Outsourcing strategy: 4 principles for effective implementation

In theory, outsourcing strengthens a company’s agility and adaptability to shifting market circumstances and challenges. It can also save money for a company by hiring professionals from service providers who are more skilled and cost-effective than in-house employees.
Outsourcing gets a lot of bad rap. Whether you’ve had a lousy experience outsourcing to an offshore firm or just heard myths about it, we know some people who won’t hesitate to tell you that outsourcing is a bad idea. In actuality, many people could be better at what they do. They might as well not bother to better the quality of their work. To make matters worse, many outsource without understanding the process. All of this contributes to the negative connotation that many people have with the term “outsource.”
However, achieving excellent results by outsourcing practices is possible. Outsourcing, like mergers and acquisitions, is a business strategy that is neither intrinsically good nor bad. How it is applied significantly impacts whether or not it delivers the desired result.
If you outsource wisely, your business may become one of the many success stories regarding outsourcing. Here are four pointers to get you going.

Determine your company’s needs and the tasks to outsource.

The first step in beginning outsourcing is thoroughly evaluating your company’s needs. Take a close look at what could be hindering employee performance, and along with your team, determine how to streamline your operation.
This stage is the most important when considering outsourcing as a company strategy. Poor assessments of the fundamental needs of the company would lead to inadequate solutions. To choose which functions to outsource that will eventually improve your company’s performance, leaders must have a complete understanding of the company and the potential involvement of outsourcing.
Now, when you and your team examine the potential of outsourcing, you could discover that their work involves monotonous, technically demanding, and specific execution activities. These are the tasks you can outsource. Your team would be happy to have extra time to devote to initiatives that grow the business.

Choose an outsourcing partner with the right expertise.

Always consider someone’s experience with the responsibilities for which you are hiring them. The same is true when it comes to selecting outsourcing companies. You do not engage a building construction business to assist you with heavy construction tasks. Even when you like them and want to give them a chance, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll want to work with you on the stuff they don’t know. So, whether you need to outsource drafting, estimating, or detailing, your best move is to pick an outsourcing partner with a strong portfolio in these areas.

When looking for an outsourcing partner, ask detailed questions about their methods. To make an informed decision, you must consider multiple factors and compare alternatives. The following are some characteristics to look for in an outsourcing partner:

• They are knowledgeable and have a track record of success.
• They are trustworthy people.
• They have clear expectations and SLAs (Service Level Agreements).
• They care about your success and communicate effectively.
• They value their employees and treat them well.

Although it may take some time and work, this selection process will be rewarding. The right business relationship with an outsourcing firm will help your company operate while not causing you to worry.

The next step is to settle on a rate that both parties are happy with, whether an hourly rate or a fixed price for an entire project. If this is your first time outsourcing, setting a fixed price for the first few projects might help ease any concerns you may have moving forward. Good outsourced companies take good care of their customers because their business thrives on your satisfaction. As your company grows and brings in more projects, you can ask your outsourcing partner to help you build an outsourced team working for you hourly or full-time.

Discuss expectations upfront

Setting expectations focusing on long-term collaboration and mutual success rather than short-term gain is one of the keys to effective outsourcing. This vision will assist you in finding a solid business partner and steer clear of any potential issues later on. Before starting the work, there should be a checklist to go through with an outsourcing partner. Ensure all relevant stakeholders are aware of the contents of the agreed terms.

• Contract duration.
• Project phasing and timeline.
• Standardization and integration: Is there a particular person in charge of standardization and integration?
• Training: Do you have company guidelines or procedures to ensure your offshore team receives appropriate knowledge transfer?
• Work management system: Does your business have guidelines for managing tasks given to your outsourcing partner?
• Intellectual property protection and security measures.
• Any other relevant details.

Keep your engagements consistent and true.

Outsourcing is a complex initiative; outsourcing requires careful planning, effective communication, and continuous follow-up. The outsourcing company you’ve chosen will go out of their way to maintain a positive working relationship with you. Likewise, your team should also make an effort to watch out for the interests of your offshore team members in the same way you want your outsourcing partner to do that for you.

It would be best to focus on improving the working connection during the initial period. This phase entails constant relationship evaluation, problem resolution, communication, knowledge, and process management.

Give constructive criticism. Don’t hold back in sharing your opinions, positive and negative. While it’s true that 52% of employees welcome criticism because they believe it will help them do their jobs better, a constantly critical environment is neither good for you nor your outsourcing partners.

Consider your outsourcing partner when expanding on new horizons. Outsourcing relationships can last for years once mutual trust is established. You may eventually feel as if you know everything there is to know about your outsourced team, and your concerns will refocus on day-to-day operations. Talk with your outsourcing partners about potential new projects, especially if you have doubts about their expertise. They might prove to be a pleasant surprise. You are one of their many customers, and they may be continuously developing new knowledge and methods that may be a fantastic fit for your venture.