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The use of Cloud services at home, in the workplace and in large organisations has steadily and significantly increased. Now this trend has moved to mobile devices and Cloud technology. We like to see ourselves at the forefront of business technology, something that allows us to ultilise our IT expertise with our first-class Accounting and Payroll services offering. This of course brings many benefits to the end client.
The first question an enterprise should ask when considering Cloud computing is – Why should we use the Cloud? There are three answers that consistently arise as the most compelling reasons: speed, agility and cost? The Cloud provides resources in a matter of seconds or minutes, as compared to days, weeks or longer for physical infrastructure expansions.
Also, the Cloud removes the limitations of physical platforms, in that it can theoretically scale infinitely.
You should see the absolute ‘benefits’ i.e. Cloud as a way to create a new kind of workflow. The Cloud means you can access your employees and they can access you. Data is shareable, where it was once closed, or in siloes.
“The Cloud can fundamentally improve your organisation, where you can alter the idea of roles at the click of a button, so that Dept. A can report to Dept. B. It means connections, collaboration and competition”. As mobile devices evolve (faster, smaller, more powerful), we see companies using the Cloud, but based on shared connections. In other words, devices can store and then share, of course with permissions granted. However, for the Cloud to truly be a major player in the business environment, to help the way you work and live, there are some issues that need to be addressed, such as the way we access Cloud services. This is of course where a private Cloud comes in. Cloud utility model also allows your business to pay only the resources it uses, instead of absorbing the sunk cost of physical hardware in the traditional computing model. These significant benefits tempt many to move into the Cloud, but while the Cloud is for everyone, it is not for everything.
Cloud technology gives your company freedom to use any kind of operating system (Windows based, Apple, etc.) or equipment (Desktop, Laptop, etc.) in working with your ‘Virtual Desktop Environment’. getsix® e-Services are based on Cloud technology and is provided through a private Cloud. These state-of-art IT solutions enhance our service range. The idea of technology and services is not new, but we feel it should be procured at one source (one-stop-shop), economically, efficiently and without any loss of quality.
The Types of ‘Cloud Computing’
In general, several delivery models exist for ‘Cloud Computing’:
- Hosting
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
- Business-Process-as-a-Service (BPaaS)
The key areas effected by each of these types of Cloud computing are:
- Flexibility
- Control
- Management simplicity
- Vendor lock in
SaaS: Software-as-a-Service is where the entire application is provided to you in a hosted format, you don’t need to worry about running anything below the application, such as the infrastructure, OS, services, etc. This is the easiest to manage in terms of management, however the least flexible.
BPaaS: Business-Process-as-a-Service (BPaaS) is any type of horizontal or vertical business process that’s delivered based on the Cloud services model. These Cloud services – which include Software-a-as-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) – are therefore dependent on related services.
The following characteristics define BPaaS:
- The BPaaS sits on top of the other three foundational Cloud services: SaaS, PaaS and IaaS
- A BPaaS service is configurable based on the process being designed
A BPaaS service must have well-defined APIs, so it can be easily connected to related services - A BPaaS must be able to support multiple languages and multiple deployment environments because a business cannot predict how a business process will be leveraged in the future
- A BPaaS environment must be able to handle massive scaling. The service must be able to go from managing a few processes for a couple of customers to being able to support hundreds, if not thousands of customers and processes. The service accomplishes that objective by optimising the underlying Cloud services to support this type of elasticity and scaling
We believe that ‘Business Process Outsourcing’ (BPO) will be radically re-defined over the next five to ten years. Instead of its historic role as a cost-cutting tool, it will increasingly be viewed as a means of delivering higher-quality services and capabilities.
At the heart of this transformation is technology.
The ability to master BPO’s transformation for maximum advantage will be among the characteristics that define the successful corporations of tomorrow. Combining and integrating the BPO, Cloud Computing, and Business Process Management (BPM), along with forming sophisticated and modular solu- tions for our customers, is the basis of our business model. Thiswillhelpourcustomersto receive a ‘value added’, instead of using each of these solutions from a different vendor.
The ‘normal way’ – Companies need to co-operate with a BPO and ITO provider
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Tech- nology Outsourcing (ITO) both represent ways that a business can reach beyond its own capabilities and introduce anoth- er provider for support. Each of these options have unique roles, but there is some overlap as well. Essentially, a company turns to BPO & ITO providers to create more efficient work flows. A BPO provider’s services should lead to greater operational efficiencies in most all areas of a business, while an ITO provider should create cost savings tied to computer net- works and other information technology systems.
A business may turn to hire both BPO and ITO providers. The scope of services offered by both of these providers is different, and one does not eliminate the need for the other. Also, on average, there could be a rivalry between the types of services offered by BPO and ITO providers.
Other differentiating factors between BPO and ITO firms include the expertise behind each provider.
BPO providers perform specific tasks on behalf of an organisation, such as customer service, accounting, or personnel management.
ITO professionals are skilled to recognise the types of technology capabilities that are need- ed at an organisation, ranging from storage to support to wireless services. Providers should be able to negotiate costs and terms or streamline services based on the knowledge that these industry professionals possess.
The approach of combining BPO and ITO solutions lead to the quickest financial savings for the customer.
Once a BPO provider has been hired, improvements in business processes may lead to greater financial results, as a business must be realised in order for that service to be deemed a suc- cess. The efficiencies attained through a BPO provider could be tied to human resources, fi- nance, or really any operational
area of an organisation that is part of a company’s core busi- ness.
Although BPO and ITO services are designed to complement one another, it makes sense for an organisation to receive the services provided by one provid- er. To provide such benefits for our customers we have focused our ‘Business Model and Vision’ insuchaway,thatweacanei- ther act as a sole BPO provider, a sole ITO provider or as an out- sourcing provider who can offer both services in an integrated solutions.
About the authors: Anthony Kerr, Director of Group Marketing Communications, Claus Frank, Partner getsix, Poland
This article was published in the “The Future Edition” of the Outsourcing Journal (Q4/14). You can download this edition free of charge via the website of the German Outsourcing Association (free membership required): https://www.outsourcing-verband.org/outsourcing-journal-special-editions/