Independent IT consulting
IT Strategic Sourcing: Vendor Selection with No Conflict of Interest
We run IT strategic sourcing processes independently and objectively. We help CFOs, CIOs and procurement directors select technology vendors through structured, competitive RFP, RFI and RFS processes with no technology bias. Our clients in banking, retail and telecommunications have cut their IT contract costs by 10% to 35%.
What is IT strategic sourcing
Strategic sourcing for IT services, explained
IT strategic sourcing is the structured process of defining which technology services a company needs, analyzing the vendor market, running a competitive RFI, RFP or RFS, and negotiating a contract that keeps its value for the whole term.
What it covers
Unlike buying on price alone, strategic sourcing of IT services looks at the total cost over the contract term, the pricing model, service levels, the exit plan and how the contract will be governed after signing.
It applies to outsourcing, cloud and managed services, software licenses and SaaS, telecommunications, data centers and ERP projects. An independent IT sourcing consultant runs the process on the client’s side, with no commercial ties to any vendor.
When to hire an IT sourcing consultant
- A large IT contract is up for renewal in the next 12 months.
- You are moving a service to outsourcing, cloud or SaaS and need to compare vendors objectively.
- Your current contract costs more every year and nobody has benchmarked it against the market.
- Your team lacks the time or the market data to run a competitive RFP.
- IT and procurement need a neutral party to agree on requirements and evaluation criteria.
Value leakage is signed in advance
Value is lost after signing, but decided in the RFP
The loss shows up during delivery: in the invoice nobody audits and the change nobody benchmarks against the market. But it starts in a poorly designed contract. A good RFP closes it before signing; good governance watches it afterwards.
- 9.2% of the average company’s revenue is lost to poor contract management World Commerce & Contracting
- 9.25% average leakage measured by IT Experts in IT contracts IT Experts benchmark
- 9 out of 10 organizations contract through fragmented, ineffective processes KPMG · World Commerce & Contracting
Before signing
What a good RFP locks in
- Complete, measurable scope What operations really need is in the base price, not in changes negotiated later.
- Enforceable obligations Measurable SLAs, with penalties that are actually applied and an owner who monitors them.
- Fixed prices and change rates Change rates tied to the contract and a cap on cumulative changes that triggers renegotiation.
- Active value clauses Benchmarking, gain sharing and innovation, each with a date, an owner and a way to measure it.
After signing
Where the leakage appears
- 2–3% Unauthorized or unrecorded changes
- 1–2% Unmet obligations
- 1–2% Price increases
- 1–2% Clauses dormant since signing
Estimated loss as a share of annual revenue. Source: World Commerce & Contracting.
Real case · IT outsourcing
What was billed as extra always fit in the price
- USD 100M+ 5-year contract awarded through an RFP
- 150+ signed changes: 2.5 per month for 60 months
- 1 by 1 audit of every change and a new competitive tender
- 0% increase: most changes moved into the base scope
Service components
Everything our Strategic Sourcing process includes
A comprehensive approach that covers everything from market analysis to legal and commercial requirements — leaving no gap in your contracting process.
Analysis and strategy
- Vendor market study Analysis of each vendor by location, capacity, fit and strategic vision
- Baseline analysis Collection and analysis of financial data on current services
- Governance model Monitoring model, roles, responsibilities and control mechanisms
- Pricing model Fixed vs. variable costs, transition and termination conditions
Contract requirements
- Procurement strategy Term, renewal, multiple vs. single vendor and contracting model
- Technical requirements Scope, service levels (SLAs), baseline, coverage and delivery plan
- Legal requirements Master agreement, specific contracting terms and regulatory compliance
- Commercial requirements Client-specific commercial terms and individual vendor agreements
Our process
An agile, collaborative methodology
From vendor selection to contract governance — with a methodology proven in more than 8 countries.
- Strategy definition Roadmap and an actionable business case.
- Market study Landscape of traditional and SaaS vendors.
- Objective evaluation Selection with no technology bias.
- Contracting Negotiation of favorable agreements.
- Implementation Vendor onboarding and management.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between IT strategic sourcing and IT procurement?
Procurement is the transactional part of buying: purchase orders, approvals and invoices. Strategic sourcing comes first: it defines the need, studies the market, designs the RFP and negotiates the contract. IT procurement consulting usually covers both.
How long does an IT strategic sourcing process take?
With our methodology, under 90 days from strategy to signed contract: about two weeks for strategy and baseline, three for the market study and RFI, four for the RFP and evaluation, and three to four for negotiation and contracting.
How much can strategic sourcing save on IT services?
Our clients have cut their IT contract costs by 10% to 35%. The savings come from real competition between vendors, a clear pricing model, and scope, service levels and change rates defined before signing.
Why hire an independent IT sourcing consultant?
Many consulting firms also resell or implement technology, so they have an interest in which vendor wins. An independent consultant does not sell technology or represent vendors, and is paid only to defend the client’s interests.
Which IT services can be strategically sourced?
Infrastructure and data center outsourcing, cloud and managed services, application development and maintenance, service desk, telecommunications and networks, software licenses and SaaS, and ERP or CRM implementations.
Why IT Experts
Full independence. Measurable results.
We do not sell technology or represent vendors. We only defend your interests.
- Full independence — we do not sell technology or represent vendors
- Experience in banking, retail, manufacturing and telecommunications
- End-to-end support from strategy to implementation
- 10–35% proven reduction in IT contract costs
- 150+ projects with a methodology proven in 8 Latin American countries
- 30+ years of IT consulting experience in Latin America
An agile, measurable process
We run your strategic sourcing process in under 90 days
We help you run it in an agile, objective way with measurable results. No technology conflict of interest. More than 150 projects delivered in Latin America.
90-day plan
- Days 1–15 Strategy and baseline
- Days 16–35 Market study and RFI
- Days 36–65 RFP and objective evaluation
- Days 66–90 Negotiation and contracting
