If You Don't Have a Seat at the Table, Are You on the Menu?

If You Don't Have a Seat at the Table, Are You on the Menu? The Global Business Services Survival Guide

Imagine standing at the intersection of technological revolution and organizational survival. This isn't a hypothetical scenario—it's the daily reality for Global Business Services (GBS) professionals today.

The Digital Crossroads: A Tale of Survival

Picture a global bank that has outsourced all its support activities to a service provider in the Philippines. What sounds like a routine business decision is actually a high-stakes chess game of survival, innovation, and strategic transformation.

The Silent Challenges Nobody Talks About

Most organizations are fighting invisible battles:

• Skyrocketing overhead costs locked in multi-year contracts
• The talent retention puzzle
• Skill gaps that threaten entire service models
• Management layers suffocating innovation
• Dependency on key individuals who hold institutional memory

The Five-Step Survival Strategy

Step 1: Separate Cost from Value

Here's a radical thought: Stop trying to reduce costs and increase value simultaneously. Instead:

• Cost Reduction: Focus on per-transaction efficiency
• Value Creation: Elevate service quality and strategic impact

Step 2: Drive Efficiency Through Transparency

When workload increases, don't just show the total bill—demonstrate your value:

• Calculate and showcase per-transaction cost reductions
• Highlight increased transaction volumes
• Prove efficiency isn't about doing less, but doing more with less

Step 3: Deliver Beyond the Transaction

Stand out by asking killer questions:

• What unique value does your GBS offer?
• How can you go beyond the expected?
• Where can you create value your competitors can't?

Step 4: Innovation is Not an Option, It's a Necessity

Transform your approach by:

• Creating SMART goals
• Developing end-to-end transformation plans
• Planning resource bandwidth strategically
• Securing stakeholder buy-in with crystal-clear agreements

Step 5: Execute Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does)

Embrace the startup mentality:

• Treat complexity as an opportunity
• Keep communication channels wide open
• Track value creation in real-time
• Stay adaptable, agile, and always hungry

The Brutal Truth: Volume and Complexity Equal Opportunity

In the GBS world, what looks like a challenge is actually your greatest competitive advantage. The more complex your environment, the more opportunities you have to differentiate.

Your Moment of Truth

Ask yourself: Are you managing transactions, or are you creating strategic value?

The digital revolution is unforgiving. You're either disrupting or being disrupted.

Choose wisely.

#GlobalBusinessServices #DigitalTransformation #BusinessInnovation #StrategicValue

Want more insights & want a complimentary copy of Everest Group reports: Click here to access : The State of Global Business Services (GBS), Talent Trends, and Insights for Leaders, do read the