Implementing a Global Business Services (GBS) model consolidating marketing and sales functions into a shared service can lead to both strategic and economic benefits for the company. Pooling resources centrally, embedding new digitized ways of working and establishing a robust governance mechanism will result in reduced costs and increased efficiencies.
In this paper we look at how implementing a GBS model has helped one of the largest FMCG conglomerates optimize costs, improve efficiencies and deliver routine tasks across countries via scaling operations through shared service centres. We also look at some of the key levers that contribute to the model’s success such as labour arbitrage, benefits of scale, process consolidation and automation. The paper also explores the unique set of challenges attributable to the MENA region regarding management styles and cultures and how they can affect the implementation of a GBS model.
