Like all other aspects of business, outsourcing requires careful planning and consideration. If you are going to achieve the results you desire from outsourcing, you first need to create a detailed plan that will guide your actions.

There are a number of reasons why businesses may overlook the importance of planning when they are establishing a remote office. But, if you fail to design a clear strategy for your remote team you are setting yourself up for failure.

We understand that a strategy provides you and your outsourcing firm a clear direction of where you want to go. When a new client comes on board, one of the first things we try to establish is a personalised plan that is specific to their business. However, the key pillars in a plan do not change and they include the following.

Identify what you want to outsource

Generally, the decision to outsource is a result of the identification of certain aspects of your business that are either not getting fulfiled or are draining resources. In the majority of situations, these tasks are normally the non-core tasks that are highly time-consuming and process driven.

In order to identify the tasks that you need to outsource, perform an audit on your business’ operations. Simply, look around your local office, ask your staff what is consuming their time and what isn’t contributing to the bottom-line.

Performing a review of your operations will provide you with a good indication of the tasks and responsibilities you may need to outsource.

Create an accurate job description

It is important you create a detailed description and discuss it with your firm, as this description will be used to inform their recruitment campaign. It should include the roles basic responsibilities, essential skills, who they report to and KPIs.

A sign of a good outsourcing firm is one that will actively work with you to design this description. As this will give them a better understanding of the candidates you are looking for, increasing the likelihood they connect you with the right talent.  

Tell your staff

Now that you have got the ball rolling, it is important you inform your local staff of your decision to outsource. Naturally, there may be a bit of hesitation or even some backlash but the best way to manage this is to be transparent with your staff.

Let them know, your offshore team are not there to replace them or take their jobs. But let them know, they are being brought on board to help your local staff and free up their time to focus on their core roles.

Have the appropriate technology

One of the major reasons outsourcing has become so viable is due to the massive improvements in technology over the past few decades. Nowaday’s technology is extremely cost-effective and allows for seamless communication and collaboration between various parties, regardless of location.

It is vital you partner with a firm that is able to provide up to date technology and IT infrastructure. This will ensure your two offices will be able to collaborate and connect without any barriers or technical issues.

Adapt your training processes

For a lot of businesses outsourcing for the first time, a common question we get asked is ‘how long will it take to train my team?’. The simple answer is, it should not take much longer than it would to train someone locally.

With Filipino workers translating extremely well to Australian and New Zealand businesses and being fluent in English, the only barrier to training is the distance. We recommend, keeping your training materials and goals the exact same as they would be if you were training someone face-to-face.

At Deployed, we are responsible for managing all the basic onboarding and HR tasks. This allows you to spend more time training your new staff on their roles and your company, instead of filling out paperwork.

Manage your team

One of the most common reasons outsourcing does not work for some businesses, is because they do not actively manage their team.

Outsourcing is not an activity that you can begin, walk away from and expect it to work. You would not do that with your local staff, so why do it with your remote ones? Make sure you implement management processes and systems that provide you complete visibility over your offshore team.

Outsourcing is a hugely efficient and cost-effective tool for businesses looking to grow and dominate their industry. However, ‘failing to prepare, is preparing to fail’, make sure you have sound processes and systems in place and partner with a quality provider. This will put your business in the best possible position to achieve the results you desire.

If you would like to discuss how outsourcing with Deployed can help grow your business, do not hesitate to contact us today.