Outsourcing is a classic subject set in digital times. There are innumerable positions with which to approach the subject, many diving into various pros and cons from a vast array of business-related perspectives. The pros and cons, based upon these foundations, are often extremely competent in and of themselves. Therefore, outsourcing is a subject that is about as far from simple black and white as it’s possible to get, and context is everything.

In this article, we will delve into the challenges and benefits of skilled international (and domestic) outsourcing, refined by the lens of eight highly experienced contributors, each bringing their own insights and accomplishments to the table. To do this, we’ll create dual segments of analysis, one from the employer perspective, and one from the view of the employee (or outside consultant).

Outsourcing - Woman holding Smartphone at computer

Employer Perspective

Oftentimes, outsourcing can seem like shooting in the dark, especially if you don’t have a great deal of experience with it. Reuben Kats, COO of Falcon Marketing, LLC, ran into some similar issues initially: “In the past I have had several bad experiences sending my work outside of the office. I had to deal with India, China, & Israel at times. I was very tired, confused, angry, and upset when I sent my work to developers that weren’t experienced.”

When your project is time-sensitive and highly skilled, the stakes for proper outsourcing naturally rise. Conversely, Paige Arnof-Fenn, founder & CEO of Mavens & Moguls, speaks to one of outsourcing’s strongest points: speciality. “I outsource things that are not my specialty like payroll, legal, etc. to the experts … They will be more efficient, faster, and they will do a great job…”

Bill Doody (Owner of All American Business Consultants), and Syed Irfan Ajmal, (Growth Marketing Manager for Ridester), also speak to the benefits, most especially for smaller businesses, as targeted outsourcing allows companies with limited budgets access to high-tier professionals in a vast array of fields, minus the cost of salary and benefits. For these organizations, outsourcing is a resource that simply cannot be matched.

Ajmal offers this advice for better outsourcing management:  “…[E]nsure that the requirements are extremely specific and well-written, that team outsourcing the work knows the intricacies/technicalities involved, that the client doesn’t assume everything will be done in a 100 percent automated fashion (especially if it’s the first time they are doing outsourcing), that they maintain great communication, and ideally, not outsourcing a critical task to an outsourcing partner unless that partner has first been tested on less important tasks a few times.”

Doody adds, “Today’s technology makes it easier to outsource HR functions. Everything from on-boarding (through employee benefits enrollment) to termination can be handled online and with technology. Outsourcing can help the employees, supervisors, and managers all focus less on the tedious paperwork, allowing them to be more focused on revenue-generating activities”.

Employee Perspective

As an introductory caveat, it should be noted that the traditional “boss/employee” relationship is not quite appropriate in dealing with remote professionals, which is an attribute that lends itself to creating a more attractive professional arrangement for those who are disinclined toward the traditional hierarchical structures most often found in the world of business. This stands to perfect reason when considering the more highly skilled an individual, the more inclined toward creative autonomy they tend to be.

Outsourcing - Laptop photo

Kyle Elliott, MPA & CHES, of Kyle Elliott Consulting says that outsourcing allows him “to focus on what I am best at while allowing the firms to focus on what they are best at. It’s a win/win situation because I am now only spending my time on those areas where I’m rock-star.”

Michelle Ofiana with TDN Creations, concurs: “Outsourcing is an excellent solution for small business owners, to relieve them from mundane everyday tasks and provide them with more quality time which they can spend for other important or even personal matters.”

 

In Summary

Regardless of past experience or individual feeling, the fact remains that outsourcing and freelancing are here to stay, and makes up an ever-growing piece of the world economy.

James Stefurak of Monarch Financial Research phrases a perfect closing: “Whether you like it or not, outsourcing is here to stay because it reduces costs. We focus on outsourcing tedious financial tasks for small businesses including collecting overdue invoices from customers and due diligence services (running credit and background checks, etc.) on new prospects. But it’s not a zero-sum game. In our experience, freeing up these tasks doesn’t necessarily mean employees lose jobs. Rather, they often shift to duties that drive top-line growth, like marketing and sales.”

 

Fred Coon, CEO

Stewart, Cooper & Coon, has helped thousands of decision makers and senior executives move up in their careers and achieve significantly improved financial packages within short time frames. Contact Fred Coon – 866-883-4200, Ext. 200