Business executives should regularly evaluate their outsourcing relationships using a checklist that covers areas such as vendor risk, process management, team retention, cost improvement, agility, quality, technology delivery, and the overall partnership. Key considerations include the vendor's certifications, communication practices, employee training, and willingness to adapt to changes. This assessment helps determine whether a vendor is a trusted partner or merely a supplier and if adjustments are needed in the outsourcing strategy.

1. Outsourcing Relationship Checkup
Global Business Services
Executives should regularly assess their working relationship with suppliers of outsourced
services. This quick checklist will help you determine if you are on the right track with your
current vendor, or if it’s time to make some adjustments in your outsourcing strategy.
MANAGING RISK
•Does your vendor have the security and confidentiality certifications
(HIPAA, PCI DSS) required for your process?
•Does your vendor outsource any of its services?
•Is your vendor’s business continuity plan up to date?
MANAGING THE PROCESS
•Does your vendor have a clear, documented project management
methodology?
•Can you reach your vendor at a U.S. number any time of the day, any
day of the week?
•Do you and your vendor communicate regularly and share information
with the mutual goal of continual process improvement?
RETAINING TALENTED TEAMS
•Does your vendor have a rigorous and documented employee training
program and performance incentives?
•How experienced is the team that manages your process?
•Does your vendor’s senior management participate in the continuous
improvement of your process?
COST AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
•Was your vendor chosen solely because it offered the lowest
cost?
•Does your vendor work to continually improve your process?
•Does your vendor offer gainsharing—a mutually beneficial
incentive for process improvement?

2. AGILITY AND FLEXIBILITY
•Business requirements and models can change rapidly.
Does your vendor understand your business
environment?
•Can your vendor quickly make adjustments to your
process as required? Or is it weighed down by too
many levels of bureaucracy?
DELIVERING QUALITY
•Does your vendor require quality certification training
for its employees?
•What standards are used by your vendor to ensure
quality?
DELIVERING TECHNOLOGY
•What new enterprise content management software
solutions has your vendor implemented in the past
year?
•Are your organization's software and applications
compatible with your vendor's software and hardware
solutions?
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP
•Do you think of your vendor as a trusted business
partner, or merely a supplier?
•Does your vendor offer services outside the contract
to identify ways to improve your processes?
Learn more at: www.DATAMARK.net
Or call us at 1.800.477.1944
Global Business Services