Outsourcing remains a global growth industry. New technologies and approaches have transformed the way in which services can be delivered with ever better service quality and lower cost, with robotic process automation (RPA) significantly reducing the numbers of supplier personnel required to deliver such projects, and the application of artificial intelligence tools dramatically improving some of the service outputs and outcomes. Now that the world is facing up to the impact of Covid-19 in terms of pressures on cost bases and the realisation that far more roles than previously understood can be effectively undertaken remotely, we can anticipate that there will be a further step change in the use of outsourcing as a core business strategy.This book is the fully updated second edition of the key text on outsourcing written by the market-leading global technology and sourcing team at DLA Piper, one of the world's largest law firms. Writing from both a legal and commercial perspective, it considers the complete lifecycle of an outsourcing contract and the variety of legal and contractual issues that can arise in connection with such a project, from the initial genesis of the proposal to outsource all the way through the procurement process and onto post-contract signature contract management. In so doing, it also breaks down the core outsourcing contract into its constituent parts, explains the rationale for the relevant provisions (from both a customer and service provider perspective), and provides guidance as to current market practice, options and trends, including individual nuances relevant to particular jurisdictions.The second edition also features new coverage of: *The use of cloud 'backbones';*New technologies such as RPA/artificial intelligence;*Digital transformation;*Data privacy; and *Outsourcing in heavily regulated sectors.Whether you are a user of outsourced services, an adviser on outsourcing projects or working with a service provider engaged in the provision of the outsourced services itself, this publication will provide you with an end-to-end guide to the outsourcing contracting process and the detailed terms to be considered and carefully negotiated.