition to a new model is hard and this includes a lot of investment. Cloud computing will put a lot of pressure on existing businesses. However , the traditional model of outsourcing is not going to change overnight because IT firms such as Wipro, TCS and Infosys have deep ties with their existing customers.
What are the newer businesses that can be tapped by Indian companies through outsourcing?
Indian IT firms need to get a global makeover so that they can compete in markets that have a larger role in the IT economy . For example, the healthcare segment needs to be more IT intensive and efficient. And, if Indian and global companies are not doing it, they are limiting their long-term goals. Most of the healthcare in US is private and is run by health maintenance organisations. This offers a lucrative opportunity.
Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Interviews/Indian-tech-firms-need-to-be-more-creative/articleshow/5591537.cms
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