Functional Service Providers (FSP) : Enabling Digital Transformation
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Functional Service Providers (FSP) |
The digital revolution has transformed the way businesses operate. To stay ahead of the curve and address the complex demands of digital customers, companies are focusing on their core competencies and outsourcing non-core functions to specialized experts. This emergence of functional service providers or FSPs has become a major trend disrupting traditional business models.
Evolution of FSPs
FSPs first emerged in the 1990s when businesses started outsourcing
administrative functions like payroll, facilities management and customer
support to third-party vendors. This helped companies reduce costs and focus on
their key revenue-generating activities. Over time, the scope of outsourcing
expanded to include more technical functions like IT infrastructure management,
cloud services etc.
Initially, FSPs offered cost arbitrage benefits by operating from low-cost
locations. However, today they deliver far more strategic value through expertise,
technology and innovation. Leading FSPs now spearhead digital transformations,
help implement new technologies and become strategic partners in de-risking
operations and boosting productivity for client organizations. Their evolution
mirrors the broader transformation underway in the outsourcing industry.
Rise of Horizontal FSPs
Traditional Functional
Service Providers (FSP) focused on vertical specialist capabilities
within specific industry sectors like healthcare, banking, manufacturing etc.
However, with digitalization blurring industry boundaries, horizontal FSPs
offering cross-industry capabilities have gained prominence.
Accenture is a pioneer in this regard, developing horizontal capabilities
across various functions like finance & accounting, human resources, marketing
and supply chain management. It now serves over three-fourths of Fortune Global
500 companies. Similarly, Genpact, EXL Service and WNS Holdings have built
significant scale through horizontal business process outsourcing (BPO). They
leverage artificial intelligence, automation, analytics to deliver consistent
quality processes globally for clients across multiple industries.
The emergence of horizontal FSPs empowers companies to leverage common best
practices and capabilities developed for other industries, making outsourcing
projects more standardized and cost-effective. It also allows clients greater
flexibility to engage multiple providers instead of relying on a single
vertically-focused partner.
Impact of Technologies
Technology has been a key enabler for FSPs to stay relevant in the digital era.
Advanced technologies like RPA, AI/ML and cloud are augmenting the traditional
outsourcing models. For example, AI assistants are automating routine customer
queries while complex issues are escalated to human agents. This is helping
FSPs deliver higher productivity at lower costs.
Many FSPs are transitioning from being traditional outsourcing providers to
technology companies in their own right. Companies like Tech Mahindra, Infosys,
Wipro are developing proprietary platforms, products and solutions leveraging
technologies. They bring complementary technology expertise to help client
digital transformations beyond simply processing transactions. The lines
between IT services and BPO are also blurring as both converge around advanced
technology capabilities.
Rise of New Sub-Domains
Within the broad FSP landscape, new sub-domains are emerging to address the
changing needs of digital businesses. Platform FSPs are building
industry-specific platforms and marketplaces to bring together buyers and
sellers of services. Companies like UST Global, Mindtree, LTI Mindtree are
leveraging platforms for industries like manufacturing, retail, CPG etc.
Similarly, localization FSPs are helping western brands expand into
international markets by localization of products, marketing and customer
experiences based on local language, culture and regulations. Globalization
Partners, TransPerfect, Moravia IT specialize in areas like translations,
localization quality assurance etc. There are also FSPs focusing on niche
capabilities around digital marketing, FinTech, RegTech, smart factories and
more.
The evolution of FSPs mirrors how digital technologies, platforms and
globalization are redefining industries. They play a pivotal role for
enterprises seeking to remain competitive in a climate of continuous
disruption. By leveraging the scale, expertise and innovation of functional
experts, companies can allocate more resources to strategic priorities that
create differentiated value for their customers. The functional outsourcing
market is poised to grow exponentially in the coming years as digital
transformations accelerate across all sectors of the economy.
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