Business transformation outsourcing (BTO) is a recent service innovation. For years, outsourcing and business transformation have been separate company functions. BTO services not only offer these separate functions, but they also meld these functions to serve the wide range of overlapping needs that today's companies might need.

International Business Machines Corporation's (IBM's) business transformation services and similar services like Accenture help streamline your company's information technology (IT). They can also help link your business to global service partners.

IBM business transformation outsourcing lists of services offered may include:

1. Software application services
2. IT infrastructure services
3. Business processing services such as call centers, customer care, and human resources
4. Bundled services (services that do it all) like IBM, Accenture, and Novell

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

Learn about business transformation outsourcing

Before your company ventures into this relatively new type of business service, get the right business transformation information such as white papers and studies from reliable sources

I recommend: IBM's white paper helps answer the question "Why Business Transformation Outsourcing?" Accenture offers a series of video "test drives" of their Business Transformation Outsourcing services. Read CIO Magazine's study "The Benefits and Risks of Business Transformation Outsourcing" for the pros and cons of using a BTO service.

Read business transformation outsourcing case studies

For a better idea of how business transformation outsourcing services help your company, compare your business needs with BTO case solutions provided to other companies.

I recommend: IBM's white paper "Transformational outsourcing: Responding to change in the e-business marketplace" (PDF) includes case studies. ZDNet offers its own (downloadable) BTO white paper that includes case studies. IBM also has a specific BTO case study for transforming Ingersoll-Rand's HR functions. Like the ZDNet white paper, users must register for the free download.

Explore BTOs of IBM as well as services offered by other large BTOs

Information about IBM business transformation outsourcing services as well as other BTOs cover a wide range of specific functions according to industry type, hardware and software platforms, and specific business issue needs.

I recommend: The IBM business transformation outsourcing directories includes filtered IBM business transformation outsourcing lists of the many BTO services that the company offers, with each service described in depth. In addition, see Accenture's business transformation outsourcing directory that includes many business transformation outsourcing services separated into management consulting, technology, and outsourcing specialty functions.

Find a BTO service specializing in services specific to your company

Every business has its own focus area whether it's by industry sector or unique function. Some offer business transformation outsourcing lists.

I recommend: Visit BTO service company websites recommended by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals in their business transformation outsourcing lists including the "Best 20 Companies by Service Offered." These listed services may address your company's specific business interests. For example, ACS IT Outsourcing offers white papers addressing specific BTO services. Outsourcing Directory includes IBM business transformation outsourcing directories as well as directories for other services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Even the smallest companies may need business transformation outsourcing services to help streamline their operations.
• •  One of the chief reasons for hiring a BTO consultant is to find ways to cut your operating costs.
• •  Business transformation consultants may also be needed to help your company keep up with rapidly changing technologies.
• •  BTO services may include outside management of consumer sales, customer care, and human resources.
• •  BTO technology services might include the re-architecture of data warehouses, and improving/expanding current information technology capacities.