There’s a wealth of evidence indicating that Shared Services is not only maturing but also growing in popularity. The United States and India possess the greatest percentage of Shared Service Centers (SSCs) serving four or more continents, while the number of Latin American SSCs continues to increase as more multinationals establish operations in the region. In Europe the lower operational costs of the central and eastern parts of the region have also led to a steady rise in activity in those countries.

Aligned with the growth of Shared Service Centers is the increased use of a Global Business Services model. More companies are transitioning away from functional ownership of SSCs towards the creation of a separate governance structure; one which owns all the services provided by the Center. "Global Business Services" is being established as an independent legal entity, endowed with a true service and process-orientated culture, its own identifiable brand, and a mandate to drive change, improvement and transformation.

As this model matures, SSCs are increasingly viewed as businesses within themselves, with a responsibility to serve customers, manage accounts, attract new business and manage P&L. As a result, they require a strong leadership team able to organize and direct the business towards a common goal: to deliver services at a cost, quality and timeliness that’s equivalent to alternatives.

Contact Borderless and draw on our unparalleled global network of specialized business transformation search professionals to find and attract talented executives to lead your Shared Services business or BPO initiative.

Borderless is a founding member of HROA, the global association for HR Transformation at www.hroassociation.com