Global Outsourcing 100 Leaders Recognized

IAOP’s Global Outsourcing 100 logo has been proudly displayed on the websites of thousands of provider and advisory firms of all sizes across the world over the past 14 years as an independent endorsement of performance excellence. 

Over the years, the criteria being evaluated have expanded to take into account the latest trends and areas of importance to the industry. This year, IAOP introduced the Excellence in Strategic Partnerships Recognition lists (see related story) and combined its annual listing of the top outsourcing advisors and consultants, The World’s Best Outsourcing Advisors, into the Global Outsourcing 100.

The Global Outsourcing 100 showcases the best companies in the four main areas of Customer References, Awards & Certifications, Programs for Innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility. It also features half a dozen sub-lists identifying top companies in Sustained Excellence (making the list for at least five consecutive years); All-Stars (Achieving a score of 5 or better in each of the judging categories); Top Customer References; Top Awards & Certifications; Top Programs for Innovation; and Top Programs for Corporate Social Responsibility. (For more on the CSR sublist, see related story). 

The GO100 continues to bring great value to customers in making their sourcing decisions, especially in today’s changing times. 

“We know that buyers use this list to help them see how providers and advisors rank in these key areas,” says IAOP CEO Debi Hamill. “It’s a resource for buy-side companies to find their next partners. We are proud to provide this assessment and celebrate the companies recognized.”

IAOP has seen the list evolve over the years to increasingly focus on collaboration.  “We are no longer hearing people say, ‘I’m the buyer, you’re the provider,’” according to Hamill. “Customers are saying, ‘You’re my partner and I can’t do this without you.’ It’s all about collaboration and trust and that is becoming even more important to emerging from this pandemic.”   

COVID-19 has made relationships more complex and requires companies to work flexibly and across multiple time zones and platforms. Hamill explains, “Companies that outsource, not only in the traditional sense but also through the wide array of the ever-changing collaborative business models, are scrutinizing their partners very closely, which is why choosing the right partners is more important than ever.”

Evaluation Process Valuable for Applicants 

Completing the rigorous opt-in application process that is similar to an RFP provides an introspective that is valuable to companies to better understand their strengths as well as their weaknesses, said Mary Lewis, Manager, Sourcing, T-Mobile, a long-time judge on the evaluation panel.

In judging applications, Lewis says she looks for substantiating data that supports the claims companies make in their applications. Participating in the Global Outsourcing 100 process helps companies identify their unique value and better understand what differentiates them from competitors, she says.  

“The application process has always been a great opportunity for us to take stock of how we are truly living our values across the globe, whether it’s through our various regional and local initiatives or the feedback we receive from clients about our performance,” says Scott Nelson, CEO, Occupier Services, Global at Colliers International. “We’ve realized that while we have a large number of fantastic initiatives that showcase our environmental, social and governance, we need an overarching framework, which is currently in development, to tie our regional efforts into a global story of impact and business benefit.” 

Sustained Excellence 

IAOP recognized 45 companies for being on the list for more than five years, demonstrating their continued excellence over time. These leaders set the bar for excellence and continuously derive value from being part of the program year after year by reaffirming their commitment and credibility.    

“We take great pride in the high quality of the legal services we provide to our clients and we are honored to be recognized by organizations like IAOP for that excellence. The GO100 helps us to benchmark our performance and stay at the cutting edge of the industry,” says Neil S. Hirshman, COP, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP. 

According to Peter George, Partner, Baker & McKenzie, “The distinction of being a leading adviser in global outsourcing reaffirms our confidence and commitment to providing world-class legal services to our clients. We are known for the high quality of our work and our consistency across borders, and ranking on the Sustained Excellence for several years proves this.” 

The Global Outsourcing 100 also helps companies stay on top of the latest in the industry and keenly focused on the criteria the judges are considering for the award. 

Kevin Parikh, Chairman and CEO, Avasant, shares: “The GO100 also ensures that we keep abreast of the trends in the global sourcing industry and that our business models and recommendations are aligned with these trends. The recognition empowers and drives us to constantly improve so that we can continue to be a GO100 leader, which strengthens our position, and trust by our clients as a leading global sourcing advisor.”

After more than a decade of use, the tool remains a go-to resource. 

“We appreciate the opportunity to place on IAOP’s Sustained Excellence list. It’s an important distinction for us as we believe that many clients, employees and stakeholders value the recognition by IAOP,” says Nelson of Colliers. “This process has also acted as an additional outside evaluation to ensure we have the right, consistent focus on key areas within our business plan. The GO100 awards are relevant and important. Any opportunity to consistently demonstrate client satisfaction and high performance over the years definitely adds value. We commend IAOP on the adjustments and attempted improvements they have made to continue to enhance the credibility of the program.”