Co-Sourcing — The Ultimate Guide of 2024

Co-sourcing is a term that confuses a lot of people. Some even use co-sourcing and outsourcing interchangeably. To clear all confusion regarding co-sourcing, we will guide you through its vast world.

This article will help enable you to recognize co-sourcing in business transactions. This will help you to know how and why it is used.

After you read this article, you will have a clear understanding of co-sourcing. It will allow you to deal with other businesses to open new opportunities and collaboration. So what are you waiting for? Let’s now delve into the world of co-sourcing.

I have created a free-to-download editable procurement process: 7 steps template. It’s a PowerPoint file, together with an Excel file, that can help you with your co-sourcing process. I even created a video where I’ll explain how you can use this template.

Whatis Co-Sourcing?

Co-sourcing is a partnership between a customer and a professional service provider or a vendor. A company selects a vendor to work alongside its team that is involved in constructing a project. In simple terms, the internal staff of a company will work with an external organization to do a certain task. Once the task or project is finished, the service provider’s job is also done. 

Co-sourcing is different from consulting as the employees take an active part in the project. In consulting, all work is done by a consultant who usually works independently. The consultant makes plans and reforms that it will show to the company. 

Co-sourcing has helped a lot of companies throughout the years. It helps companies that do not have skilled staff who can deploy or integrate new systems. Co-sourcing also helps by bringing the needed professionals like engineers and architects for temporary assignments in overseas locations. 

HowCo-Sourcing Works

Co-sourcing is a way of partnering your business with an expert service provider. With that being said, it works in collaboration with your team in the company who also plays an active role in co-sourcing.

Initially, small to medium-sized firms offered co-sourcing. Throughout the years, large firms have now adapted this and offer a wide range of co-sourcing services. These services partner with all kinds and sizes of companies. Examples of the services offered are the:

1. Internal audit support

This includes the reconciliation of foreign and specialized accounts, disclosure, valuation, and compliance issues for some types of inventory.

2. Diagnostic review

Service includes a review of specialized areas which are secondary marketing in the mortgage industry and hedging practices. It also includes a valuation method of mortgage servicing rights and other hard-to-value assets. 

3. Staff evaluation

This service includes the evaluation and training of employees in the company. It also covers developing training programs or the development of systems that can be used for the standardization of processes. 

Using co-sourcing in your business creates a lot of long-term advantages. But how will you know when to use it? Below is the list of situations where you can consider using co-sourcing:

• Desiring direct control over your IT development functions.
• You want to leverage and retain corporate knowledge in your company.
• A desire to build a relationship with a competent partner to benefit and add value to your firm. 
• You want exact and timely knowledge about performance.
• Keeps avoiding constant price negotiations because of the changes in scope that inevitably occurs in a fast-changing business environment. 
• You want quick and effective actions that are applicable to your strategic directions.
• Your outsourcing needs are continuous.
• You like to create competitive advantages by making a strategic organization that understands and connects with the world. 
• Wanting a fixed cost. 

3 Tipsfor Evaluating Co-Sourcing Providers

Making informed decisions in selecting a vendor is paramount to the success of collaborative projects. Here, we will explore three key tips that will help you to choose the right co-sourcing partner for your business needs:

1. Know your Business

You must know and stand with the core values of your company when you collaborate with a potential vendor. This will allow you to know if it matches your strategic direction and plans for the project.

2. Determine the co-sourcing process

You must know what help you need in order to start the project efficiently. You also need to know the degree of control you want to retain over the span of the project.

Identify the abilities of your personnel, the allotted budget, and constraints. This will allow you to lessen the risk that may appear in the future. 

3. Assess your potential vendors

You need to contact your potential vendors when you want to assess them properly. Submit a request for a proposal and ask to meet with your vendors to discuss the project. A motivated and committed vendor will get back to you immediately once you have submitted your request. 

You can ask for references to see if it has served and satisfied numerous clients. You must also determine the provider’s familiarity with your specific project. This allows you to know that the project you will entrust to the vendor will be constructed successfully.