Security Webinar Series, featuring Practice Experts, Customers and Leading Industry Analysts

Emerging Market Suppliers: Understanding the New Landscape to Mitigate Risks
By Amneet Singh - Vice President - Research, Everest Group and Jimit Arora - Research Director, Everest Group
December 2009

As the global sourcing market matures, sophisticated buyer organizations are becoming more and more intentional about proactively managing their delivery location and supplier portfolios. With the mounting complexity of sourcing programs and heightened focus on managing location concentration risks, buyers are increasingly looking beyond India for their global sourcing requirements.

As buyers select suppliers in other geographies, a number of suppliers with roots in emerging markets have become credible alternatives to global leaders and Indian majors. Because of the need to diversify sourcing location portfolios, it is vital for companies to stay abreast of the emerging market supplier landscape.

Join us for an informative one-hour webinar, in which Everest will highlight the findings of its analysis on the increasing relevance of emerging market suppliers. In addition, Everest will analyze and assess the capabilities of providers to help your company make informed decisions around mitigating its location concentration risks.

Staff Augmentation vs. Managed Outcomes: Tipping Point in the Value Conversation
November 2009 Dowload the deck of slides used at Softtek's webinar

One critical tipping point in the value conversation for application development, maintenance and testing deals is the move from FTE-based deals to outcome-based engagements. Yet, even if the internal and provider staff remain the same, moving to an outcome-based approach requires a significant change in governance. This webinar offers:

• Key differentiators of the outcome-based model
• Internal process changes — like stakeholder management — required to succeed at outcome-based outsourcing
• Appropriate outcomes, transition strategies and other governance techniques

Defect detection, correction and prevention through a comprehensive AppSec program
October 2009 listen to Softtek’s Webinar

Darren Challey, leader of the Application Security Program at GE Corporate, will discuss how General Electric has developed a holistic program that detects, corrects and prevents security defects throughout the application lifecycle. Several thousand applications have been assessed across different GE business units by the program's “Center of Excellence,

Risk diversification & cost containment: Perspectives from a service provider and an industry analyst
July 2009 Dowload the deck of slides used at Softtek's webinar

As risk mitigation and cost containment take a new dimension in today’s environment, organizations are increasingly looking to balance their global sourcing strategy, blending a conservative yet progressive approach to process outsourcing. Alejandro Camino, Softtek VP of Marketing & Communications, and Liz Herbert, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research, will share their perspectives on how companies are diversifying risk; increasing productivity and lowering the total cost of the engagements.

A Guide to Outsourcing the Source-to-Pay (S2P) Function: Customer Case Study
Using the right metrics to drive performance in S2P Solutions
Jun Davis, Purchasing Leader, Fortune 5 company
Mary Ellen Mitchell, VP Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, Softtek
Pedro Parra, Engagement Manager, Sourcing and Procurement Practice, Softtek
Mayo 2009 listen to Softtek's Webinar

While there are many approaches on how to achieve smooth operations, one in particular that has proven to be highly successful, regardless of solution, provider and engagement type, is establishing a metric-driven operation. Speakers will share their experience on how to control and maintain a steady operation for metrics-driven source-to-pay arrangements.

Key topics for this webinar include:

• Define and establish a consistent set of metrics for S2P;
  
• Drive visibility within all levels of the organization to minimize issues and promote good decision-making;
  
• Establish the right communication and frequency with key stakeholders within the organization;
  
• Implement operational rhythm practices to drive performance beyond what was initially envisioned.

Webinar: A Guide to Outsourcing the Source-to-Pay Function: Critical Elements for a Successful Transition
Mary Ellen Mitchell, VP Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, Softtek
Pedro Parra, Engagement Manager, Sourcing and Procurement Practice, Softtek
April 2009 Dowload the deck of slides used at Softtek's webinar

Challenging economic times will push companies and their management to find new ways to streamline operations and curtail costs. Initiatives like offshore outsourcing of the purchase order (PO) processing function have been on the rise in recent times. As pressure to rapidly implement source-to-pay (S2P) offshoring engagements grows, so does the possibility of failure due to unsuccessfully transitioning in-house managed processes to outsourced engagements.

The upcoming webinar titled “Guide to Outsourcing the Source-to-Pay Function: Critical Elements for a Successful Transition,” presented by Mary Ellen Mitchell, Softtek VP Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, will address:

• Challenges faced by CPO in a turbulent environment
• Empowering the CPO through S2P outsourcing
• Typical phases of a smooth transition plan
• Best practices for a successful transition

For an additional resource on outsourcing the Source-to-Pay function you can also read about it in a Softtek White Paper here.

Webinar: Offshore 2.0: Sourcing Strategies in Times of Geopolitic and Economic Turbulence
By Stephanie Moore, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research
January 2009 Dowload the deck of slides used at Softtek's webinar

As organizations scramble to hedge their exposure to geopolitical, economic and vendor management risks, we want to bring you further insights through a second webinar on the topic of cost containment and de-risking, featuring Stephanie Moore, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research.

Volatile markets are now paired with uncertainty about vendor capabilities. In the midst of the financial crisis, companies are now also being forced to revisit their vendor strategy, while still achieving dramatic cost reductions - a daunting task even for the most seasoned global sourcing veterans. We expect this webinar to provide you with an extra set of tools.

In this session we address:

• A view into how industry players are mitigating outsourcing risk through a multi-geo / multi-vendor strategy
• How to quickly assess improvement opportunities in your current programs in terms of costs and risks
• How to mitigate risks associated with offshore in face of increased geopolitical tension
• Vendor management and service governance

Webinar: Offshore in times of geopolitical and economic turbulence
By Stephanie Moore, VP, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research
with Alejandro Camino, VP of Marketing & Communications, Softtek
December 2008 Dowload the deck of slides used at Softtek's webinar

Volatile markets, scarcity and uncertainty have forced companies to switch from expansion strategies to survival mode in a very short timeframe. Executives and program managers are now expected not only to dramatically reduce costs but also to hedge risks and reduce uncertainty, a daunting task even for seasoned global sourcing veterans.

To help you in this quest, we are inviting you to attend the Softtek exclusive webinar, “Offshore in times of geopolitical and economic turbulence”, featuring Stephanie Moore from Forrester Research and Alejandro Camino from Softtek. The session will look at how to balance risks and contain costs thought balanced offshore in spite of economic and political stress.

In the session you will learn

• How to achieve dramatic cost reductions though a streamlined global sourcing strategy
• How to mitigate risks associated with offshore in face of increased geopolitical and economic tension
• How to quickly assess improvement opportunities in you r current programs in terms of costs and risks
• Best practices for establishing smooth transition plans from country to country

Webinar: A Guide to Outsourcing the Source-to-Pay Function
Mary Ellen Mitchell, Softtek VP Strategic Sourcing and Procurement
December 2008 listen to Softtek's webinar

Challenging economic times will push companies and their management to find new ways to streamline operations and curtail costs. Initiatives to outsource non-core functions and streamline the supply-chain have been on the rise in recent times. Among these measures is offshore outsourcing of the purchase order (PO) processing function. Although its popularity has been lagging behind other BPO offerings, we foresee companies increasingly embracing source-to-pay (s2p) offshoring. As pressures to rapidly implement these engagements grow, so does the possibility of failure due to unsuccessfully transitioning in-house managed processes to outsourced engagements.

The upcoming webinar titled “Guide to Outsourcing the Source-to-Pay Function: Critical Elements for a Successful Transition”, presented by Mary Ellen Mitchell, Softtek VP Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, will address:

• What are the challenges faced by CPO in a turbulent environment?
• How can s2p outsourcing empower the CPO?
• What are the typical phases of a smooth transition plan?
• Best practices for a successful transition.

For a complete guide on outsourcing the Source -to- Pay function you can also read a Softtek White Paperaround the topic here

Turning Time & Materials Engagements To Fixed-Outcome Relationships
Bill Martorelli, Principal Analyst, Forrester
July 2008 - listen to Softtek’s Webinar Featuring Forrester

Many customers of application development and outsourcing services begin their vendor engagements on a time and materials (T&M) basis, being the most straightforward and expeditious way to commence. However, in doing so, they may forestall realization of additional value in the form of innovation and business process improvement that can only be brought in a fixed outcome relationship. Based on a recent research project by Forrester Research, this presentation will focus on the key steps in managing the transition, including key elements of the sourcing process itself. By attending this session, participants will gain an understanding of:

• Key stages in the transition from T&M to fixed outcome relationships
• The additional benefits of fixed-outcome relationships as compared with T&M engagements
• What internal prep is required to make the transition

Other Softtek resources for results driven outsourcing:

• Free Forrester Report: “From FTEs To Results: Going Beyond Labor Arbitrage To Managed Outcome Relationships”, which addresses the growing trend towards results driven outsourcing.
• Softtek White Paper: “Results driven application services outsourcing: A blueprint to evolve beyond staff augmentation. Part 1 - Part 2 ”, which highlights different actions that hiring organizations can take to evolve beyond staff augmentation.

How to benefit from the new offshore reality
Featuring Sudin Apte, Sr. Analyst & Country Head, India Operations, Forrester Research
June 2008 - listen to Softtek’s Webinar Featuring Forrester

This webinar will address the global sourcing landscape, with a particular focus on how sourcing professionals can meet the challenges of the new offshore dynamic.

By attending the “How To Benefit From The New Offshore Reality” Webinar, you will gain:

• What is the offshore reality and what it means for global services buyers
• How to get maximum returns from the evolving Indian services market
• Evolving global delivery locations to complement your offshore strategy and role they can play

Also, you will find the related report "How To Benefit From The New Offshore Reality", by Sudin Apte

Global Outsourcing Perspectives – Mexico Starts Its Engines.
Presented by: Stephanie Moore - Vice President and Principal Analyst, Forrester Research.
December 2007 - listen to Softtek’s Webinar Featuring Forrester

As companies’ global sourcing aspirations mature, they begin to expand from an all-India strategy to a global sourcing strategy that includes the right providers in the right geographies. Mature sourcing executives understand that a portfolio approach is required when it comes to satisfying their company’s global sourcing needs. Mexico is a destination that is increasingly popular for North American sourcing executives whose companies require close-to-home expertise in similar time zones and seek certain types of domain or vertical industry knowledge.

This webcast highlights the global sourcing landscape and focus, in particular, on Mexico and the benefits it can offer North American companies.

Also, you will find the related report, “Mexico Starts Its Offshore Services Engines” by Stephanie Moore