Outsourcers have superior technology for managing supply chains, and as such, companies should consider outsourcing this part of their business. According to a new Gartner report, leveraging an outsourcing partner's processes, technologies and capabilities can prove the best way of managing a supply chain.

"Supply chain executives are starting to apply more comprehensive analysis to outsourcing decisions. These will factor-in agility, responsiveness and cost," stated Michael Dominy, research director at Gartner. "Companies must focus on what they can do best and appropriately outsource activities that value chain partners can do better," he added.