In any big business decision, there are a number of questions that will need to be answered before making the final decision. Outsourcing is no different.

Below we outline some of the most important questions to ask as you go through the process of doing your due diligence and investigating all viable options.

What is your recruitment process?

Before going further with a prospective provider, you should get a clear picture of this process. Every provider will have a different approach to how they operate their recruitment drives. Some will be detailed others not so. Before committing to a provider, it is important you are confident their approach will produce the results you desire.

How much control will I have over the final hire?

Remember, the person you bring on will have an impact on the success of your business. Which means, it is important you are the final decision maker on whether a candidate is hired or not. Thus, make sure you are the one that has the ultimate say.

What happens once we have hired someone?

Great you have found a suitable candidate, now what? Some outsourcing providers, such as Deployed, manage all the HR and admin tasks associated with onboarding a new team member. We believe this allows our clients to focus on integrating their new team member fully, instead of worrying about the back-of-house tasks.

What facilities will my staff be working from?

This is a hugely important question, as the facilities and location your remote staff are working from will directly impact how successful they are. This is a tricky question to answer if you are conducting your search from overseas but there are two ways to get a full answer. Firstly, seek references and ask about the facilities. Secondly, go and see first hand. Nothing will beat seeing the office for yourself.

Will they have the equipment needed or do I supply that?

Some providers will supply everything your remote employees need, some will offer the basic set up and others will simply provide a desk. Obviously, the answer to this will impact your set up costs.

How will I be billed and in what currency?

This will differ between providers. For us, we invoice in USD and it is a simple, transparent flat monthly fee. However, other providers will have their own structures and invoicing processes. Make sure you understand exactly how much you are being invoiced for, the breakdown of those invoices and what currency they will be in. This will avoid any nasty surprises when you get the first invoice.

How are public holiday’s managed?

Here in the Philippines, we observe a number of public holiday’s. Like in Australia and New Zealand, these public holidays come with certain worker rights regarding pay and hours. In most cases, managing how your remote team operates around public holidays is generally a business-by-business case. A quality provider will be able to advise you on the best practices and what you are entitled to as an employer.

These are a few of the most important questions to have answered by potential outsourcing providers before deciding upon who to build a remote team with. The answers you receive from potential outsourcing agencies will provide you with a good idea of how they operate and whether or not they are suited to your goals.

At Deployed, we are here to ensure you get the greatest ROI from your remote team. We feel this starts as soon as you make contact. That is why we pride ourselves on our transparency in providing you with the information you require to make a decision.

If you are in the process of looking into outsourcing for your business, get in touch today.