ISG: Visa Delays Require New Approaches to Sourcing Transitions

STAMFORD, Conn., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Information Services Group (ISG) (NASDAQ: III), a leading technology insights, market intelligence and advisory services company, published research this week recommending that clients and service providers reassess their approach to the transition phase of sourcing projects due to delays in obtaining visas to work in the United States.

Temporary work visas are a central component of offshore outsourcing service delivery, enabling service providers to bring skilled resources on board during the transition phase of a project. However, data analyzed by ISG shows increasing volumes of both H1 and L1 visas are being rejected or delayed, stretching the typical on-boarding time for new workers from two weeks to six weeks.

"Tighter restrictions on visa applications and the delays they cause make it increasingly difficult for service providers to quickly ramp up staffing levels for the critical transition phases of outsourcing initiatives," said Jim Hussey, Global Head of Transition Services for ISG. "That in turn threatens to derail aggressive project schedules that have little or no room for error."

Compounding the problem, service providers are often reluctant to acknowledge the need to revise overly aggressive timelines. As a result, transition plans fail to address client objectives, setting a foundation for long-term dysfunction in outsourcing  relationships.

"Both clients and service providers need to recognize that the rules of the game are changing," said Hussey. "Today it takes longer to get resources in place, and in many cases those resources are more difficult to find. Everyone's expectations and schedules need to adjust, and we need new approaches to managing L1 resources and the overall transition process."

To learn more, download the new ISG Research, "Visa Issues Require New Approach to Transition Plans" at http://www.isg-one.com/web/services/transition/.

About Information Services Group
Information Services Group (ISG) (NASDAQ: III) is a leading technology insights, market intelligence and advisory services company, serving more than 500 clients around the world to help them achieve operational excellence. ISG supports private and public sector organizations to transform and optimize their operational environments through research, benchmarking, consulting and managed services, with a focus on information technology, business process transformation, program management services and enterprise resource planning. Clients look to ISG for unique insights and innovative solutions for leveraging technology, the deepest data source in the industry, and more than five decades of experience of global leadership in information and advisory services. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has more than 700 employees and operates in 21 countries. For additional information, visit www.isg-one.com.

SOURCE Information Services Group