Why does outsourcing remain a strategic approach for companies, particularly SMEs?
David Barbaro : Quand on évoque l’outsourcing, la réduction des coûts vient naturellement à l’esprit, et c’est effectivement un avantage majeur. Mais l’enjeu va bien au-delà. Externaliser, c’est accéder à une expertise pointue et à des ressources pluridisciplinaires sans avoir à les développer en interne.
Les PME, souvent limitées en moyens humains et techniques, peuvent ainsi bénéficier de solutions éprouvées et mutualisées qui répondent aux derniers standards du marché. C’est une manière de gagner en flexibilité, d’adapter son modèle aux besoins du moment, tout en gardant une visibilité claire sur son budget. Le client paie à la consommation, selon un catalogue de services prédéfinis, ce qui transforme des coûts fixes en coûts variables.
La dimension souveraine représente également un atout considérable pour les entreprises comme le contrôle sur les données et les infrastructures critiques. Ce besoin est couvert par nos solutions UFLEX et GDCA, faisant partie intégrante de notre portefeuille de services. De ce fait, les données sont hébergées sur le territoire luxembourgeois.
C’est aussi, réduire les risques opérationnels et réglementaires par le biais d’un prestataire comme Proximus NXT ayant la capacité de répondre aux exigences légales et aux normes de sécurité.
Enfin, l’externalisation IT permet d’accélérer l’innovation notamment avec l’IA générative qui permet une automatisation massive et un gain de productivité.
Comment s’assurer que cette relation d’outsourcing reste équilibrée et sous contrôle pour le client ?
David Barbaro: When outsourcing is mentioned, cost reduction naturally comes to mind and it is indeed a major advantage. But the real stakes go far beyond that. Outsourcing means gaining access to specialized expertise and multidisciplinary resources without having to develop them in-house.
SMEs, often limited in human and technical resources, can thus benefit from proven, shared solutions that meet the latest market standards. It’s a way to gain flexibility, adapt their operating model to current needs, while maintaining clear budget visibility. Clients pay based on consumption, according to a predefined service catalog, effectively transforming fixed costs into variable ones.
The sovereignty dimension also represents a considerable advantage for companies, particularly in terms of control over data and critical infrastructure. This need is addressed through our UFLEX and GDCA solutions, which are an integral part of our service portfolio. As a result, data is hosted within Luxembourg territory.
It also helps reduce operational and regulatory risks by relying on a provider such as Proximus NXT, which has the capacity to meet legal requirements and security standards.
Finally, IT outsourcing accelerates innovation, notably through generative AI, enabling large-scale automation and significant productivity gains.
What role can outsourcing play in the transformation of Luxembourg SMEs?
David Barbaro: Many companies want to evolve, modernize their tools, or digitize their processes, but they often face a lack of internal resources or resistance to change. Outsourcing can precisely facilitate this transformation by providing an external, neutral, and constructive perspective.
We support our clients from the start, analyzing their strategic needs, organization, and processes before even discussing technical solutions. This consultative approach helps give technology purpose, aligning it with the core business of the SME.
Thanks to local services designed for organizations of all sizes, SME leaders can now access a level of expertise equivalent to that of large companies with more mature processes. By outsourcing intelligently, they strengthen their competitiveness while remaining flexible and agile, allowing them to refocus on business development and customer relationships.
Cybersecurity at the heart of the outsourcing strategy
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and regulations are becoming stricter, NIS2, DORA, CRA. Smaller organizations often lack the personnel or budget to implement robust defense measures,’ explains David Barbaro.
Proximus NXT includes a comprehensive security component in its managed services contracts: awareness and strategic guidance, 24/7 detection and incident management, penetration testing exercises, and vulnerability management.
To learn more about Managed Services solutions: Services Managés | Proximus NXT
