The Outsourcing Evolution
Market Overview
Utilization of Six Sigma

The Outsourcing Evolution
The first and most traditional outsourcing approach was for a company to outsource discrete functions, such as document processing, scanning, copying, microfilming, data entry, and other routine office tasks. As time progressed, the next evolution of outsourcing saw companies outsourcing complete processes to vendors, including EDS, Perot, Fiserv, and Exult. In these instances, a vendor would contract to buy all of a company's assets and then hire the company's employees to carry out the process. These relationships became defined as functional outsourcing and business process outsourcing (BPO).

Currently, the outsourcing trend incorporates an innovative approach that has a company hire an Outsourcing Partner to complete and optimize its back-office processes. With this method, the Outsourcing Partner provides the additional services and complementary labor necessary to maximize the output of the selected processes and functions. This hybrid approach sees the Outsourcing Partner providing the automation technology, equipment, and labor needed to perform any remaining manual duties. From the outside, users see one interface and a single integrated system.

As the outsourcing industry has grown, API has developed right along side. Rigorously evolving with the trends, API has grown to become the leading vendor operating in the back-office billing/accounts receivable and accounts payable integration and automation category.

Typical Outsourcing Services
API takes a “one size fits one ” approach with each of its clients, addressing a wide variety of application processes often unique to individual customers. At API, we are focused on how our services best complement, improve, and innovate your organization. Our solutions are customer-driven, embracing diverse and evergreen business environments, rather than imposing the standardized regimen of a homogeneous solution.

We find that this hybrid approach provides the flexibility required to significantly accelerate the path to improved overall business processes. Most often these improvements are best addressed through a multi-phased approach created in partnership with clients based on their designated time frame. This phased approach allows API to focus on creating targeted solutions without instigating unnecessary enterprise-wide implications.

More specifically, API provides services, include mail opening, document scanning, data entry, document process outsourcing, indexing, archiving, and electronic document delivery which appeal to multiple areas within an organization. Areas include:� document management, administration, accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, freight payment, check processing, electronic wire transfer/ACH and check imaging.

Process Transformation
API Outsourcing integrates its services, methodologies, and expertise to truly transform its customers' business processes. It is this very ability to instigate process transformation and provide valuable strategic services which separate API from the pack. To attain this level of commitment and change, API contracts a Requirement & Definition (R&D) study prior to production for every client. This extra step proves invaluable to API and its customers by documenting all the requirements, variables, and decisions that are the foundation for the production project. The result? Immediate process improvements and no surprises.

Six Sigma Commitment
Yesterday's business models no longer ensure business success. Today's competitive environment leaves no room for error. That is why API has adopted an aggressive, company-wide Six Sigma initiative. Six Sigma is a highly disciplined quality process which helps a company focus on developing and delivering near-perfect products and services based on the three key elements of customer, process, and employee.

API's commitment to world class services and products is focused on these three essential elements. Six Sigma quality demands that API look at its business from customers' perspectives. From this angle, API works with its customers to identify distinct areas where the company will best be able to add significant value and improvement.
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