How is outsourcing changing the IT market today?

IBA GroupMark Kobayashi-HillaryOutsourcing is changing fast. Cloud computing, the consumerisation of IT, and trends such as BYOD have all changed the way the CIO plans for IT needs and engages with IT partners.Outsourcing used to be about literally dealing with ‘my mess for less’. A company with an internal business or IT process would hire an expert service provider who just performed the same function – hopefully making it better or cheaper over time.Now that IT has become so integral to the function of modern companies, the IT suppliers have become trusted delivery partners. The client company simply cannot deliver without the expertise of their IT partner.But IT can be procured in many ways today. The iPhone has taught consumers that apps can be installed when needed and deleted when they are not. Services like Gmail have taught consumers that very important systems can be web-based – there is no need for expensive locally installed software.All these lessons are flowing back into the enterprise and changing how companies want to procure technology. But with the supplier community so well entrenched, how is this going to change the outsourcing market? This Computer Weekly feature explores some of the questions, but one thing is clear, expert suppliers of solutions are still needed. As these changes flow from the consumer market to the enterprise it is likely that companies will need partners to be closer and more reactive than ever – this looks good for suppliers based in Eastern Europe rather than far from their clients.