Abstract: In order to make use of the full-scale advantages of outsourcing and to mitigate the related risks, companies need to integrate the decision-making processes throughout the network of suppliers, i.e., proactively involve suppliers that possess complementary competencies. In this study, it will be elaborated how this integration can be facilitated and what levels of integration exist-from simple rules to advanced information systems. The underlying assumption is that companies by integrating suppliers into their working operations are moving away from the supply chain perspective and towards an extended network perspective. This change puts higher demands on the companies� ability to plan and control the collaboration and information exchange with their supplier base.