Business IT outsourcing companies face economic and technological challenges they must be prepared to handle. While the need for information technology outsourcing is always in demand, you have to keep up with the latest advancements to remain competitive. Follow the news to find out what software and hardware programs are being used and which companies are laying off so that you can step in with just the right skills.

Make it a habit to read outsourcing IT news feeds and newsletters from IT outsourcing firms so that you don’t get complacent. Continually send your staff to training for the latest programs so that you can fill the contracts as they appear. Look in a variety of places for IT outsourcing services news and trends.

1. Read help desk outsourcing articles to diversify your business.

2. Check with your reliable sources daily for news that will affect IT outsourcing firms.

3. Use the contacts from trade groups for additional IT outsourcing news.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stay ahead of technology outsourcing trends

As the IT needs of business change, you need to be prepared to step in when companies needs to upgrade their systems and either train their staff or supply the manpower to handle the projects. If you keep up with the latest outsourced IT services that are being utilized, you can better position your company to handle the contracts.

I recommend: Keep up with the stock market trends and sign up for email alerts that drive IT businesses while reading about specific issues that affect your outsourcing company at Network World. Sourcingmag is one of the leading providers of news for the IT outsourcing industry.

Find the best sources of news that cover IT outsourcing companies

When you find a good source that gives you the news about what kinds of outsourcing gigs your competitors are getting and what latest programs are being outsourced, stick with it. Add other resources for IT outsourcing solutions to round out your information.

I recommend: Use the experts at InformationWeek to get involved in blog discussions and get the latest outsourcing news from around the world. Choose the headlines that affect your area of expertise at Outsourcing Strategies.

Join groups to network with other IT outsourcing companies

Trade groups are great places to hear about the latest IT developments even before they hit the press. Build relationships that will lead to referrals for your IT outsourcing consultancy and find experts who can keep you updated with industry trends.

I recommend: Get training and keep up with your IT outsource peers and the latest news through membership in the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals. The Information Technology Association of America provides members with a wealth of important information as well as training and networking opportunities.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As part of your news gathering effort, check the websites of competing IT outsourcing companies to find out what kinds of services they are offering and which contracts they're landing.

IT outsourcing has been one of the most talked-about options in the information technology market in recent years. Some of the discussions have focused so heavily on the negative effects of outsourcing IT internationally that many business owners have become leery of information technology outsourcing as a whole. But IT outsourcing solutions can be incredibly beneficial to your company when used effectively.

Many people don’t know that there are huge lists of domestic providers of IT outsourcing services that can save your business time and money. These IT outsourcing firms focus on maximizing the cost-effectiveness of your budget by providing IT professionals to your company that are not your direct hires. When you eliminate the hiring costs of these people, the overall savings are a substantial reason to IT outsource.

When looking to maximize the stretch of your budget with outsourced IT professionals, among the key points to consider are:

1. The location of the IT outsourcing service;
2. The type of work for which you’re considering technology outsourcing;
3. The duration of your information technology outsourcing project.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Work only with domestic IT outsourcing companies

There are so many people that have strong negative feelings about outsourcing IT internationally that you carry huge risks if you choose to do so. From local and federal legislators looking to punish companies who 'take jobs overseas' to your average customer who finds working with a foreign representative off-putting, it's just not worth it. Instead, focus on domestic IT outsourcing options that are readily available and more business-friendly overall.

I recommend: Onshore offers IT outsourcing services utilizing rural American workers. By training these workers in high-tech jobs, they create a win-win situation of allowing you to IT outsource domestically as well as providing the employees with skills that will serve their careers well. Avazpour offers domestic IT outsourcing for companies with 20-300 users.

Outsource IT positions with the highest hiring cost per employee

When working in IT human resources, it's important to know your hiring cost per employee. Between the actual hiring process and any necessary training, jobs with high turnover such as call center and customer service positions can cost an inordinate amount of your budget for every hire. These are the best types of positions for IT outsourcing because the help desk outsourcing firm will instead assume these massive hiring costs.

I recommend: Katalyst offers outsourcing solutions for those high-skilled technical support positions that can be difficult to fill. If your needs are more customer service-oriented, LiveOps offers a variety of both inbound and outbound solutions.

Choose IT outsourcing for small, highly specialized projects

While it's easy to focus on large IT outsourcing solutions, it's also important to think about utilizing outsourcing for those smaller specialty projects that pop up from time to time. If you're looking to purchase some new hardware, redesign your website or maybe work with a client on a new portion of his business, it can be more cost-effective to outsource these smaller projects than to hire someone new or train an existing employee in the necessary skills. Often, you can find individual freelancers for these outsourcing projects.

I recommend: Elance offers listings of web and programming professionals that specialize in providing IT outsourcing services for projects small and large.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to poll your own employees to see if someone has a hidden skill before turning to IT outsourcing. They may just surprise you.
• •  Network with other local business professionals to see if there are any local providers of IT outsourcing services. Locals can sometimes know your needs better than those across the country.

Outsourcing IT related issues is cost-effective for many businesses. This allows the company to streamline its workforce and use IT outsourcing to combat information technology problems for a fraction of what it would cost to hire an IT consultant or full-time IT professional.

To work with technical support outsourcing, you must have extensive knowledge in computers, information technology, and additional training to work with specific companies. Help desk outsourcing and or IT consulting firms look for certification in information technology, among other skills. You can get competent IT outsourcing services education and training from:

1. Universities that teach information technology.

2. Seminars, workshops and other educational meetings that cover IT outsourcing topics.

3. Additional training requirements to work with specific systems, including IT and help desk software.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take college courses to train for information technology outsourcing

IT programs are available through community colleges and large universities. These programs teach computer basics, advanced skills and multiple types of programs that can address specific IT problems. On-the-job experience is also available through many of these programs, which give graduates a portfolio of previous projects and experience.

I recommend: Indiana Business College offers a number of associate degrees in the field of information technology, which can be completed online or in person. Rasmussen College offers a degree program in computer information technology that also provides projects and field experience.

Attend IT outsource seminars and educational events

IT students and professionals alike will learn new skills by attending seminars and workshops related to the field of information technology. These seminars can offer certifications, information on new programs and technology, or provide a link between seasoned professionals and those new to the field.

I recommend: Microsoft TechNet hosts many webcasts for IT students and professionals. Webcasts cover a wide range of IT topics. Cool Avenues provides a list of upcoming IT management seminars that teach the skills necessary to manage an IT outsourcing company.

Learn to use specific IT outsourcing solutions

There are many IT outsourcing programs and solutions for all types of businesses, and some will work better than others. Many IT professionals train to use multiple solutions so they can pinpoint the best one for any problem according to a company's specific needs.

I recommend: IT SupportSuite provides a forum and support center for those who use it in their outsourcing business. Numara Software provides multiple training opportunities that teach IT professionals how to use its help desk software solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many IT outsourcing companies also offer virtual help desk services. This is a system where IT professionals can remotely access and control computers, and all IT professionals should be trained to use it.

IT outsourcing is becoming more and more popular. IT outsourcing provides peace of mind to companies by providing them with the support they need without having to interview, hire and train IT personal on-site. With outsourcing, you simply set up the account, pay a monthly fee and never have to worry about employees moving or retiring. When searching for an outsourcing company, familiarize yourself with IT outsourcing services key terms to help you locate the companies that provide what your company needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

IVR

Interactive voice response, or IVR, is a phone system that allows callers to navigate an automated system before being connected to the person they need. The caller uses a touchtone key pad to answer questions in order to direct the call to the appropriate person.

I recommend: Read more information about IVR systems at Custom-IVR.com. Locate more information about interactive voice response at SmallBusinessComputing.com. Tech Target also provides information regarding IVR.

ASR

ASR stands for Automatic Speech Recognition. An ASR system is similar to IVR systems, however they use voice recognition instead of a touchtone system to direct the incoming call.

I recommend: Western Oregon University offers more information about automatic speech recognition systems. Informa provides information about ASR. Visit the PEPNet-Northeast website to learn more about ASR technology.

Scalable

Scalable is a term used for systems and software that can increase to accommodate more users. Many IT outsourcing companies keep company information stored on servers. As the company grows, the server and the amount of dedicated IT professionals may need to be increased.

I recommend: Learn more about scalability at LINFO. InfoQ also offers details about scalability.

Escalation

Escalation, or escalation plan, is a set procedures or tasks that are put in place to deal with problems and conflicts that may occur within the business or operation. For example, you may have escalation plans for angry customers or for hardware failure.

I recommend: IBM provides detailed information about on escalation. TechTarget also supplies information about escalation.

API

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is an interface that dictates how users access and use various software applications.

I recommend: Discover more about APIs at Network World. Computerworld has a quick study of APIs available online.

Grid computing

Grid computing allows many networked computers access to the same computer at once. This allows IT professionals access to the problem computer from a remote station, allowing them to find the exact issues the system may be having.

I recommend: Learn more about grid computing at IBM. PC Mag has information regarding grid computing technology.