Headstream Advisory, the consultancy firm specialises in global sourcing strategies, has launched a mobile application called GlobalSourcer that gives insights for those who want to source work to information technology and IT-enabled service providers.

Available on Apple Stores, the app provides “granular information on the qualitative aspects of the service providers that is generally kept under wraps by established advisory firms”.

“In the current highly volatile economy, the key traps for any outsourcing buyer are lack of in-depth analysis of service provider’s domain expertise and a clear methodology to distinguish service providers. Lack of information creates a biased perception on the service providers,” Mr Sashikant Kakara, founder and Managing Director of Headstream Advisory, said.
New platform

This app fills the gap and reshapes the way customers perceive the providers. Service providers can look at the app as a new channel and platform to optimise their brand presence and gain traction in new geographies and verticals, he claimed.

The company’s sourcing advisory covers areas such as financial services, telecom, retail, technology and media. It has developed the app that is being offered at $19.99. “This will also take the apps space to a new level by moving it to enterprise application segment from games,” he said.

Mr Sashikant argued that global sourcing knowledge economy was not transparent. “Normally, buyers purchase insights on the service providers at exorbitant prices. Additionally, buyers are charged premium for running the deal and the service provider selection,” he said.

“The sensitive information, decisive in nature, which the advisory and analyst firms hold onto, is being opened up to the decision makers through a simple app now,” he said.

GlobalSourcer App has been designed by Xcube labs for Headstream Advisory.

Mr Sashikant expected that the app would make the major advisory firms to reduce the pricing of their insights provided to buyers since the information provided in the app is typically sold at a premium to the buyers.

Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/article2735569.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

Orange and T-Mobile’s Everything Everywhere joint venture is outsourcing its IT to T-Systems in a seven-year deal said to be worth £700m, Computer Weekly has learned.

Staff have been informed that the UK joint venture between T-Mobile and Orange will transfer 220 staff to T-Systems.

T-Systems confirmed that it “has signed a new, seven-year outsourcing contract for IT services with Everything Everywhere.” No value was given but according to sources it is about £700m.

The deal is for the delivery of desktop services, datacentre operations and infrastructure management, IT applications support and ITIL support processes to support 16,000 staff.

It also triggers off a move into the cloud. “The contract sets out a path for migrating 40% of Everything Everywhere’s IT estate onto T-Systems’ Dynamic platform within three years,” said the T-Systems statement.

T-Systems already provided IT services to T-Mobile, which is also owned by Deutsche Telekom but the Orange UK IT infrastructure, which is done in-house, is said to be twice as big as its T-Mobile equivalent.

Source:http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2011/03/25/246065/Orange-and-T-Mobile-UK-operation-outsources-IT-to-T-Systems.htm