CFOs embrace digital transformation: Outsourcing evolves beyond cost-cutting

The perception of outsourcing as merely a tool for reducing expenses is rapidly fading. Today, businesses prioritize flexibility, access to specialized skills, the ability to quickly scale operations, and building organizational resilience. These were the key takeaways from the CFO Roundtable "Cloud, Outsourcing, and Cybersecurity: The Strategic Triangle of the Modern CFO," held as part of the CFO Excellence Awards.

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Outsourcing was and remains a tool in the hands of business. It is neither inherently good nor bad. Everything depends on how it fits into the organization's strategy.

Katarzyna Pindral, vice president and CFO at Impact Clean Power Technology, emphasized that outsourcing is a business tool, neither inherently good nor bad, but dependent on its strategic alignment with an organization. She noted her experience with various models, including shared service centers, external outsourcing, and in-house competency development, all of which can be effective if they meet business needs. Pindral highlighted that effective outsourcing frees up management time for strategic initiatives, allowing CFOs to focus on business development rather than operational tasks.

Javier Biurrarena, District Manager for Global Payroll, Cloud Transformation, ES International at ADP, observed a significant shift in how outsourcing is viewed globally. He stated that contemporary outsourcing goes beyond simply transferring processes to external providers. Companies now demand scalability, regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and full transparency. The focus is on maintaining control over processes while reducing complexity, fostering partnerships that enable quicker decisions and enhance business flexibility.

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Today, companies expect scalability, regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and full transparency. It is crucial to maintain control over processes while reducing their complexity.

Rafał Merk, board member and CFO of WeNet Group, echoed this sentiment, noting that outsourcing has evolved from primarily accounting and administrative services to encompass entire business processes. He pointed to the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which allows these outsourced processes to operate more efficiently. Merk believes that the greatest value of outsourcing now lies in the ability to rapidly scale a business, a necessity in today's fast-paced environment where no single organization can develop all competencies internally. This trend suggests a move towards outsourcing complete processes, from reporting to investor relations, driven by AI's capabilities.

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The greatest value of outsourcing is the ability to rapidly scale the business. The pace of change today is so great that no organization can develop all competencies on its own.