Does it make sense to outsource the management of my Hyperion applications?
Application Management Outsourcing (AMO) refers to the ongoing maintenance, management, and support of an application software portfolio by an external company. It’s a hot topic these days with shrinking IT budgets. But how do you know if outsourcing the administration is right for you and your company?
First you have to identify the applications that are suitable for developing and maintaining remotely. Not all situations will fit this criterion due to security and procedures around administering certain applications and/or environments. I’d say 95% of the time this is not an issue however; I’ve been at some financial services clients where AMO was not an option.
Second, you need to know the company you outsource too. More importantly they need to know you and know your business. Outsourcing for the sake of outsourcing or, saving money is in my opinion short sighted and misses the concept of outsourcing all together. Most Hyperion Financial Management applications are considered mission critical due to the impact they can have on the close cycle of a company and therefore, share price. Do you really want to hand that responsibility over to ‘cousin Vinny’ because he’s 10% less than a more reputable firm?
Either way, you’ll need to develop a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that covers all situations. Furthermore, you need to realize that you’re handing over the keys! Whether you like or not, the provider you just gave the keys to became a partner and trusted advisor to you and your company! Make sure you have the procedures in place to ensure success and the capability to monitor that success.
Last, make sure that the provider you give the keys to is flexible and supports your business processes. Not the other way around! This should be reflected in your SLA as well as the measuring and monitoring of performance against that SLA. If you fit the above requirements then it’s worth looking into AMO to explore further if it’s right for you. If it is, there are some significant benefits that will help position you for short term as well as long term success.
For more information on AMO or, to see if outsourcing fits your needs please contact Rick Cadman 416.977.2229.
