IAOP Global 100 Methodology

Each organization is evaluated across four key areas:

• Client Outcomes Question 4: Client Outcomes

  Applicants are asked to provide a narrative and supporting materials that demonstrate how their organization has delivered exceptional client outcomes within the past 12–18 months. Strong submissions will reflect both qualitative and quantitative evidence of success.

  Improved Outcome categories include: Cost Optimization, Revenue Growth, AI Transformation, Customer Experience, and Speed-To-Market.

  Applicants are encouraged to highlight the recency and diversity of their client examples — across industries, regions, or solution types — and to note whether client logos are publicly displayed on the company website or in marketing materials.

  All submissions are treated with strict confidentiality, and all judges are bound by non-disclosure agreements.

  Score	Description
  8	Three client outcomes provided, each fully documenting services delivered, sustained excellence, and outcomes achieved — each supported by case studies, written success stories, and/or client quotes, testimonials, or endorsements.
  7	Three client outcomes provided; at least two fully documented and supported by case studies and/or client testimonials.
  6	Two client outcomes provided; both fully documented and supported by case studies and/or client testimonials.
  5	Three client outcomes provided; at least one fully documented and supported by case studies and/or client testimonials.
  4	Two client outcomes provided; at least one fully documented and supported by case studies and/or client testimonials.
  3	Three client outcomes provided; none fully documented nor supported by case studies or client testimonials.
  2	One client outcome provided; fully documented and supported by case studies and/or client testimonials.
  1	One or two client outcomes provided; neither fully documenting services delivered or outcomes achieved.
  0	No client outcomes provided.

  Full Credit Given For

  • Public-facing client advocacy (quotes, testimonials, endorsements)
  • Published case studies or written success stories
  • Video testimonials, interviews, or co-presentations with clients
  • Third-party recognition (Gartner Magic Quadrant, Forrester Wave, Partner of the Year awards)
  • Customer letters dated within the last 12–18 months
  • Directly attributable customer comments with source and attribution

  Limited or No Credit For

  • General customer quotes in news releases or marketing collateral
  • Generic statements not tied to specific results
  • Compliments focused on individuals without connecting to broader outcomes
  • Third-party awards without direct customer testimonials
  • Press releases announcing awards without substantive customer validation
  • Anonymous or paraphrased customer quotes
• Awards & Certifications Question 5: Company Recognition

  Applicants are asked to highlight the three most recent and relevant public recognitions the company has received that reflect excellence in business and/or sourcing. These may include rankings, analyst reports, industry awards, or notable certifications.

  To receive full credit, submissions should:

  • Be dated within the past 12–18 months
  • Demonstrate measurable impact or leadership in sourcing, service delivery, innovation, or customer success
  • Be supported by independent third-party validation (analyst recognition, industry awards, recognized certifications)
  • Include a citation or link to a publicly available source or announcement

  Recognitions tied to marketing or promotional campaigns without credible third-party validation may receive limited or no credit.

  Score	Description
  8	Three recognitions provided, all within the past 12–18 months, each with strong independent third-party validation and a verifiable citation or link. Each clearly demonstrates measurable impact or leadership in sourcing, service delivery, innovation, or customer success.
  6	Three recognitions provided; at least two with strong third-party validation and verifiable citations. All are recent and relevant to sourcing or business services excellence.
  4	Two or three recognitions provided; at least one with strong third-party validation. Some may lack citations or fall outside the 12–18 month window.
  2	One or two recognitions provided with limited third-party validation, or recognitions that are primarily marketing-driven without credible independent support.
  0	No recognitions provided, or all submitted recognitions lack third-party validation or verifiable sources.

• Awards & Certifications Questions 6 & 7: Certifications & COPs

  For Providers: Submit the three most recent and relevant certifications your company has earned that demonstrate excellence in skills, capabilities, and standards critical to the outsourcing and business services industry — including service quality, operational performance, information security, compliance, or delivery excellence.

  For Advisors: May submit up to two individual professional certifications earned by key team members in place of company-wide certifications. However, to achieve a maximum score, at least one certification must be issued at the organizational level.

  To receive full credit, certifications must:

  • Still be valid under the issuing body's guidelines (if recertification is required) or have been issued within the last three years (if no recertification is required)
  • Be directly relevant to sourcing, outsourcing, or advisory excellence
  • Be issued by a recognized, independent third-party organization
  • Include verifiable documentation, such as links to the certifying body's website or public directories

  Certification Requirements: Certifications must be publicly and competitively awarded by a recognized third-party. Company-issued partner badges are not eligible unless they demonstrate equivalent rigor (e.g., Microsoft Gold). Basic operational requirements (HIPAA, PCI, SAS70) and regulatory registrations do not qualify. The same certification awarded across multiple locations or years counts once.

  Question 7 — Certified Outsourcing Professionals (COPs): Applicants report the number of Certified Outsourcing Professionals® (COP) and Associate Certified Outsourcing Professionals® (aCOP) currently employed within their organization.

  Score	Q6: Certifications Description
  8	Three certifications provided, all current and valid, each independently verifiable. All are directly relevant to sourcing or business services excellence and issued by recognized third-party organizations.
  6	Three certifications provided; at least two are current, independently verifiable, and directly relevant. All are issued by recognized third-party organizations.
  4	Two or three certifications provided; at least one is current and independently verifiable. Some may be of limited relevance or lack full documentation.
  2	One or two certifications provided; valid but limited in relevance or verifiability. May include certifications that are subsets of others or lack strong third-party oversight.
  0	No certifications provided, or all submitted certifications fail to meet eligibility criteria (e.g., internal, marketing-based, or unverifiable).

  Score	Q7: Number of COPs/aCOPs
  8	11 or more COPs/aCOPs
  6	6–10 COPs/aCOPs
  4	3–5 COPs/aCOPs
  2	1–2 COPs/aCOPs
  0	None reported

• Programs for Innovation Question 8: Programs for Innovation

  Applicants are asked to highlight three distinct, company-level, multi-client programs that demonstrate a sustained commitment to innovation — showcasing how the organization continuously identifies and implements better ways of working, resulting in measurable improvements across multiple client engagements.

  Each program should:

  • Be company-wide (not client-specific)
  • Serve multiple clients or be applicable across engagements
  • Focus specifically on innovation — new delivery models, automation strategies, advanced analytics, co-creation initiatives, or proprietary technologies
  • Be supported by clear evidence of results achieved

  Verification: Recent (12–18 months) third-party independent sources specific to the company-level multi-client programs' differentiation must be included in submitted materials or be verifiable through an independent online source to receive full credit — regardless of how extensively the application describes the program.

  Score	Description
  8	Three company-wide, multi-client innovation programs provided, each clearly focused on innovation, with strong evidence of results and recent (12–18 months) independent third-party verification for each.
  6	Three programs provided; at least two meet all criteria with third-party verification. All are company-wide and multi-client in scope.
  4	Two or three programs provided; at least one with independent third-party verification and clear results. Programs may vary in scope or relevance.
  2	One or two programs provided with limited verification or evidence of results. Programs may be client-specific or lack sufficient third-party support.
  0	No programs provided, or all programs fail to meet the definition of company-wide, multi-client innovation initiatives with verifiable results.

• Social Impact Question 9: Social Impact

  Applicants are asked to describe their company's approach to Social Impact in Outsourcing, indicate whether they publish a Social Impact or Sustainability report (with a link if available), and detail verifiable company activities across the following categories based on ISO 26000:

  • Community Involvement and Development
  • Labor Practices
  • Human Rights
  • Fair Operating Practices
  • Environmental Impacts
  • Consumer Issues
  • Organizational Governance
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  Verification: If a Social Impact or Sustainability report is published, a valid URL must be provided. Activities described should provide reasonable evidence of company compliance in each area through an independent third-party reference source (web address, publication and date, audited report, etc.).

  Score	Description
  8	A published Social Impact or Sustainability report is provided with a valid URL. Verifiable activities are documented across six or more ISO 26000 categories, each supported by an independent third-party reference source.
  6	A published report is provided or verifiable activities are documented across four or five ISO 26000 categories, most with independent third-party reference sources.
  4	Verifiable activities are documented across two or three ISO 26000 categories with some independent third-party support. A report may or may not be provided.
  2	One ISO 26000 category is addressed with some evidence, or multiple categories are described without adequate independent verification.
  0	No social impact information is provided, or all submitted information lacks independent verification.

• Optional Recognition for Excellence in Strategic Partnerships

  IAOP recognizes select organizations that exemplify excellence in collaboration, innovation, and measurable outcomes through strategic partnerships. All participating organizations must agree to be publicly recognized in advance; submissions listing unnamed or confidential partners will not be considered.

  Application questions ask you to address:

  • The business challenge, opportunity, or problem the partnership addressed
  • The functional area(s) of the client's business impacted
  • The origin and nature of the innovation — what makes it truly innovative and how it goes beyond standard best practice
  • The planning and implementation process, challenges overcome, and how the solution created a win-win for both partners
  • Quantified outcomes and resulting value — measurable results tied to strategic business value such as growth, sustainability, or competitive advantage
  • Why this partnership should be recognized as best-in-class among peers at IAOP
• Optional IAOP Vanguard Class

  The Vanguard Class honors standout organizations that are actively shaping the future of the sourcing and business services industry. Applicants respond to the following question:

  "What has your organization done in the past 12–18 months that demonstrates it is leading the way in shaping the future of the sourcing or business services industry?"

  This may include innovative business models, first-mover actions, transformative use of technology, bold sustainability or social impact initiatives, or industry-leading strategies that inspire others to follow.

  Criteria	Score Range	Scoring Guide
  Clarity & Substance	0–5	0 = vague/marketing fluff  •  5 = clear, compelling, specific action taken
  Recency & Relevance	0–5	0 = older than 18 months or no clear timeframe  •  5 = clearly within past year, highly relevant
  Leadership / First-Mover Status	0–5	0 = follower of others  •  5 = clearly leading or setting new standards
  Impact & Influence	0–5	0 = internal only, limited reach  •  5 = significant influence on clients, partners, or the broader ecosystem
  Alignment with IAOP Values	0–5	0 = misaligned or unclear  •  5 = clearly supports ethical sourcing, governance, collaboration, or social impact