Future of Sourcing - Europe/Middle East/Africa https://www.futureofsourcing.com/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica en Why Businesses Must Be Aware of Brexit Supply Chain Risks https://www.futureofsourcing.com/why-businesses-must-be-aware-of-brexit-supply-chain-risks <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Brexit_Supply%20Chain%20Risk%20Management.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Brexit_Supply%20Chain%20Risk%20Management.jpg" title="Why Businesses Must Be Aware of Brexit Supply Chain Risks " class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1635-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/Brexit_Supply%20Chain%20Risk%20Management.jpg?itok=_sS28_Zb" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>The fact that the U.K.&rsquo;s economy is quite closely linked with the EU only means that a deal or no-deal Brexit will have huge ramifications. It could lead to a supply chain crisis for which businesses need to prepare for unforeseen post-Brexit scenarios.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Jill Beadle at Gartner suggested that businesses should establish &ldquo;committees for specific activities, such as IT and supply chain responses.&rdquo; She emphasises the importance of delivering risk assessments and impact analyses, including mapping the supply chain to become aware of unknown risks. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <h2>Supply chain, no-deal strategies</h2> </div> <div>I believe that businesses must review their important procurement drivers to assess the effects of Brexit across the supply chain. Businesses should review existing sourcing strategies, supplier contracts and their relationships with existing suppliers to assess the impact of a no-deal Brexit on demand, costs, the ongoing risks to logistics and the continued supply of materials and labour. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Check out our key recommendations to de-risk supply chain functions across sourcing, contracts and suppliers.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div style="margin-left: 40px;">1.) <strong>Evaluate your sourcing strategies</strong></div> <div style="margin-left: 40px;">Revisit your category management strategies to understand your category objectives, sourcing strategies and to assess the quantity of work required to source goods in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Businesses must look at aspects of their business that will be grossly impacted by the U.K.&rsquo;s exit from the EU. For those categories where the impact is expected to be significant, businesses must account for the EU exit activity whilst planning these categories.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div style="margin-left: 40px;">2.) <strong>Review contracts and compliance</strong></div> <div style="margin-left: 40px;">You must identify your contract risk profile in line with a range of needs. For example, there could be risks involved where businesses rely on EU funding, as well as limitations on freedom of movement. All this puts an enormous pressure on costs, which affects the availability of labour &ndash; resulting in the need to increase wages, forex and tariffs. Therefore, examining specific contract clauses linked to EU exit readiness such as those related to termination, cost pressures and continuity as a result of legal change will help determine future risk potential.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div style="margin-left: 40px;">3.) <strong>Support supplier partnering</strong></div> <div style="margin-left: 40px;">Work with suppliers to assess the wider market and identify cost and risk drivers in key categories. Create scenario forecasts to identify the most probable outcomes as a result of Brexit. Understand the mitigation plans they have in place, as well as the areas that pose a high risk to their business. Learn how they will support you in a no-deal scenario through their recommendations on robust business continuity plans.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Businesses that do not have a contingency plan in place and fail to review their procurement functions will end up having to deal with disruptions in a post-Brexit world.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <div> <h2>Reap the benefits of being prepared</h2> </div> <div>Business that have prepared their supply chain functions to face a no-deal eventuality should not consider their efforts wasted if a no-deal situation is avoided. Regardless, executing a comprehensive risk assessment will: &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <ul> <li>Cover alternative Brexit outcomes</li> <li>Serve as a health check for the supply chain function through identification of risks that may be unrelated to Brexit</li> <li>Enforce the application of supplier management best practices</li> </ul> <div>Deal or no-deal, businesses that risk-proof their procurement functions will stand themselves in good stead overall, simultaneously enabling ample competitive business advantages as well as strengthening the function as a whole.</div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/brexit" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Brexit</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/supply-chain-management" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Supply Chain Management</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/risk-management" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Risk Management</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/contract-construction" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Contract Construction</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Why Businesses Must Be Aware of Brexit Supply Chain Risks - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/why-businesses-must-be-aware-of-brexit-supply-chain-risks"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Wed, 20 Nov 2019 17:00:00 +0000 Philip Woode 1635 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/why-businesses-must-be-aware-of-brexit-supply-chain-risks#comments Outsource Your CULTURE to Speed Up Digital Transformation https://www.futureofsourcing.com/outsource-your-culture-to-speed-up-digital-transformation <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Culture_Digital_Transformation.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Culture_Digital_Transformation.jpg" title="Outsource Your CULTURE to Speed Up Digital Transformation" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1566-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/Culture_Digital_Transformation.jpg?itok=yfRld6q3" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>With the pending shortfall and inevitable fact that more and more companies will need to outsource their IT and Finance functions, it&rsquo;s important to take a look into what is really driving change in digital transformation. The current statistics show that by 2020, the U.K. alone will have a shortfall of 800,000 tech workers and at the same time, 80% of companies will rely on contingent workers.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The offshore model is no longer sufficient because software development needs to be executed in real-time and at top quality, which means the notion of culture comes into play. Many CIO&rsquo;s now claim that successful digital transformation initiatives must be accompanied by culture changes, so what should companies do to ensure that they are outsourcing not only business requirements but also their culture?</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>IT directors and CIOs know that culture can speed up <a href="https://futureofsourcing.com/the-rules-of-outsourcing-have-changed" target="_blank">digital transformation</a> through smart technology choices, which ultimately aligns technology design processes to form and mold the required work behavior patterns. It has recently been quoted that by 2021, 80% of midsize to large enterprises will change their culture in order to speed up and accelerate their digital strategy initiatives. Gartner, Inc. <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/insights/trends-predictions" target="_blank">predicts</a> that by 2021, CIOs will be as responsible for culture change as chief HR officers.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>With huge changes happening in business, it is critical to adopt a proactive approach to look at how culture can speed up digital transformation strategies. Working with HR is critical as CIO&rsquo;s will have a huge part to play in driving change and adoption. Organisations need better decisions made quickly and accurately at the front end. Front end teams need to be made up of diverse and multi-skilled professionals that take responsibility and accountability. This is a problem if you outsource to an offshore company as the culture barrier is an issue. Poland is a very popular outsource destination as culturally there is very little difference between <a href="https://futureofsourcing.com/all-rise-for-poland-a-thriving-outsource-destination" target="_blank">Poland</a>, the U.S. and other European countries. &nbsp;In addition, Poland offers a stable and healthy economy, a highly skilled workforce, a dynamically growing IT market and U.S. and EU standards in IP protection and data security. This contrasts with China and India, which are the top outsourcing software destinations. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <h2>What is the answer?</h2> </div> <div>When outsourcing IT Outsourcing (ITO) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) functions there are several things to think about. As IT is driving tremendous change within company culture, executives need to look at not only at outsourcing business functions but also their own culture and company DNA. This can be achieved by working with a partner that understands the importance of embracing their client&rsquo;s cultural habits as this ultimately speeds up digital transformation initiatives. Company execs need to really look at culture when outsourcing as the ramifications of not doing so can be very damaging to their longer term business objectives for growth. Not only do companies need to look at retaining their top talent, they need to future-proof their business by partnering with next generation outsource thinkers that recognize and get the importance of embedding company culture from day one. With the rapidly changing lT landscape and technology shifts, there is little room for error. Companies need to think ahead of the game and put their culture at the forefront when considering outsourcing any ITO or BPO function to a third party.</div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/digital-transformation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Digital Transformation</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/business-process-outsourcing-bpo" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/information-technology-office-ito" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Information Technology Office (ITO)</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/outsourcing" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Outsourcing</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/contingent-workforce" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Contingent Workforce</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Outsource Your CULTURE to Speed Up Digital Transformation - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/outsource-your-culture-to-speed-up-digital-transformation"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:19:42 +0000 Graham Fell 1566 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/outsource-your-culture-to-speed-up-digital-transformation#comments Infosecurity Europe 2019 https://www.futureofsourcing.com/infosecurity-europe-2019 <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Infosecurityeurope2019.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Infosecurityeurope2019.jpg" title="Infosecurity Europe 2019" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1458-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/Infosecurityeurope2019.jpg?itok=oXrmEZGT" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div><a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/" target="_blank">Infosecurity Europe</a>, Europe&#39;s largest information security event, will open its doors from Tuesday 4th to Thursday 6th June 2019 at Olympia, Hammersmith in London, bringing together business, technology and cyber communities to discuss and discover the best way to protect organisations and individuals.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It attracts over 19,500 unique information security professionals from every part of the industry, including 400+ exhibitors showcasing their products and services, industry analysts, worldwide press and policy experts.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Infosecurity Europe is also home to the world&sup1;s largest complimentary conference programme with 240+ free to attend conference sessions. The theme for 2019 is Cybersecurity 4.0: Complexity, risk and resilience. As organisations become increasingly complex, we are moving into a new area of cybersecurity &shy; one where increased connectivity, machine learning and rising cyber threats to infrastructure pose new and complex risks.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>This year renowned broadcaster and author Kate Adie will deliver the opening session on the <a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/conference/Keynote-Stage/" target="_blank">Keynote Stage</a> on 4 June. Jamie Bartlett, bestselling author of The People Vs. Tech, The Dark Net &amp; Radicals and Senior Fellow and former Director of Demos will open day 2, and former CEO of Lloyd&sup1;s of London, Dame Inga Beale will also present a keynote on 5 June.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The conference programme also includes a number of other tracks including <a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/conference/Strategy-Talks/" target="_blank">Strategy Talks</a>, <a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/conference/Tech-Talks/" target="_blank">Tech Talks</a>, <a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/conference/Talking-Tactics/" target="_blank">Talking Tactics</a>, <a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/conference/Security-Workshops/" target="_blank">Security Workshops</a> and <a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/conference/ISE/" target="_blank">Information Security Exchange</a> to provide security professionals with key insights to manage information and cyber risk.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Geek Street brings together a series of in-depth technical sessions where they can delve into the latest security research into exploits, vulnerabilities and threats, and includes an immersive zone, with hands-on experiences and featuring interactive learning challenges.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Visitors wanting to learn about the latest innovations in cybersecurity can visit the Cyber Innovation Showcase, an opportunity for smaller companies to showcase their innovations, and is aimed at those exhibiting for the first time, along with the Start-Up Zone, which will feature companies less than three years old.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The future of the industry and skills will be the main focus in the new FutureSec programme, which addresses the future of the industry and focuses on people, careers and innovation.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Diversity in cyber will be on the agenda at this year&sup1;s Women in Cybersecurity event on the morning of the second day, which includes a keynote presentation by Professor Sue Black, a panel discussion and lots of networking opportunities.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>For more information, visit: <a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com" target="_blank">https://www.infosecurityeurope.com</a></div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/cybersecurity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Cybersecurity</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/third-party-risk-management" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Third Party Risk Management</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/strategy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Strategy</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/conference" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conference</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/innovation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Innovation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Infosecurity Europe 2019 - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/infosecurity-europe-2019"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Fri, 31 May 2019 13:46:59 +0000 Infosecurity Europe 1458 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/infosecurity-europe-2019#comments Can We Solve the Industry's Talent Gap? https://www.futureofsourcing.com/can-we-solve-the-industrys-talent-gap <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Infosecurity_Europe_Blog%201.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Infosecurity_Europe_Blog%201.jpg" title="Can We Solve the Industry&#039;s Talent Gap?" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1450-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/Infosecurity_Europe_Blog%201.jpg?itok=fvYq8rrD" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div> <div>We are addressing the issue of&nbsp;attracting and retaining talented individuals with the necessary skills&nbsp;at Infosecurity Europe this year with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/en/conference/FutureSec/" target="_blank" title="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/en/conference/FutureSec/">FutureSec</a>&nbsp;&shy; a program of sessions and events focused on the development of people, skills and careers.</div> <div> <p>Almost a third (30%) of respondents to a recent social media poll said that a lack of skills was the biggest challenge to recruiting information security talent. More than half believe this is putting their business at increased risk of cyber attacks.</p> <p>Cybersecurity is a demanding profession, and the required skillset is diverse, with a mix of technical and business capabilities needed to effectively support both evolving digital business and legacy systems. Communication, negotiation and leadership skills are increasingly needed to cooperate and engage with the rest of the enterprise.</p> <p>Multidisciplinary individuals are hardest to find, but they&#39;re critical to ensuring that small- to mid-size security functions are well balanced and can meet all the requirements placed upon them, says David Boda, group head of information security at Camelot. In addition to core infosec skills, individuals will have a level of skill in one or more of coding, privacy, data science, DevOps, SysOps or psychology, or have strong business acumen.</p> <p>Information security also tends to be underrated as a career path. In our poll, around a quarter cited a lack of interest in careers in the industry as a barrier to recruitment, with 46% saying they find it difficult to encourage talent into the sector.</p> <p>Cybersecurity can make for an interesting and fulfilling career choice. As an industry, we need to work together to implement strategies and initiatives that will inspire and entice the next generation of professionals. Today, however, there remains a gulf in terms of supply and demand, with recent research highlighting that there will be as many as&nbsp;<a href="https://cybersecurityventures.com/jobs/" target="_blank">3.5 million</a>&nbsp;unfilled positions in the industry by 2021.</p> <p>Paul McKay, senior analyst with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forrester.com/Home/0,3257,1,FF.html" target="_blank">Forrester Research Inc</a>, believes we can widen the talent pool by being more inclusive: We&#39;re overly focused on recruiting technical graduates. We need to look at those with different backgrounds and target them with specific programs and apprenticeships to allow a vocational route into the industry. We also need to engage under-represented groups including women, who still make up only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iamcybersafe.org/women_in_cybersecurity/" target="_blank">11% of the cybersecurity workforce</a>.&nbsp; This needs to happen in schools, and employers should encourage their employees to support this type of outreach.</p> <p>The protection of businesses, infrastructure and lives from risks and threats depends on developing a sustainable pipeline of talented professionals. At Infosecurity Europe 2019 there are a number of sessions dedicated to building knowledge and capabilities within the information and cybersecurity community, including Strategy Talks and Tech Talks, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/en/conference/ISE/" target="_blank" title="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/en/conference/ISE/">Information Security Exchange</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/en/conference/Women-In-CyberSecurity/" target="_blank">Women in Cybersecurity</a>&nbsp;event and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/en/conference/Security-Workshops/" target="_blank">Security Workshops</a>.</p> <p><em>This blog has been edited from an original piece published as part of Infosecurity Europe 2019 Insights:&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/infosec/only-teamwork-will-solve-the-1-1" target="_blank" title="https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/infosec/only-teamwork-will-solve-the-1-1">https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/infosec/only-teamwork-will-solve-the-1-1</a>/&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/cybersecurity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Cybersecurity</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/infosecurity-europe" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Infosecurity Europe</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/coding" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">coding</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/data-privacy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">data privacy</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/data-science" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">data science</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Can We Solve the Industry&#039;s Talent Gap? - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/can-we-solve-the-industrys-talent-gap"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Wed, 22 May 2019 17:02:48 +0000 Infosecurity Europe 1450 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/can-we-solve-the-industrys-talent-gap#comments All Rise for Poland: A Thriving Outsource Destination https://www.futureofsourcing.com/all-rise-for-poland-a-thriving-outsource-destination <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/All_Rise_For_Poland_624x325.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/All_Rise_For_Poland_624x325.jpg" title="All Rise for Poland: A Thriving Outsource Destination" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1447-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/All_Rise_For_Poland_624x325.jpg?itok=xWyUeuuC" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>It&rsquo;s hard to believe that up until 1989, Poland was governed and ruled by the crushing grip of Communism as the Soviet Union took over Eastern Europe after World War II and strangled economic growth. At that time, Poland was seen as a powerless country with no business prospects and frankly, no real future.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>A Thriving Economy</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Thirty years later things have changed. &nbsp;In 1989, Poland entered into a democratic transaction which halted the Polish People&rsquo;s Republic and ultimately resulted in the creation of a democratic government called the Third Polish Republic. Since that time, Poland has become, without doubt, one of the most successful economies in Europe. The country is dynamic and set for a thriving future. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Poland will more than likely enjoy economic growth of 3.6% in 2019 making Poland one of <a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/12/17/poland-has-become-europes-growth-champion-but-can-this-success-continue/" target="_blank">fastest-growing large economies</a> in the world.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>IT outsourcing to Poland has never been so high, with world famous brands outsourcing software development. Many European companies are following the trend to &ldquo;nearshore,&rdquo; as opposed to &ldquo;offshore&rdquo; where IT companies can no longer afford to wait for accurate software development and mission critical software releases.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Educated Developers</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>According to <a href="http://https://neoteric.eu/blog/why-poland-is-one-of-the-best-places-to-outsource-software-development/" target="_blank">Neoteric</a>, Polish developers get some of the highest ranks in international programming contests, such as Google Code Jam, Microsoft Imagine Cup, the Central European Programming Contest (CEPC) and Top Coder. They are currently ranked third in the world at <a href="https://community.topcoder.com/stat?c=country_avg_rating" target="_blank">Hackerrank</a> and fifth in the world by Top Coder.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Polish people have a strong educational background. According to the New York Times, almost 40% of Polish people aged 25-34 have university degrees which thrusts the country into the top rankings in Europe when it comes to education. This is good news when looking for top talent.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Poland focuses on leveraging cutting-edge technologies that are up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. Polish people also are experts when it comes to agile and scrum methodologies for software development. This is very appealing to companies that want to outsource as Poland is ahead of the game when it comes to keeping up with technology shifts.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Culturally there is very little difference between Poland, the US and other European countries. &nbsp; This contrasts with the top outsourcing software destinations &ndash; China and India. Poland also boasts excellent language skills ranking ninth in the world in the EF English Proficiency index 2015 and 10th in the 2016 edition, getting ahead of most Eastern European countries.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Diverse City Options</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>According to <a href="https://www.polandunraveled.com/7-best-polish-cities-to-live-and-work/" target="_blank">Poland Unravelled</a> the best/top &nbsp;three cities to live and work in Poland are:</div> <ol> <li>WROCŁAW &nbsp;</li> <li>POZNAN</li> <li>KRAKOW&nbsp;</li> </ol> <div>All three cities offer an excellent quality of life, access to thriving businesses and easy access to the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe. Not to mention that it is just a one-hour time difference from the UK, which makes for easy, real time software development collaboration. In summary, Poland is becoming a popular place to outsource and should not be overlooked when you are interested in outsourcing software development (or indeed any other business function), speeding up &lsquo;time to market,&rsquo; reducing cost and increasing quality. Poland offers a stable and healthy economy, a highly skilled workforce, a dynamically growing IT market and US and EU standards in IP protection and data security. Maybe it&rsquo;s time to rise up for Poland as an outsourcing destination.</div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/talent-acquisition" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Talent Acquisition</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/contingent-workforce" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Contingent Workforce</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/technology" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Technology</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/poland" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Poland</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/software-development" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Software Development</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="All Rise for Poland: A Thriving Outsource Destination - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/all-rise-for-poland-a-thriving-outsource-destination"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Wed, 15 May 2019 19:13:11 +0000 Graham Fell 1447 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/all-rise-for-poland-a-thriving-outsource-destination#comments 4 Ways Brexit Will Impact Your Procurement and Sourcing Practices https://www.futureofsourcing.com/4-ways-brexit-will-impact-your-procurement-and-sourcing-practices <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/4_Ways_Brexit_Impacts.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/4_Ways_Brexit_Impacts.jpg" title="4 Ways Brexit Will Impact Your Procurement and Sourcing Practices " class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1415-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/4_Ways_Brexit_Impacts.jpg?itok=jmCARL6C" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>Brexit. That&rsquo;s a fun topic, isn&rsquo;t it?! Regardless of what you may think about it, you cannot but notice the impacts it is already having on businesses across Europe. The indecision of the United Kingdom (UK) to approve a plan is holding back investment and decision making. The markets and currencies are fluctuating and will continue to do so until a decision is finally made. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Procurement and supply chain are central to minimising the impact on both the UK and European Union (EU). The key areas professionals need to be aware of can be conveniently grouped into four buckets:&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>1.) Brexit requires a deeper understanding of your entire supply chain to control costs and ensure supply</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Depending on what happens, <a href="https://futureofsourcing.com/how-supply-chains-should-adapt-to-the-trade-war-truce" target="_blank">tariffs may be applied between countries</a> that were not previously there. New trade deals will mean that the UK cannot look at Europe as one anymore and sourcing products from France or the Netherlands may be more or less logical in the future due to those trade deals. Currency fluctuations are certainly a short-term concern and if Article 50 is extended, currency could continue to swing for a longer period before settling back into a more macro-economic pattern. Until then, procurement professionals need to be agile with their global sourcing decisions and ensure currency arbitrage is accounted for.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>2.) Availability of resource&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Different sectors of the UK economy, in particular, rely on freedom of movement of EU citizens more than others. Construction is one such industry and hospitality is another. When resources become scarce, wage costs will increase. It is simple supply and demand. This will eventually flow through to the end customer, or worse force UK companies out of business. Procurement professionals need to understand their supply chains to ensure that resource availability will not become a concern for their security of supply or critical sourcing requirements.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>3.) Lead times&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>This is one that the press has been more vocal about. No deal really raises the risk of delays at UK/EU entry points purely because no one knows how customs will work in that event. It won&rsquo;t last forever, but how long this uncertainty does last is important as many supply chains are very lean and there is no slack for delay. Take fresh fruit. A lot comes from Europe, or even via Europe, and most of our politicians have now realised that we are an island. Anything that sets foot on EU soil on its way to the UK will likely have a delay, and if it is long enough to cause degradation of the stock, retailers may need to write it off. <a href="https://futureofsourcing.com/making-the-world-a-better-place-with-procurement" target="_blank">Procurement professionals</a> need to look at how they buy and who takes the risk in these circumstances as someone will be paying for this, at some point.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>4.) Public sector procurement will change&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) process will end in name for the UK, however the principles of the approach will likely be replicated in the UK. The issue here is for public sector buyers and suppliers to make sure they are aware of how their market/supply base will change as this could cause a reduction in competitive tension/requirements for the period until everything settles down.&nbsp;</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div>These issues, while not new, are magnified and the political uncertainty makes it hard to plan effectively, but procurement professionals need to have agility in their strategies and relationships to ensure that impacts are reduced.</div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/supply-chain" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Supply Chain</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/risk-management" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Risk Management</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/international-relations" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">International Relations</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/brexit" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Brexit</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/united-kingdom-uk" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">United Kingdom (UK)</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/european-union-eu" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">European Union (EU)</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="4 Ways Brexit Will Impact Your Procurement and Sourcing Practices - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/4-ways-brexit-will-impact-your-procurement-and-sourcing-practices"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Tue, 02 Apr 2019 21:59:20 +0000 Jeremy Smith 1415 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/4-ways-brexit-will-impact-your-procurement-and-sourcing-practices#comments Three Reasons Organisations Should Look to Ukraine for Outsourcing Expertise https://www.futureofsourcing.com/three-reasons-organisations-should-look-to-ukraine-for-outsourcing-expertise <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/3_Reasons_Outsourcing_Ukraine.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/3_Reasons_Outsourcing_Ukraine.jpg" title="Three Reasons Organisations Should Look to Ukraine for Outsourcing Expertise" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1403-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/3_Reasons_Outsourcing_Ukraine.jpg?itok=SyUOEsvh" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>As technology advances in this digital age, with exciting developments coming thick and fast, many associate the forefront of innovation with Silicon Valley and the tech giants that dominate the global headlines. There are innovations happening around the world, but, when it comes to outsourcing, many of these hubs are overlooked.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>One such <a href="http://data.unit.city/tech-guide/Tech_Ecosystem_Guide_To_Ukraine_En-1.1.pdf" target="_blank">tech ecosystem is Ukraine</a>. Making $3.6 billion worth of IT exports in 2017 (representing a significant 3.4 percent of its GDP), it&rsquo;s a global tech hub that is, however, sometimes overlooked for some of the larger hubs around the world. With 4,000 thriving tech companies in Ukraine, there are many reasons that organisations should consider Ukraine for outsourcing expertise.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>1. It is a trusted choice&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Ukraine is already proving a popular choice for many organisations looking to tap into this rapidly expanding tech hub. For European companies looking to outsource, Ukraine is a strong contender as shared cultures and similar time zones make it easier to work on a project, arrange meetings and visit offices. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><a href="http://data.unit.city/tech-guide/Tech_Ecosystem_Guide_To_Ukraine_En-1.1.pdf" target="_blank">Ukraine is currently the number one outsourcing location</a> in Europe in terms of the volume of IT service exports. &nbsp;<a href="http://data.unit.city/tech-guide/Tech_Ecosystem_Guide_To_Ukraine_En-1.1.pdf" target="_blank">And over 100 Fortune 500 companies&mdash;such as Samsung, HP and Google&mdash;have already looked to the Ukraine&rsquo;s 184,700 software developers for outsourcing expertise</a>. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>With some of the largest companies in the world selecting Ukrainian IT services, the country&rsquo;s best talent is already empowering significant organisations around the world. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>2.) Great companies thrive in great environments&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In recent years the Ukrainian tech ecosystem has thrived. Between 2016 and 2017, exit numbers in <a href="http://data.unit.city/tech-guide/Tech_Ecosystem_Guide_To_Ukraine_En-1.1.pdf" target="_blank">Ukraine grew by 237 percent from 8 to 19, and the number of IT service companies has increased by 180 percent in the five years to 2017</a>. It seems that Ukraine has a glowing future in its tech and innovation ecosystem. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>With this growing demand for IT services and Ukrainian tech expertise, there are many cutting edge companies scaling up in the country. As more and more innovators tap into the ecosystem, the country provides a perfect environment for technological revolution. Accelerators and incubators for the latest innovations are spreading across the country: currently there are over 50 coworking spaces and hubs and 30 industry communities in which ideas are quickly becoming reality. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>3.) Technology exports are only predicted to grow&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Hearing of these ecosystems at the forefront of technological innovation, it&rsquo;s easy to see why Ukraine is set to become one of the go-to locations for organisations looking for top outsourcing expertise. Although the country is already enjoying incredible success, this will only grow in the future as the number of tech companies and innovations increases.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>2018 saw $290 million in start-up investments and Ukraine is currently ranked 43rd out of 126 countries on the <a href="https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/Home" target="_blank">Global Innovation Index</a>. The talent in the country is indisputably the reason behind this, as the software and technology specialists in training begin to open cutting edge start-ups that thrive in Ukraine. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>With strong local technical universities supplying some 40,000 specialists across the country each year, now is the time for organisations to tap into that supply chain. Ukraine is no longer a country to be overlooked &ndash; it deserves recognition as a centre of outsourcing expertise and companies around the globe are wise to start utilising that top tech talent. &nbsp;</div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/ukraine" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ukraine</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/outsourcing" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Outsourcing</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/talent-acquisition" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Talent Acquisition</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/information-technology-it" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Information Technology (IT)</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/innovation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Innovation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Three Reasons Organisations Should Look to Ukraine for Outsourcing Expertise - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/three-reasons-organisations-should-look-to-ukraine-for-outsourcing-expertise"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:58:14 +0000 Alexey Nayda 1403 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/three-reasons-organisations-should-look-to-ukraine-for-outsourcing-expertise#comments The Digital Dilemma: How an Outsourcing Partner can Combat the IT Skills Shortage https://www.futureofsourcing.com/the-digital-dilemma-how-an-outsourcing-partner-can-combat-the-it-skills-shortage <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/The%20Digital%20Dilemma.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/The%20Digital%20Dilemma.jpg" title="The Digital Dilemma: How an Outsourcing Partner can Combat the IT Skills Shortage" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1324-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/The%20Digital%20Dilemma.jpg?itok=f4VhzcIf" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>Based on the speed with which the world is adopting and embracing new technology, we could easily have 500,000 IT roles to fill by 2020. For companies around the world, building new products to compete (and win) against competitors is hard, and the game is only getting tougher. Talent is difficult to find and even harder to retain. If you&rsquo;re not using innovative technology, you&rsquo;ll undoubtedly struggle in the war for <a href="http://futureofsourcing.com/it-outsourcing-changing-landscape" target="_blank">IT talent</a>.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>So, why is talent difficult to find? As we move into an era that is more technological than ever before, skills required for the roles being created must also adapt. For example, finding a software engineer who knows Java is hard enough, but finding a programmer with strong enough math skills to keep up with the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning is even harder. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>In-house Talent vs. Outsourcing Talent&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In the war for talent, companies can choose to invest and source talent in-house, however, it&rsquo;s not an easy challenge and not everyone wins. For business leaders, it&rsquo;s hard to justify investing in people who you might later lose to competitors. What is more, the decision to keep talent in-house is a battle that must be fought on two fronts &ndash; in the war for business and the war for talent. Companies seldom can afford this.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>However, the other option is to outsource talent: with around 50 percent of companies already using outsourcing in one form or another, it&rsquo;s the new normal in IT. But using external companies to help with R&amp;D doesn&rsquo;t often happen because it&rsquo;s seen as a risk.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>So, is it possible to have an innovation partner? Is it possible to outsource innovation?&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It&rsquo;s hard, but achievable and crucial to find the right match for your business. Organisations around the world typically prefer a partner rather than just an outsourcer. Ideally, you want a partner that understands your business as much as you do, and understands the industry and technology. This results in faster delivery to the market, increases the likelihood of shared innovation and attracts skilled talent. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Building Partnerships&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>If your work with an outsourcer is a true partnership, it can flourish. Communication between the two companies should be on a variety of levels (e.g., at both a management and engineer level), which is maintained and nourished throughout the partnership. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Culture also should be taken into consideration. With similar values and cultural alignment, a partnership will develop. When you look for an outsourcing partner, these questions should be addressed:&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <ul> <li>What objectives do you have?</li> <li>What processes do you have in place and which do you need?</li> <li>Do you trust them?&nbsp;</li> </ul> <div>Trust matters the most, but it is often the most difficult to achieve quickly.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><a href="http://futureofsourcing.com/from-compliance-to-guidance-the-evolution-of-outsourcing" target="_blank">If two organisations in a partnership have trust</a>, it can help during difficult situations. With trust in place, the teams can go through many problems together and find mutual solutions. However, there are plenty of mistakes than can inhibit the partnership, and consequently the trust. This includes a lack of cultural alignment and talent retention. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Retaining Talent in a Partnership &nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>When you look for a partner, it&rsquo;s important to not only focus on the skills that the organisation currently has, but also their means of sourcing new talent and retaining current talent. It&rsquo;s critical that the company you work with is also winning in the war for skilled workers and is motivating employees to stay with the organisation. If you begin working with a partner and their skilled team, and then they leave, it will greatly inhibit the project (and likely the partnership too). &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>When it comes to choosing the right partner, there is plenty to take into consideration. From honesty and transparency to having joint responsibility, an outsourcer should be a partner to the organisation and prioritise attracting and keeping skilled workers. After all, there can&rsquo;t be innovation without talent.</div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/it-outsourcing" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IT Outsourcing</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/digital-workforce" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Digital Workforce</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/talent-acquisition" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Talent Acquisition</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/talent-sourcing" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Talent Sourcing</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="The Digital Dilemma: How an Outsourcing Partner can Combat the IT Skills Shortage - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/the-digital-dilemma-how-an-outsourcing-partner-can-combat-the-it-skills-shortage"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Wed, 28 Nov 2018 18:47:56 +0000 Jaroslaw Czaja 1324 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/the-digital-dilemma-how-an-outsourcing-partner-can-combat-the-it-skills-shortage#comments Every Day is Black Friday in British Retail https://www.futureofsourcing.com/every-day-is-black-friday-in-british-retail <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Black_Friday.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/Black_Friday.jpg" title="Every Day is Black Friday in British Retail" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1323-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/Black_Friday.jpg?itok=_kwgxFX0" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>Black Friday is the American retail phenomenon that is the day after Thanksgiving and billed as the start of the Christmas shopping season. Billions of dollars are spent by consumers enticed by heavily discounted items from all retailers for one day only. This concept was imported to the U.K. a few years ago by such American-owned retailers as Walmart and <a href="http://www.futureofsourcing.com/node/672" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>While it&rsquo;s a relatively new concept to the U.K. market, the popularity of Black Friday has grown steadily since 2010. Such was the growth that in 2014, Black Friday became the peak day for pre-Christmas online sales. As more and more retailers participated, media outlets gave the long queues and buying frenzy additional air time (who remembers the images of people scrambling to get to a &pound;100 flat screen TV at Asda?), resulting in more customers awaiting the day to start their Christmas shopping. The added excitement of not knowing the products offered or discount levels in advance only fuelled the hysteria. Retailers also started stretching &nbsp;Black Friday deals by announcing sales before and after Black Friday, to give customers a longer period to snap up bargains.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>But is Black Friday as amazing as it sounds for both customers and retailers?&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>From a retailer&rsquo;s perspective, there is no doubt that Black Friday brings in customers and drives significant sales and footfall. But are these sales truly incremental? In most cases, no, they are not. In order to attract customers retailers must slash prices, in effect cutting their margins, when they could be making full-priced sales rather than selling heavily discounted merchandise. In addition, the cycle for retail Christmas sales has also changed radically. Whereas non-food retailers historically saw peak sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas, Black Friday pulls sales into November, when customers stock up on Christmas presents at discounted rates rather than buying them at full price in December. This leads to earlier discounting, with many retailers kicking off Boxing Day or January sales before Christmas to reduce or clear seasonal stock.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Customers are also getting savvier with their shopping. With everyone from retailers to local businesses offering a Black Friday deal, customers question the true value of the discounts they receive. In 2017, the consumer group Which? reported that more than half of Black Friday deals that year could have been bought cheaper at another time during the year. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Consumers can still be the ultimate winner if they shop around and buy in to the right deal. For many retailers, the fear that their shops will be empty during Black Friday means they are almost forced to take part in the event, and in some cases must use it as a margin dilutive or a loss-leading event. This puts added pressure on the retailers&rsquo; bottom lines that are struggling with reduced high-street footfall and consumer spending, increased minimum wages and high rents and rates, not to mention the ever-increasing uncertainty over BREXIT and the weakening sterling. Retailers already have to offer discounts year-round to keep customers coming into their shops and Black Friday comes at a time when most retailers would otherwise sell products at full price.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>While we won&rsquo;t see the concept of Black Friday disappear from the <a href="http://www.futureofsourcing.com/why-the-uk-retail-sectors-best-days-are-ahead" target="_blank">U.K. retail landscape</a> (Amazon has extended this year&rsquo;s Black Friday period to 10 days), we are definitely starting to see a shift in attitude towards Black Friday from both retailers and consumers. B&amp;Q recently announced it is abandoning Black Friday deals, instead focusing on &ldquo;Everyday Low Prices,&rdquo; which they say customers prefer compared to one-off, short-term deals. B&amp;Q&rsquo;s own research shows that 46 percent of their customers weren&rsquo;t planning to take part in Black Friday this year while 43 percent said that they ended up returning products they bought on impulse led by short-term discounting events like Black Friday. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>One of the original importers of Black Friday into the U.K., Walmart-owned Asda supermarket, also announced it is opting out of Black Friday and instead offering its customers special deals over a longer period of time leading up to Christmas. In a statement, Asda cites shopper fatigue as one of the reasons for its decision and also lists similar findings as B&amp;Q in that customers prefer deals over a longer period rather than short-term, heavily discounted deals.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>There will be no shortage of retailers offering Black Friday deals this year, but with the challenges facing the retail industry and the significant pressures on their cost base, it remains to be seen whether Black Friday will become a long-term feature of retailers&rsquo; promotional calendars or whether it will slowly become extinct. One CEO of a major high-street discounter once told me, &ldquo;Every day is Black Friday when you shop at our stores.&rdquo; With the retail landscape changing, that statement may well become true for more retailers in years to come.</div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/retail" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Retail</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/customer-experience" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Customer Experience</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/customer-solutions" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Customer Solutions</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/cost" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Cost</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/sales" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sales</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Every Day is Black Friday in British Retail - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/every-day-is-black-friday-in-british-retail"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Tue, 27 Nov 2018 16:01:47 +0000 Pro Ganguly 1323 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/every-day-is-black-friday-in-british-retail#comments Brexit, Your Business and Data: Personal Data Transfers https://www.futureofsourcing.com/brexit-your-business-and-data-personal-data-transfers <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/data_protection_UK_624x325.jpg"><a href="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/articles/data_protection_UK_624x325.jpg" title="Brexit, Your Business and Data: Personal Data Transfers" class="colorbox" rel="gallery-node-1310-M52KffqxAM4"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/sites/default/files/styles/juicebox_medium/public/articles/data_protection_UK_624x325.jpg?itok=ZpXf-zv6" width="624" height="325" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-intro field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>As the U.K. government perseveres with the unenviable task of negotiating the U.K.&#39;s exit from the European Union (EU), U.K. businesses are becoming increasingly wary of the uncertainty that remains around their future operations with regard to the use of personal data. The issue will impact outsourcing providers that (as part of the services they provide) process data about EU data subjects on behalf of a data controller who is subject to GDPR, most notably in the field of IT.&nbsp;</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <div>With B-Day (Brexit) looming closer, the government has released a series of guidance notes intended to help prepare the public for a &ldquo;no-deal&rdquo; situation. Although last month&#39;s notice in relation to data protection is comforting in some respects, it also raises further issues, namely:&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <ul> <li>how <a href="http://www.futureofsourcing.com/data-protection-as-a-service-the-latest-outsourcing-opportunity" target="_blank">transfers of personal data</a> between the U.K. and the EU will be regulated post-Brexit;</li> <li>that U.K. businesses operating within the EU will need to adjust to having a new regulator; and</li> <li>that U.K. businesses dealing with EU citizens and their personal data will need to appoint a representative in the EU.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <div>In this article, we consider the impact of a &ldquo;no deal&rdquo; on data flows in and out of the U.K. for outsourcing providers. In particular, we look at data flows from the European Economic Area (EEA) to the U.K. Although the government&#39;s guidance only refers to the EU, we must assume that it also catches data received from other EEA countries by virtue of their adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) (GDPR). It is less clear whether data transferred to EEA countries from the U.K. is caught as the guidance doesn&rsquo;t seem to adequately address the issue.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Will the U.K.&#39;s data protection standard change?&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Not really. The EU Withdrawal Act will incorporate the GDPR into U.K. law and the Data Protection Act 2018 will continue to sit alongside it, so, reassuringly, the time and money invested in becoming <a href="http://www.futureofsourcing.com/node/679" target="_blank">GDPR compliant</a> will not be wasted. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Although on the face of it the legal backdrop will not materially change, difficulties arise when considering the implications of the imminent status change of the U.K. when it ceases to be a Member State, particularly in relation to continued data flows. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>U.K. Data Flows to the EU&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The government has stated that it will permit transfers of personal data from the U.K. to those Member States remaining in the EU. In theory, this should mean that no further action is necessary (from the U.K.&#39;s perspective) in order to receive personal data from U.K. customers if your business is EU-based. As a matter of good practice, however, it will be worth keeping an eye on any changes to domestic laws of the relevant Member States in the event that new laws create further hoops for U.K. businesses to jump through in the future. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>EEA Data Flows to the U.K.&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Transfers of personal data from the EEA into the U.K. are not as simple. From 29 March 2019, in the event of a &ldquo;no deal,&rdquo; the UK will automatically become a &quot;third country&quot; (i.e., a country outside the EEA). At this point, businesses that transfer personal data from the EEA to the U.K. will need to find a GDPR compliant mechanism to continue doing so. If your company is U.K. based, this may impact the ability of your European customers to do business if your products/services include the transfer of personal data (e.g., a provider of payroll services to businesses with EU-based divisions and employees.)&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The government doesn&#39;t appear to be particularly concerned with this predicament, as it seems to be hedging its bets that the Commission will soon declare such transfers lawful on the basis of an adequacy decision (a decision that the U.K. has an adequate level of data protection to ensure the safety of personal data outside the EEA). One can see why it would be logical for the Commission to arrive at this conclusion&mdash;the theory being that our domestic data protection law will not have changed and the GDPR will still take effect in the U.K. by virtue of the implementing legislation. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In comparison to the current 12 countries that have benefited from an adequacy decision thus far, the U.K. stands in a favourable position as traditionally it has been one of the Member States that to date has adopted a high standard when it comes to implementing European data protection laws. In addition, the U.K. has one of the most sophisticated and influential data protection regulators in the EU and a long history of operating in line with the Commission&#39;s approach to the security of personal data. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>However, upon closer inspection, there are a few flies in the adequacy ointment. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <ul> <li>Firstly, the Commission can only make an adequacy decision in relation to a third country, but the U.K. will not become one until 29 March 2019. The Commission has, to date, not announced a proposed timetable for this process. &nbsp;</li> <li>Secondly, adequacy decisions have historically been time consuming, involving a multi-stage procedure that includes obtaining the approval of the remainder of the EU. &nbsp;</li> <li>Thirdly, it&#39;s not just the fact that the GDPR will continue in place in the U.K., which the Commission will take account of; it will also look at the wider regulatory landscape and the extent to which surveillance laws such as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 could override the rights of data subjects. &nbsp;</li> <li>Finally, adequacy decisions are not indefinite. These decisions are subject to ongoing review and therefore are capable of being withdrawn at any time, which would bring U.K. businesses back to square one regarding their ability to process data from the EEA. &nbsp;</li> </ul> <div><strong>What can you do?&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>While the U.K. awaits its adequacy decision, the GDPR provides for a seemingly more straightforward solution: contractual &quot;model clauses.&quot; &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Many U.K. businesses are already familiar with standard, contractual clauses, drafted and approved by the Commission. By requiring recipients to adopt these model clauses, controllers can use them as a mechanism to ensure the safety of personal data being sent outside of the EEA. Many businesses&mdash;such as an EU-based company using a U.S. entity for data hosting facilities&mdash;have done this as part of their GDPR compliance programme. For now, model clauses seem to be the most practical solution for businesses that rely on the in-flow of personal data from the EEA.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Are there any other options?&nbsp;</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It may be possible for businesses to rely on the derogations set out in the GDPR for specific situations that allow for the transfer of data from the EEA to a third country in the absence of an adequacy decision or other safeguards. Examples include explicit consent, contractual necessity and cases relating to legal claims. However, use of these derogations is only permitted if they are used in specific situations and if certain conditions are satisfied. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Moreover, many of the derogations under Article 49&mdash;including the contractual necessity and legal claim derogations&mdash;can only be used occasionally and when necessary (&quot;requiring a close and substantial connection between the data transfer and the purposes of the contract.&quot;) This means that in practice, while the derogations could be useful for occasional transfers in particular circumstances, they are unlikely to be an effective solution in the long term. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Clearly there are a number of factors to consider when evaluating the future ability to transfer data from the EEA into the U.K., regardless of the outcome of the current Brexit negotiations. While a lot of us will be keeping our fingers crossed for a speedy adequacy decision, it would be prudent to analyse the data flows into your business and their current legal basis to identify if any are at risk post-Brexit. If your company is based in the U.K., you should also review your existing customer contracts for clauses with absolute prohibitions on transferring personal data outside the EEA.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Next steps</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The most sensible option to ensure you are able to continue receiving data from the EEA seems to be the implementation of model clauses by 29 March 2019. Adopting model clauses is a relatively quick and easy process but the first step will be to invest time sooner rather than later to:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <ul> <li>pinpoint your material data transfers;</li> <li>work out the data flows; and</li> <li>identify with whom you might need model clauses to govern transfer.</li> </ul> <div>Once you&rsquo;ve undertaken the analysis above, the implementation of the model clauses could be postponed until the start of next year, in case of further developments.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Ultimately, everyone will be waiting to see the lay of the land following the Brexit negotiations. There has been some suggestion that contingency plans drawn up by Brussels for a &ldquo;no deal&rdquo; scenario may well provide some limited relief to secure data flows in from the EEA. However, as no detail has been provided, much depends on how the all-important divorce talks progress over the coming weeks/months.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>November 2018</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The information in this article was correct at the time of writing. However, the position may alter as Brexit negotiations progress.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/data-security" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Data Security</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/united-kingdom-uk" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">United Kingdom (UK)</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/european-economic-area-eea" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">European Economic Area (EEA)</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tags/european-union-eu" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">European Union (EU)</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:title="Brexit, Your Business and Data: Personal Data Transfers - Future of Sourcing" addthis:url="https://www.futureofsourcing.com/brexit-your-business-and-data-personal-data-transfers"><a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_linkedin"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_facebook"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_twitter"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_googleplus"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_pinterest_share"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_reddit"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_email"></a> <a href="https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300" class="addthis_button_print"></a> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-region field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Region:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/regions/europemiddle-eastafrica" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Europe/Middle East/Africa</a></div></div></div> Wed, 07 Nov 2018 19:21:43 +0000 Anita Sivapalan 1310 at https://www.futureofsourcing.com https://www.futureofsourcing.com/brexit-your-business-and-data-personal-data-transfers#comments