IT Operations and the Impact on Social Media

IT outsourcing was initially born out of a desire for cost reduction as well as a renewed focus on core competencies and products. While the basic premise of outsourcing remains relatively unchanged, other aspects of it are constantly evolving alongside changes in technology and broader business environment. Your company may have had its own challenges in regards to evolving technology and business tactics.

Social media networking has grown to become an essential part of many industries. Large-scale enterprises, small businesses and those in between are effectively utilizing social media in their business dealings. In order to remain relevant and competitive, many outside service providers specializing in IT outsourcing must follow likewise.

The Latest IT Outsourcing Trends

Mass incorporation of social media and overall business strategies is one of the many IT outsourcing trends of 2012. IT outsourcing firms are slowly moving away from traditional call centers and other forms of contact in favor of social media platforms that allow companies to quickly respond to and resolve customer issues.

A growing number of customers are expressing a desire to communicate with third-party service providers through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Staying connected to these social networks also gives outsourcing firms an opportunity to remain abreast of changing trends and other events that can potentially affect their operations and clientele.

Social Media and IT Outsourcing

Increased technological convergence of social media and mobile apps is one of several IT outsourcing trends that can’t be ignored. Both of these tools give clients the ability to look more critically at the value of their current services and change as their current needs dictate. This gives companies that rely on third-party service providers for their current IT functions further flexibility and the ability to change their service needs quickly and aggressively.

Customer relationship management systems are still largely isolated from the potentially valuable information that social media interaction can contribute to analytics systems and core customer databases. The convergence of social media with CRM systems and other essential corporate tools is a challenge that IT outsourcing firms must be ready and willing to face.

These and other IT outsourcing trends are poised to change the way outsourcing is carried out in regards to IT services. Third-party service providers and other IT outsourcing firms would do well to accept social media as another essential component of their overall business operations.