If you’re a business owner, run a business or work in a business environment, you’ve probably heard about outsourcing in one way or another.
In this article, we’ll have a look at the top 10 frequently asked questions about outsourcing to get a better understanding of what it is and how it benefits business.
Without further ado, here are a few top questions to help you understand outsourcing.
1. What are the benefits of outsourcing?
Some of the most noteworthy benefits of outsourcing include that it’s cost-effective, saves time and space, and gives you the time you need to focus on your core business function and main duties.
2. What are the reasons for outsourcing?
Outsourcing is extremely helpful for all kinds of businesses. Most commonly, it’s used when businesses get a lot of customer queries and when they don’t have time to focus on every single aspect of the business or customer service.
Outsourcing these kinds of tasks helps you and your employees devote your attention to the main requirements of your business to keep things going smoothly.
3. How can outsourcing help your company?
Outsourcing less important tasks will free up time and space so you can focus on what you and your in-house team do best.
This ensures your team stays productive without having to focus on too many time-consuming tasks or having to hire and train more employees.
4. What is BPO outsourcing?
BPO stands for Business Process Outsourcing which refers to a company contracting a third-party provider to manage non-primary business tasks and functions.
5. What kinds of services can be outsourced?
Outsourced services include but are not limited to customer service, web chat, payroll, accounting, lead generation, web design, marketing and many more.
It would be beneficial to set one or two days a week for mandatory check-ins. This is a great way for employees to express any concerns or difficulties they’re facing while working and it can be sorted during the dedicated check-in times.
Schedule virtual meetings with your team to discuss plans, issues and for a catch up on what’s going on. Listen to your team and see if they have any ideas on how to improve the workflow.
6. What are the pros and cons of outsourcing?
Top common pros and cons of outsourcing are:
Pros:
- Fewer employees
- More free-time
- Low labour costs
- Access to a wide talent pool
Cons:
- Communication issues
- Time difference
- Less control
7. Will I be able to communicate with my outsourced team?
Of course! Most outsourcing companies will assign an individual or communications manager to communicate and after update you daily, or less frequently if preferred.
8. How can I be sure my company data will be protected?
High security and data protection are taken very seriously by outsourcing companies. Whether or not the service you are outsourcing contains highly confidential information, you can rest assured that data protection is of top priority.
9. Will I lose control over my business service quality with outsourcing?
No. You have every right to make sure the team assigned to your services are of adequate experience and knowledge and will complete the tasks according to your company standards.
10. How will the outsourced team be trained for my business needs?
Outsourcing teams and employees contain a very wide talent pool. In most cases, there is a team with the right amount of training to handle your services.
If extra training or experience is required, chat with the company about your standards and requirements.
Conclusion
It’s normal to be sceptical about any third-party operations. Although, outsourcing provides far more pros than cons and can really improve the productivity and growth of your business.
Your data will be protected by high security and data protection methods. If ever you have any doubts, talk to the company about them.
There are many services that can be outsourced these days. Do your research and find a company that has your best interests and business values in mind.
Looking to outsource off-shore to South Africa? Contact us as Mango5 and let us help you succeed!