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This week in the business process outsourcing space, there were some partnership announcements, operation expansions, a data analytics solution unveiled and some advice for hiring contractors online.

In partnership news this week, TELUS (News - Alert) joined hands with Taulia to implement and resell Taulia’s Web-based Dyanmic Discounting solution in Canada. The Taulia Dynamic Discounting solution is easy to install and maintain and streamlines the payable process. It also saves organizations millions of dollars annually.

Also, Office Automation Inc. partnered with Crexendo as an authorized cloud-based telecommunications and administrative support service provider for VoIP systems, such as the Mitel (News - Alert) 5000 and Inter-tel phones. Crexendo offers a business optimization suite of cloud-based services, such as e-commerce, Web marketing and cloud communication services. The company sells Web services using a Software as a Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) model. This partnership facilitates Off Auto customers to have access to a high-speed and low-cost service to complement hardware purchases, with plans starting at $9.95 at fiber optic speeds at an average of 15.6Mbps.

While many organizations are seeing the impact of today’s economy firsthand, others are expanding services and operations. Perfect Commerce, a global eProcurement solutions and services provider, is expanding operations in Europe and Asia. Perfect Commerce currently serves more than 1.3 million users in 100 countries, a dozen languages and 40 currencies. The company also boasts an independent supplier network, with over 500,000 suppliers.

As part of this expansion, Perfect Commerce has added four new data centers in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and North America, and three new operations centers in Australia, New Zealand and India.

SAP (News - Alert) is also extending its services; the company announced that three of its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners are now qualified to sell their solutions running on the SAP HANA platform. These partners are AlertEnterprise, Clockwork and PROS, and they can now provide their customers with access to real-time data and advanced solutions.

FirstRain, a provider of customer intelligence and market insight solutions, unveiled a data analytics solution, Market Insights, designed specifically for CMOs, marketing teams and strategic heads. The insights offered can be beneficial for implementing an organization’s go-to-market strategy. FirstRain’s Customer Insights offering has been used as the basis for developing FirstRain Market Insights.

In a world in which finding contractors online is commonplace, most small business owners need some guidance. How does one choose a freelance contractor? Which countries are “safe” to hire freelance contractors from? How does one ensure that a contractor does not abscond with their money? How does one ensure that the quality of the work is good? In his new article for The Next Web, Brian Mosko, who notes that he has been on both sides of the contractor situation, offers some much-needed insights for business owners—and anyone else who is seeking contractors online. 

Stay tuned each week to the business process outsourcing community for the latest industry news, resources and trends. Have a great weekend!