5 Signs Your Business is Ready for Outsourcing
Outsourcing entails assessing your budget and considering how willing you are to let someone in to help with business tasks. If you want to succeed in your small business venture, it pays to remember you cannot do it alone. You will reach a point when you need a hand, especially if you want to grow your business.
But, how do you know when it is time to outsource? Here are five tell-tale signs your business is ready for outsourcing.
1. Your business cannot provide the level of customer service you aspire to
Increased customer demand may cause your employees to skip some processes when handling transactions. Or, they may be rushing the transactions to accommodate the growing number of customers. In turn, poor customer service results.
Your customers are the bread and butter of your business. If they have to follow up on their concerns multiple times, something needs to change. It would help if you had strategic support by working with an outsourcing services provider to prevent low customer satisfaction ratings from negatively affecting your brand image and, subsequently, your revenue.
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2. Your business requires specific expertise you cannot find in-house
As your business grows, your need for more experts increases. For instance, you might need information technology, sales, or marketing experts to keep up with market demand. If your in-house team lacks the skill set your business requires, it is a sign you need to work with an outsourcing service provider.
An outsourcing partner will work with you to optimise your current processes and, at the same time, introduce new initiatives to improve your workflows and systems. This strategy is more cost-efficient than training your in-house team from scratch.
3. You spend too much time on non-core functions
When you spend most of your time working on non-core business functions such as administrative tasks, logistics, or accounting work, consider this an indication you should seek the support of an outsourcing service provider. It would be best to focus on tasks that directly generate revenue, like business development and networking.
Working with an outsourcing company gives you more time for crucial business tasks as your offshore team takes care of non-core activities.
4. There is an increase in demand and you need additional capacity
Growing your business entails hiring additional employees. If your onshore staff has difficulty delivering results due to an increase in consumer demand, then it is about time you tapped the services of an outsourcing company. This is especially true if you do not have the time and resources to train your in-house employees but need to achieve key business targets.
Your outsourcing partner can help streamline your processes, improve your business efficiency, and increase your organisational productivity. These benefits are some of the main reasons why companies outsource.
5. You plan to expand globally
Working with an outsourcing company like optiBPO is a strategic route if you plan to expand globally. Besides delivering an integrated solution to your business needs, your outsourcing partner can also help you build and manage a global team dedicated to scaling your business. Leveraging their expertise will help you stay ahead of the competition while getting the most from your outsourcing endeavour.
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How to Prepare Your Business for Outsourcing: 4 Top Tips
Before working with an outsourcing service provider, you might ask, “Why outsource?” This business strategy offers several advantages for your business, like improved efficiency, lower operational costs, and quality products or services.
If you decide to outsource, the next step is to prepare your business. Here are some tips to help get you started.
1. Identify what functions must be outsourced
Before working with an outsourcing service provider, identify which business functions to outsource. Here, you must consider your business needs and budget. Ideally, you should outsource functions your business is not adept at.
Suppose lead generation is not your company’s strength. In this case, outsourcing this function will be both strategic and practical for your business.
Or, if you do not have the resources to set up an efficient in-house human resources (HR) department, hiring HR experts will benefit your business extensively. For one, an offshore HR team can help improve your organisation’s employee relations. HR outsourcing can also enhance your hiring, onboarding, performance evaluation, and other related processes.
2. Ensure systems and processes are BPO-ready
Complete documentation of your company’s major processes can help you and your outsourcing partner avoid future problems. Provide new team members with an overview of your organisation and business goals. Also, implement standard quality control within the team.
If standard operating procedures (SOPs) are a problem, consider availing of the optidocs service. Many organisations use this service to build their SOPs within a short time frame.
3. Choose the right tools and software
Using the right outsourcing tools and software is critical in ensuring the success of your outsourcing endeavour. You can choose from various collaboration tools to manage your projects. When deciding which one to use, consider its security features, ease of use, and compatibility with your current system and network.
4. Provide training
Training your in-house employees on the outsourcing tools and software system will enable them to handle the technology efficiently and effectively work with your offshore team. In addition, orienting them on the outsourcing model and processes will help them better understand and appreciate the partnership. In turn, they will be encouraged to work with the outsourced team to achieve company goals.
Maximising the Benefits of Outsourcing
Even the most productive teams need help to meet demands. To stay ahead of the competition while growing your business, consider working with an outsourcing service provider like optiBPO, an outsourcing company in the Philippines. This strategic option provides various business benefits, such as reduced costs, increased productivity, and streamlined processes.
If you want to outsource some of your business functions, optiBPO can help you plan, build, and manage a dedicated offshore team in the Philippines that serves as an extension of your organisation. Contact us today to learn more about how our outsourcing services can help you grow your business!