Outsourcing Information Vendor Portfolio Management

Author: Joanne Lustig, Vice President & Lead Analyst

Outsourcing vendor portfolio management (VPM) is evolving as an emerging practice – whether as a controlled way to support and extend internal VPM activities or as a solution for organizations without an internal information management (IM) function. This report analyzes the state of VPM outsourcing, presents a mix of vendors who are positioning themselves to support negotiating and licensing activities, and provides our recommendations about the pros, cons, and implications of this practice for IM functions. It contains:

- Examination of key reasons why organizations are outsourcing part or all of their VPM functions;
- Analysis of opportunities and challenges presented by outsourcing VPM;
- The VPM vendor landscape, including a table with an overview of the six key vendors, Outsell’s view of their respective strengths and weaknesses, and our bottom line opinion;
- Imperatives for vendor portfolio managers who are outsourcing, or considering outsourcing, this function.