Key considerations for outsourcing

Outsourcing is simply the process of hiring an outside source to help with particular tasks. This could be an individual freelancer or a consultant company with expertise in a specific field. Outsourcing services can be found across several industries, including accounting, technology, cybersecurity, data, human resources and more. You essentially create your dream team through trusted advisors, consultants and resources on loan when and where you need them and for what you need them for.

Outsourcing can be helpful for organizations that want to get a better handle on their finances, create a budget, enter transaction conversations, conduct an internal audit or whose ultimate focus might be construction for remodeling or expansion, for example, but their finances are not aligned to that goal. Rapid growth calls for additional support, fast.

Outsourcing is not a replacement to core functions of a business, ones that are aligned with the organization’s mission and values. Rather, outsourcing helps support and serves as a resource for needed services, where having someone on staff does not make sense, right now. Often, organizations outsource to bring in needed expertise or an extra set of hands where they cannot yet bring someone on fulltime to serve as a CFO, CIO, CSO, etc. Outsourcing is a way to supplement business needs and goals and current staff resources.

Outsourcing talent is critical in business today, and the benefits often speak for themselves.

• Access to experienced resources with the skills you need to save time and money, for a monthly service fee
• Hands-on knowledge without going through the hiring, onboarding and training process
• Access to a larger talent pool of resources that know your industry and understand your needs
• Flexibility
• Remote services
• Increased ability to better meet customer needs, as employees are freed from more minimal or unrelated tasks
• Leveraging the best tools and technology, specifically when you outsource IT, data or cybersecurity services
• A future-focused approach where you can plan for long-term projects and get them done sooner

1. Make a detailed list of common tasks. This exercise provides insight into how you or your employees are spending your days. Are there certain tasks that might be better off as an outsourced service so time is spent more wisely? Identifying inefficiencies will lead to options for streamlining performance.

2. Take a hard look at company finances. Does outsourcing make financial sense? There is a cost saving opportunity, as you’re not hiring a full-time employee and paying for benefits or onboarding, but it’s wise to take a close look at expenses and profits before making this financial decision.

3. Does outsourcing a particular task align with company values? It’s important to be thoughtful when outsourcing core company value linked tasks. If customer service is a value that your company prides itself on, then co-sourcing or engaging project thought leadership could help you focus on maintaining or elevating your standards, providing depth of resources and new insights.

Recent global events have made companies hyper aware of remote working options and the need for advances in technology. It also solidified the beneficial relationship between service providers and companies. While companies will continue to invest more in developing in-house capabilities, research also shows that a majority of companies will continue to outsource tasks far into the future. Outsourcing has been normalized for companies of all sizes and is set to remain a smart and strategic business option.