Hi

The challenges brought on by Covid pushed many businesses to find creative solutions for their resourcing problems. Some businesses, which weren't ready for remote work, sought help from outsourcing providers to adapt to the new circumstances.

Those businesses that successfully transitioned to remote work realised the potential of supplementing their existing remote workforce with additional people through outsourcing. Covid actually played a role in normalising outsourcing, as businesses implemented checks and controls to create a consistent experience for customers and team members, even in the remote setup.

Now, more and more businesses are recognising outsourcing as a strategic long-term growth mechanism, especially when combined with cloud technology. 

At its core, outsourcing involves delegating a portion of your workload to a third party, either in the same country or offshore. The options are vast, ranging from individuals to dedicated teams working for different employers, all supporting your customer work.

The beauty of outsourcing lies in its flexibility. Providers can tailor their services to match specific customer requirements and budgets, allowing businesses to adapt swiftly to changing market conditions and seize new opportunities. As business ambitions and workloads grow, they can strengthen their commitment with the outsourcing partner, building up a dedicated, full-time remote team, or even a flexible onshore team.

Thanks to modern cloud technology, managing a remote team has become easier than ever. Collaborating online, sharing documents, and utilising automated workflow software make it possible to efficiently manage teams located thousands of miles away.

If you're considering entering an outsourcing relationship, here's a 10-point planning checklist for an effective partnership:

1. Evaluate your current capacity and future needs, identifying tasks that could be outsourced.
2. Make sure your internal processes are in good shape before inviting outsourcers to tender for work.
3. Don't focus solely on price; consider professional competence, data security, and compatibility with your in-house technology.
4. Ensure data protection compliance and ask the provider if they will take your data outside the UK and whether their data and quality processes are accredited by internationally recognised organisations. .
5. Visit prospective suppliers, inspect their systems, and security measures.
6. Clearly communicate your expectations and document them in a service level agreement (SLA).
7. Devote sufficient time to train outsourced staff on your business's standards, processes, and systems during the initial onboarding period.
8. Treat outsourcing providers and their staff as part of your team, applying the same management standards and reviews used in-house.
9. Maintain regular and effective communication with your outsourcing provider to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth.
10. Listen to customer feedback, learn from it, and make adjustments as needed.

By following these steps, you'll be on your way to establishing a successful and beneficial outsourcing relationship.

To your success

Noel Guilford