Global Systems Integrators (GSIs) looking to the future must look beyond business process outsourcing labor arbitrage projects. Quite simply, most of that work has been signed, sealed and delivered already. Instead, the future revenue stream for GSIs is going to come from developing creative business transformation plans for enterprise clients that provide superior visibility and exceptional collaborative capabilities, while delivering the freedom to experiment with new business models. That kind of business process transformation is going to happen in the cloud.
In the field of financial and accounting outsourcing, NetSuite is perfectly positioned to be the dominant platform. In fact, the GSIs have already spoken. We count GSIs with recognized enterprise advisory capabilities among our partners. The reason is simple—only NetSuite delivers the flexibility of cloud business process services alongside enterprise grade architecture, including two-tier connectivity with the leading on-premise incumbent ERP systems.
Enterprises are not simply looking for a GSI to purchase and repackage a captive call center anymore. Onshore leadership wants to be involved in the business transformation and retain full visibility and control over their investment. Cloud solutions provide the interoperability needed to ensure that the CFO can still review all of the transactions and reports coming from every business unit and territory, then put the seal of approval on closing the entire enterprise's books for the period, without waiting weeks for rollup reports to come in.
The cloud is also luring enterprise attention because it simplifies the relationship between client and GSI. Before, clients typically had to hope that the GSI's platform team, service team and delivery team would be able to work together in harmony to deploy a project and coordinate maintenance, upgrades and support. When the platform is the public cloud, all those worries disappear. Enterprises want a clear line of communication with their transformation partners. Cutting the distractions of the IT platform out of the equation benefits everyone, because GSIs can shine based on what they can control best—their business process mastery.
Business process outsourcing tied to the on-premise IT world has traded improved efficiency for significant capital expenditures and lengthy implementations. Enterprises no longer need to compromise and commit to long-term contacts with little or no flexibility. Cloud solutions like NetSuite with its Two Tier ERP capability are the only way to deploy and connect a new country or a new acquistion with the flip of a switch, without capital expenditures and with the freedom to grow at will—or walk away if market conditions demand it.
-Charles Simmons, Sr. Strategic Alliance Director - BPO/BPaaS at NetSuite