Corporate Center and Shared Services

Shared services is the creation of a client-focused business organization that consolidates a range of support activities and tasks. In this environment, support functions operate as a business partner to the business units and other functional areas within a company. Such organizations measure and drive the performance of their services like professional, independent entities focused on:

• Quantity, quality and cost of services that are mutually agreed upon
• Costs charged out on the basis of usage
• Service agreements that are used to formalize business relationships with internal clients

Shared services allow organizations to move beyond costs savings, positioning support functions as strategic value drivers, while allowing for the creation of new, more autonomous organizational units focused on efficient transactional management.

A.T. Kearney has designed and implemented shared services organizations for a wide range of global companies across all industries. Our clients have experienced tangible results ranging from significantly improved service levels and value delivery for internal customers to progressive, redefined career paths for functional personnel to significant cost savings opportunities — an average of 17%.