Outsourcing can be a great way to improve your competitiveness, expand your business or increase your bottom line. It needs to be done well however or it can create problems down the track. Below we provide 5 tips to help you get the most out of any outsourcing arrangement.
1. Co-source instead of outsource
Co-sourcing means you choose the person or team who will be working for you. They are dedicated to your business – not shared. You can instil your business values and company vision. You communicate directly with your staff. You set the agenda. You’re in control.
2. Treat your offshore staff just like your onshore team
They just happen to work in a different office. Onboard them the same way; make sure that they understand your business, its customers and operations. Be sure to include them in the regular meetings by using Virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom,Skype or Slack. Celebrate birthdays and events etc just as you would with any other staff member.
3. Get the communications right from the beginning
When choosing your co-sourcing vendor make sure you are comfortable with how you will communicate with them. Are they easy to get a hold of? Can you have frank conversations with them? Do they hold the same values as you / your business?
4. Watch out for lock in contracts and check for fee transparency.
Make sure you are aware of all possible charges and fees. Choosing a co-sourcing vendor should feel like a partnership, not a transaction, so if you feel there is a reluctance to be open, it is probably a good indication that you should be concerned.
5. Check how the vendor treats their staff.
What is their office like? Is it safe? Clean? Modern? Your co-sourcing partner is looking after the day to day management of your staff. Just like your onshore people, where they work and the atmosphere of their workplace will impact on their results. Use google earth to get a look at the area their office is in. Ask for photos or videos of the workplace. Make sure you are comfortable with the treatment of your staff.
At the end of the day, choosing to offshore business processes shouldn’t feel foreign. It is simply employing someone to do certain tasks and who just happens to sit overseas, and you’re utilising a co sourcing vendor to help find the right person/persons and manage the day to day functions of your offshore staff. At first it will take time to make it business as usual, but the rewards that come from co-sourcing far outweigh the negatives.
With thanks to Dee Mills of Tallant Asia
