Will combining SPOC activities yield low hanging, juicy or sour fruit?
Conclusion: When cost cutting of IT services is on the executive agenda, due to the impact of COVID-19 virus, will it yield low hanging or sour fruit? One area often regarded as low hanging fruit is the amalgamation of SPOC (single point of contact) activities, viz. help desk, service centre and contact or call centre. Combining them is a compelling proposition and demands an informed response.
Put simply, the logic used by management, seeking to amalgamate and reduce costs, is:
- Similar skills are required so staff can be co-located
- Staff can become multi-skilled and resolve incidents or software failures of internal (service desk and help desk) and external clients
- Office space used now will be reduced and by combining the functions
- Headcount savings will ensue
About The Advisor
Alan Hansell
Alan Hansell is an IBRS advisor who focuses on IT and business management. Alan is able to critique and comment on IT and business management trends, ways to justify and maximise the benefits from IT-related investment, IS management development and the role of the CIO. Alan has extensive experience in IT management, consulting and advising senior managers in matters related to IT investment. He was a Director in Gartner's Executive program and adviser to over 50 CIOs and business managers and before joining Gartner a consultant with DMR Group. He also worked as an IS professional, manager and industry consultant for IBM for nearly 30 years. Alan is a CPA and Associate of Governance Institute of Australia.