Sson : Shared Services & Outsourcing Network

The shared services model has typically been one of cost-savings, with organizations saving millions of dollars by offshoring work to low-cost locations. However, as the model has become more mature, creating dramatic cost-savings becomes more difficult – as the changes that produce results (such as standardization and centralization) have already been done. At the same time, many organizations are looking to their shared service centre to provide additional value, this can come through data-backed insights, taking on new-services or driving revenue – which is what we are going to talk about in this episode of the podcast! Joining SSON on the podcast is Priyanka Grover, Go to market lead for Recievables Automation at FIS. Priyanka will share her insight into how you can drive revenue, combat fraud and enable cost-savings via AI and process improvement.  For more great content from FIS see below: Podcast: Future of O2C Trends & Insights Whitepaper: The Definitive Guide to Choosing Customer to Cash Softwa

As we head into 2025, the business world is transforming at lightning speed—we’re seeing new evolutions in the world of AI almost weekly, there is a huge and much needed focus on sustainability, a push for automation, and naturally, there is an incredibly dynamic political and economic environment, all which have an impact on GBS. They say forewarned is forearmed so in today’s episode, we’ll break down the Top Global Business Services Trends you need to watch to stay ahead of the curve. In order to help me explore the innovations, challenges, and opportunities shaping 2025, we invited Chazey Partners to be part of the episode. Joining me from Chazey are Phil Searle, CEO and Co-Founder, Lee Coulter, Chief Transformation Officer, Esteban Carrill, Executive Director, LATAM and Tim O'Donnell, SVP and CRO.  Throughout the episode we reference Chazey’s report Transformation in the Age of AI, which you can download here.

Did you know that, according to SSON's State of the Industry Report 2024, over half of the SSO/GBS leverage outsourcing? However, the nuanced landscape of outsourcing can make talent management all the more difficult.  So, in this week's episode, we delve into the critical talent management decisions shared services leaders face. We're joined by Brad Killinger, CEO of Sapience Analytics, who discusses the importance of leveraging analytics to thrive amidst today's macro talent challenges, and the transformative power of workforce analytics.  If you enjoy this episode, please join us for our webinar with Bradley on how to Level Up Your SSO/GBS with the Power of Workforce Analytics.   

In this week’s episode we delve into the future of order to cash and the trends you should be looking out for in the next 12 months. We’re joined by Keith Cowart, Global Market Owner, Automated Finance at FIS, who gives his expert advice on improving order-to-cash processes. This includes how to create a consumer-like experience, assessing customer-risk, artificial intelligence, and payments. Listen now for a short, snappy update on the O2C trends you need to be aware of.   If you enjoy this episode, please join us for our webinar with Keith on Modernizing the Office of the CFO Through Finance Automation.  You can also download the following whitepaper The Definitive Guide to Choosing Customer-to-Cash Software in 2025

In this week's episode SSON talks to Wendy Walker, Solution Principal of Tax Information Reporting at Sovos, about IRS Modernization. Wendy unravells the always complicated world of tax and breaks down exactly what the latest IRS Modernization involves, how it will impact data protection and security, and the steps organizations should take to prepare for these changes. In the episode we reference the following e-Book and webinar which are great companions for this episode. See the links below to download and register. The IRS Modernization eBook  Webinar: IRS Business Systems Modernization: Preparing Your Organization for Reporting Changes

This week we're talking to Jonathan Tam, Head of APAC People Services, foodpanda.  Jonathan is an experienced People Leader with more than 20 years in Operations and Project Management. He has supported areas across Customer Service, Information Technology, Banking and Finance, and Human Resource Delivery. Jonathan will be speaking at SSON’s SSOW Philippines event which takes place on August 6-9 in Manila. Ahead of his session, we invited him to join us on the podcast to talk all things people. Jonathan will be speaking on the topic of – Employee Experience at Shared Services & Outsourcing Week Philippines. Listeners to SSO Next can access 10% off the ticket price for the event by quoting the code TENOFF when they book. Reach out to sally.fletcher@iqpc.de for more details. 

Last month, SSON ran one of their most successful Shared Services & Outsourcing Week Europe’s ever! Over 900 shared services and outsourcing professionals joined together in sunny Lisbon to discuss everything from Generative AI to change management to process intelligence.  In order to give you a flavour of the trends discussed, we asked 10 speakers for their top take-away from the conference.   SSON’s next European event is held in London on the 14-16 October, with an incredible key-note, Lord Sebastian Coe of Olympics fame! Listeners to SSON Next can get 10% discount of the ticket price for this event by quoting the code SSONEXT10 when you register. You can check the website or email me at sally.fletcher@iqpc.de for more details. SSOW London  

This week we spoke with Karan R Bhatia, Head of GBS Asia Hub, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare. Sanofi recently set up a global business service center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was a great success and able to grow quickly.  In this episode Karan talks us through why Sanofi chose to set up in Malaysia, the challenges they overcame and how Karan’s own entrepreneurial spirit has been crucial in bringing innovation to the GBS. Karan will be speaking at Shared Services & Outsourcing Week Malaysia which is taking place on June 10-13 in KL. Listeners to SSO Next are able to access discounts the ticket price for the event by quoting SSONext when they register https://www.ssonetwork.com/events-ssomalaysia

There are hundreds of stories of the benefits and opportunities that lie within AI, but when it comes to practical, real-life use-cases, the list gets smaller very quickly. That’s why we were delighted to interview Jannette Perez, AVP Finance, L’Oréal and Nathanael L’Heureux, Chief Solutions Ambassador, Oversight, about L’Oréal’s recent AI implementation. In this episode our interviewees break-down their recent presentation at Shared Services & Outsourcing Week, giving the drivers, outcomes, and challenges of how they’re using AI within their travel & expense process. You can find out more about Oversight here.

This week’s episode provides something a bit different, a glimpse into SSON’s largest event Shared Services & Outsourcing Week North America. The event, which ran at the end of March, attracted over 150 speakers and 1000 attendees. For those of you who weren’t able to make it, we wanted to provide a sneak peek and some of the key takeaways from onsite. Note: Listeners to SSO Next are entitled to discounts of the ticket price for selected in-person events around the world by quoting the code SSO Next when they register. Details of upcoming events can be found here. 

Last month, at SSON’s flagship event in Orlando, Allianz Services received the award for the World’s Best GBS.  The award, which is hosted by SSON Research & Analytics, aims to identify a Global Business Services that represents "the world's best" based on contributing core value to the business in terms of cash, impact on working capital, margin and market growth. This shifts the focus from transactional efficiency, which defined shared services in the past, to supporting business success in a far more strategic way.   In this conversation, we discuss with Turan, Allianz’s transformation in the space of process mining, customer experience and talent development, that led to them winning this award. We also get a sneak peek into the keynote presentation Turan delivered onsite in Orlando, “Redefining GBS in the Next 10 Years.”  If you enjoy the podcast please do sign up for our webinar on the World’s Best GBS 2024: Winner Spotlight & Interview

Digital workflows are replacing paper-based processes, streamlining operations and improving efficiency. This trend is driving SSO/GBS to equip their workforce with the necessary digital skills to operate and excel in the new technology-driven ecosystem. As a result, talent capabilities are under the spotlight, with organizations focused on upskilling and reskilling employees, developing new talent models, and embracing flexible work arrangements to attract and retain the really key talent they so desperately need to meet their objectives. One GBS who is doing a particularly good job here is Commerz Global Service Solutions (a subsidiary of Commerzbank AG). That’s why we invited Arne Graeber their CEO to talk to us about his talent strategy. This podcast is in conjunction with Shared Services & Outsourcing Week Malaysia. Mr Graeber is speaking at the event, which is held in Kuala Lumpur on June 10-13, on the topic of Creating a High Performance Culture at Commerz Global Service Solutions. Listeners of the

In this episode, Sally Fletcher, Head of SSON Digital, speaks to Akhilesh Kohli, GBS APAC Head, Philips, about the pivotal role played by Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in nurturing talent and fostering future value creation. Upskilling and ongoing learning are areas that Philips GBS has long prioritized. They also aim to fuel innovation through cross-functional collaboration and equipping their talent with emerging technologies. All with an eye to the future and ensuring they’re prepared for whatever comes their way. Akhilesh is a keynote speaker at Shared Services & Outsourcing Week India. Listeners to the SSON Next Podcast can access a Buy2Get1Free promotion for the event, on the 4-day pass only, valid till 5 April 2024.  Promo code: BUY2FREE1

Cost saving has always been an absolute fundamental for shared services, however in the last few years, cost as a theme has slipped into the background, being overshadowed by a drive for value. This is all about to change. Cost as a focus is back, in a big way.  With an age-old topic such as cost-savings, it’s important to re-examine best practices and make sure you’re still ticking off all the obvious opportunities. However, with AI tools becoming cheaper and new techniques being developed in areas such as digital transformation and process improvement there may also be new opportunities to drive down costs and impress your CFO. In this episode Phil Searle CEO and Founder, Chazey Partners, and Lee Coulter, Global Head of Transformation, Chazey Partners discuss their top tips for cost savings. Including supply-chain transformation, investing in the right technology and the areas that will make an impact today! If you enjoy this podcast – you can catch the Chazey Partners workshop at SSO Week North America, wh

In SSON’s most recent state of the industry report, we found that 63% of shared services are providing Order to Cash services to their enterprise! So we wanted to provide some advice and best practice in this area. That’s why this week on the podcast we invited Keith Cowart, from FIS to talk about what he sees as the trends set to transform AR. Some of these trends are risks to consider and some are very much opportunities, but all will make your accounts receivable team more powerful, robust and ready for whatever life throws at them. To hear more on the topic of AR excellence, register for our webinar on March 21st focused on Accelerating Cash Flow & Reducing Risk with AI https://www.ssonetwork.com/finance-accounting/webinars/accelerating-cash-flow-reducing-risk-with-ai

Welcome back to a brand-new season of SSO Next. This season we’re talking to GBS C-Suite and global leaders about topics dear to their heart. Opening the series is Eckard Eberle, CEO, Siemens Global Business Services. Consistently one of the most innovative GBS’s in the world, Siemens are known for being at the forefront of digitalization and are one of the few to have applied Generative AI widely to their GBS. In this episode, Eberle talks us through how Siemens have applied Gen AI in their customer service and employee experience activities, giving his advice and vision for those wanting to tackle something similar.   

So, we’ve reached the time of year where we start looking forward to 2024, and examining how we spend our time, where our priorities should lie and what we’re aiming to change and achieve for the year ahead. This can be in terms of career goals or goals for your business. In order to kick start that conversation and provide some inspiration we invited Phil Searle, Founder of Chazey Partners, back on the podcast – Phil shares what he thinks are key trends and themes we should be focusing on for the year ahead. You can find out more about Chazey Partners here. Note: All listeners to SSO Next are eligible for 20% of the cost of the ticket price for select live SSON events. The next up is our SSO Week 2024. To find out more message me, Sally Fletcher on LinkedIn or check out our event website.   

In this week’s episode we talk to Cristina Duta, Director Intelligent Automation, Global Business Services, Aecom, about the topic of How To Embrace A “We Are All Digital” Ethos Through Citizen Developers & Low-Code Solutions. We discuss how, in 2023, the boundaries between IT and the business are rapidly diminishing. The truth is that now “we are all digital!.” The growth of low code/ no-code technology, increase in digitally skilled employees and use of technology in our personal lives, means that oftentimes your workforce are capable of supporting digitization in a much bigger way than before. This session discusses how to embrace a “we are all digital” concept throughout your workforce and what it can lead to.

Each year SSON run our Shared Services and GBS State of the Industry Survey. The survey provides crucial benchmarks on everything from people strategy to intelligent automation to what's driving shared services today. In this episode, SSON Research & Analytics, Chief Analyst, Barbara Hodge sits down with Tom Bangemann, Head of Data Development and Insight, to share their top 5 take-aways from last year's report and what to look for in the next. To take part in the 2024 survey click here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/38ZFDZ6 Listeners of SSO Next can now get 20% of the ticket price for selected live events across the Americas, by quoting the code SSONEXT when you register or speak with one of our reps. For more details or to take advantage of this offer message Sally Fletcher on LinkedIn or by email at sally.fletcher@ssonetwork.com or visit our event website https://www.ssonetwork.com/events-shared-services-week    

This week Phil Searle, CEO and Chief Transformation Officer, Chazey Partners returns to the podcast along with Neil Spiers, SVP Global Business Services, Herbalife. In this conversation, the two dive into their lengthy partnership shedding light on “the art of the possible” in GBS. This includes, how Herbalife are now playing an increasingly strategic role in supporting the achievement of business goals and transformation agendas.   In the podcast we cover their service management framework, project governance structure and progress with Intelligent Automation.                                  Note: Listeners to SSO Next can get 20% of the ticket price for upcoming live events by quoting the code SSONEXT (this applies only to selected events, gold and platinum tier packages).  Catch Chazey Partners at IA Week, in Atlanta https://www.ssonetwork.com/events-intelligent-automation-event Or visit their website https://chazeypartners.com