In the highly competitive and volatile transportation and supply chain industry, companies constantly seek ways to improve their operational efficiency and reduce costs. One popular method is outsourcing software development projects to specialized companies. However, outsourcing requires a significant investment of time and money, and companies must ensure that they get the expected return on investment (ROI) for their outsourcing contracts. This article will explore how transportation and supply chain companies can measure ROI for their software outsourcing contracts.

ROI Calculation

The ROI calculation for outsourcing contracts in the transportation and supply chain industry is typically based on a few key metrics. Firstly, the cost of outsourcing the project is compared to the cost of completing the project in-house. Secondly, the time required to complete the project is compared to the time that would be required if the project were completed in-house. Thirdly, the quality of the software delivered by the outsourcing company is compared to the quality that would be expected from an in-house team. Finally, the impact of the end product on the overall business operations is evaluated.

Example

Let’s take an example of a transportation company that decides to outsource the development of a new transportation management system (TMS) to a software development company. The in-house cost of developing the TMS would be $1 million, which would take 12 months to complete. The outsourcing contract would cost $800,000 and take only eight months to complete. After the project is completed, the company evaluates the quality of the software and finds that it is of similar or even better quality than what an in-house team would have delivered. The company also evaluates the impact of the TMS on its business operations and finds that it has significantly improved efficiency by reducing human errors and reduced costs by automating workflows. Based on these metrics, the company calculates the ROI of the outsourcing contract to be 25% (20% with the savings on software development costs and another 5% from labor cost savings).

Factors affecting ROI

While the above example shows a positive ROI for the outsourcing contract, several factors can affect the ROI calculation. These include the quality of the outsourced team, communication barriers, time zone differences, cultural differences, and the level of control that the company has over the outsourcing team. To mitigate these risks, companies may choose to work with a reputable outsourcing company with a proven track record of delivering high-quality software and establishing clear, periodical communication protocols and expectations with the outsourcing team.

Conclusion

Outsourcing software development projects can be a cost-effective and efficient way for transportation and supply chain companies to improve their operations and incorporate the latest technologies and best practices in their operations. However, to ensure a positive ROI, companies must carefully evaluate the cost, time, quality, and impact of the outsourced software on their business operations. By working with reputable outsourcing companies and establishing clear communication protocols, companies can mitigate the risks associated with outsourcing and achieve a positive ROI for their outsourcing contracts.

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This article was written by ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI and adapted by João Ricardo Gubolin.

Learn more about OpenAI at their website: https://openai.com/

João Ricardo Gubolin is the Chief Business Development Office of GHubee.

GHubee finds and solves transportation and supply chain inefficiencies by automating workflows with data integration technology and intelligent systems. Our focus is to automate the communication-integrated systems of vehicles through next-gen networks, AI and machine learning, IoT, big data, cybersecurity, and 5G in the best possible way and at the lowest possible cost. To schedule a free consultation, click here or visit https://ghubee.com.

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