PwC and HfS Research Launch the "Exploring the Potential of Shared Services, Outsourcing and Global Business Services" Survey

NEW YORK, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PwC US and HfS Research today announced the launch of a survey on how organizations are implementing and managing Global Business Services (GBS). In an effort to reduce business support costs and create greater alignment with the business, companies are turning to outsourcing, offshoring and shared services to change their cost structure and improve competitiveness. The survey will collect data on how coordinating and optimizing global sourcing initiatives under one common governance framework can create a competitive advantage, drive innovation and enhance shareholder value.

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"In order to enhance strategic agility, improve performance and reduce back office costs, many enterprises are looking at Global Business Services options to improve certain business functions," said Charles Aird, U.S. and Global leader of Shared Services and Outsourcing Advisory, PwC. "Global Business Services provides a solution that aligns the initiatives under one structure and the insight from our research will empower business leaders with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions regarding their own portfolio of support services."

"Our strategic discussions with enterprises across all global regions are becoming increasingly dominated by Global Business Services and we see a pressing need for a study to get the true global picture of GBS adoption and potential," said Phil Fersht, Founder and CEO of HfS Research. "Working with PwC provides the opportunity to gain valuable insight".

To participate in the survey, visit http://hfsresear.ch/SSO-Survey. The survey will be open from February 28, 2012 through March16, 2012.

The results of the survey will be released with the launch of GBS Potential™, a research and peer-networking program for senior operations and IT executives that advances thought leadership and sharing of leading practices in GBS. The research will be presented at key events and networking sessions including the 16th annual Shared Services and Outsourcing Week in Orlando on March 7-9, Shared Services Week Europe in Amsterdam on May 14-16 and the HfS 50 Sourcing Blueprint Sessions in New York on April 25-26.

The survey findings will result in the third report in a series co-authored by PwC and HfS Research. The other two reports, The Three Tenants of Global Business and The Evolution of Business Services, included in the series focus on key aspects of GBS.

To learn more about PwC's Shared Services and Outsourcing Advisory practice, please visit http://www.pwc.com/us/en/outsourcing-shared-services-centers.

About the Exploring the Potential of Shared Services, Outsourcing and Global Business Services Survey

The Exploring the Potential of Shared Services, Outsourcing and Global Business Services Study is to be distributed in an online format to a broad network of senior enterprise operations and business executives during February and March 2012. The networks include the HfS Research community, of more than 65,000 subscribers and 120,000 regular web-visitors (www.horsesforsources.com and 
www.HfSResearch.com), and the Shared Services and Outsourcing Network (60,000 members). Respondents, incentivized by a complimentary copy of the report findings, will submit their answers via an online questionnaire that captures only one response per unique computer ID. Participants will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon® Kindle Fire.

About HfS Research

HfS Research (www.HfSResearch.com) is the foremost global analyst advisory organization and peer research community, focused on helping enterprises make complex decisions with their business process operations governance, IT services, outsourcing and shared services strategies.

HfS Research has rapidly developed an industry-leading reputation for providing the most compelling, in-depth research, benchmarking data and insight and boasts a huge global community of 65,000 opt-in research subscribers, which regularly partake in ongoing studies.  No other research entity has the real-time insight into ongoing business operations and outsourcing dynamics across industries, business functions and regions. 

In 2011, HfS was awarded Outsourcing, BPO and Services Analyst Firm of the Year by the International Institute of Analyst Relations (IIAR), the premier body of analyst-facing professionals, and runner-up for overall Analyst Firm of the Year. Led by recognized industry expert Phil Fersht, the HfS Research team is a multi-disciplinary group of analysts across North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific regions, with deep domain knowledge in business process outsourcing, information technology services and shared services strategies.

Launched in 2007, HfS Research's acclaimed blog Horses for Sources has more than 120,000 monthly visitors across the global services industry, and is widely-recognized as the leading destination for collective insight, research and open debate of industry issues and developments. The HfS LinkedIn community, The BPO and Offshoring Best Practices Forum, is thriving with over 15,500 industry professionals sharing views and information daily. You can access information about HfS at www.HfSResearch.com and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/horses4sources.

To learn more about HfS Research, please email [email protected]

About the PwC Network

PwC firms help organizations and individuals create the value they're looking for. We're a network of firms in 158 countries with close to 169,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services. Tell us what matters to you and find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com.

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