Case Studies and Customer Confidentiality

In my 35-year professional career, I’ve specialised in providing IT, Project Management, Business Engineering, and AI services under a white label agreement, which means keeping strict confidentiality about who my customers are and any other service companies involved, and thus giving all credit to my clients themselves.

In the food and beverage industry, this type of service approach is not only well valued, but also in high demand.

Now, I’ve decided to create a page of Case Studies – actually, a comprehensive yet short analysis of a specific project I directed and coordinated – in which I describe the issues and solutions I used on some of the most important assignments I’ve worked on.

Not all of these case studies include the client’s name, but only those for whom I have obtained permission.

I recommend that you go to the Case Studies page because it is incredibly instructive and meaningful.

For the remainder, I’ll highlight the reasons why the majority of my clients request tight anonymity regarding the services I provide.

There are several reasons why some companies prefer not to disclose that they have IT services done by professionals or companies outside their organisation. Here are a few of the most recurrent explanations.

Security and Confidentiality Concerns

Companies may choose to keep their IT services providers confidential to protect sensitive information or trade secrets. By not revealing their external IT partners, they minimise the risk of potential security breaches or unauthorised access to their systems.

Competitive Advantage

In certain cases, a company may have gained a competitive advantage by leveraging the expertise of an external IT service provider. They might prefer to maintain this advantage by keeping their partnership confidential and not disclosing their reliance on external experts.

Perception of In-house Capability

Companies might want to create an image of self-sufficiency and technical competence by handling IT services internally. Revealing the involvement of external professionals could undermine the perception that they possess the necessary skills and resources to manage their IT infrastructure.

Brand Consistency

Some companies believe that maintaining consistency in their brand image includes presenting themselves as a unified entity, where all services are performed in-house. They may feel that acknowledging external IT services could create a perception of fragmentation or inconsistency.

Client Expectations

In certain industries or contexts, clients may have specific expectations regarding the level of control or involvement a company has over its IT operations. By not disclosing the use of external IT services, the company can meet these expectations and present a more comprehensive and integrated service portfolio.

It’s important to note that these reasons may vary depending on the industry, company culture, and specific circumstances. Ultimately, the decision to disclose or not disclose the involvement of external IT services is at the discretion of each individual company.