There are many reasons to outsource business tasks, especially as a small or medium enterprise. Contrary to what you believe, outsourcing isn’t expensive for the most part and can actually save money. Additionally, reputable partners pretty much guarantee task satisfaction.
If you’re still apprehensive about allowing an external service into your business, now is the best time to consider it. The costs of pretty much everything are going up, so outsourcing could be just what your company needs. From efficiency to project management, here are some reasons.
The Best People for the Job
Finding the best people for the job is one of the hardest tasks in business. Recruitment alone costs a significant amount of company funds, and it can take up to a year to fill a vacancy. However, outsourced companies already have the experts you need. Check your local business directories for the services you need, such as managed IT. There’s usually something available. If not, try looking further afield with a Google search, but remember to read the online reviews!
Outsource Business Tasks for Efficiency
Efficiency is everything in modern business. Inefficient systems are likely to delay projects and cause financial losses. Even worse, they can impact your reputation! Around 52% of SMBs struggle to improve productivity and efficiency, but outsourcing can help in various ways:
- Enhanced communication between outsourced companies and your employees.
- Fast decision-making based on expert opinions and external insights into the business.
- Use of the latest technologies to get the job done to a higher standard than expected.
- Effective quality control through tried and tested measures from an uninvested outsider.
- External systems that reduce the chances of errors because of outdated processes.
A lot of the hassle is removed when you outsource specific tasks. This means you can leave the project mostly to the service you have hired and carry on with the day to day operations.
An Easier Time for Employees
Nowadays, companies ask a lot of their employees. It isn’t uncommon for one employee to perform multiple tasks, sometimes tasks they aren’t skilled at or qualified for. This can be a costly mistake for various reasons. One such reason is employee burnout. A burned-out employee is far less productive, and it can even be dangerous to them, others, and the business. Your company is liable if something terrible happens because of an unfit worker.
The Business Saves Money
As mentioned in the intro, outsourcing is an expense. However it isn’t always costly. In fact, many companies that hire external services do so because it is cost effective. An outsourced service usually has many clients so they don’t need to charge big prices. Additionally, your business may not necessarily be able to afford the whole cost of hiring someone to fill a skilled role. For example, a skilled network administrator would cost upwards of $30,000 per annum.
Scaling Work as Needed
Projects and tasks sometimes ebb and flow as they come in and are completed. But hiring the additional workers, buying equipment and even renting floor space to get more tasks done is costly and time-consuming. The beauty of outsourcing is you don’t need to do any of that. The service you hire typically has the resources they need, and are experts in the logistical deployment of said resources. All you have to do is pay them and everything else gets done!
No Training Required
Just finding a skilled worker for a specific task is one of the most hated parts of business management. It is costly and time-consuming, going through round after round of interviews for months on end. So why even put yourself through that? Outsourcing means you have access to expert workers who know what they are doing. You don’t need to interview them because it’s already been done. And you never have to worry about the training and education of the staff.
Insight When You Outsource Business Tasks
It is common for managerial staff, board members, and even owners to become blind to the culture and work ethic of their company. Even so, they are still accountable for what happens. External insights constitute a significant advantage when you hire an outsourced service. Relying solely on the intrinsic workforce can lead to a lazy or even toxic company culture that harms the business. This is why 70% of B2B companies outsource part of their business.
Advanced methods and techniques
An external service brings their tried and tested methods with them. Anything your company has previously been doing wrong will very quickly be highlighted when compared against the outsourced service. Outsourced services typically stay on the cutting edge of their industry.
Expert industry knowledge
Of course, any reputable outsourced company comes with some of the highest skilled workers you are ever likely to see. After all, this is their company’s bread and butter! Complex modern business needs such as server or IT management are a perfect example, among many more.
Professional problem analysis
When you hire an outsourced service, they are able to quickly resolve issues your company may have been struggling with. The competency (skills, ethic and attitude) that comes with an external company is easily measurable against internal workers taking the wrong approach.
Insight alone is a major reason to consider outsourcing part of your business tasks. With outside help, your company’s issues become apparent so you can begin to implement a new approach.
Beating the Competition
It doesn’t matter what sector you are in or the niche you serve; there is always competition. Depending on what you do, this can be strong or weak. But it’s always there. There is a competitive edge when using outsourced services. This could include using professional services such as marketing and SEO. Or even bolster your business because you can take on a higher workload. Given you can outsource anything, the possibilities are pretty much endless.
Reduced Risk and Liability
Risk assessment and management is a huge part of modern business. There are risks that can cause a severe negative impact on your company, even to the point of ceased operations. Any business, even small ones, should carry out risk assessments. You can make improvements to business based on these. However, an external service also holds its own risk assessment. The reason is that they are liable for the work they carry out and not the client company.
Opportunities for Partnership
There are many reputable outsourced services out there. Any service you use is happy to have your business as a client. Because of this, it isn’t uncommon for clients and the outsourced service to form partnerships. This happens when there is a large amount of trust based on excellence on both sides. A partnered service can be a boon to a company. They may provide more services than for non-partner clients and could offer reduced rates for more work.
Quick Delivery of Services
Any reputable outsourced service, such as legal, financial, or cybersecurity, understands what they need to do. Because of this, they can get to work right away and begin helping clients immediately. The fast and efficient delivery of services from outsourced companies cuts through some of the bureaucracy that you might face with internal departments. As a contractor service, they are given instructions, and they carry them out perfectly, as your company needs.
Outsource Business Tasks for Project Management
A core part of modern business project management. It is easier today than ever, but still challenging. 70% of projects fail because of issues like inaccurate requirements, poor estimates, and lackluster sponsor involvement. Yet you don’t need to worry when you outsource:
- Outsourced services work to a timeline they know gets results and pleases clients.
- Everyone involved in tasks understands their accountability within the project.
- You pay for what you get based on a set quote from the outsourced company.
- Everyone involved is likely to be highly skilled in relation to the project scope.
- An outsourced service provides their own resources to get the job done on time.
If you are in an elevated position at a company, then you will have your own projects to deal with. Outsourcing part of the business lessens the load so you can stay productive and happy.
Less Managerial Tension
Heated meetings, stressful days at the office, and even burnout are common. But they don’t need to be. An outsourced service has many benefits but they are also excellent for reducing workloads. When an external service can provide many of the systems and procedures staff might struggle with, harmony reigns once more! Senior staff can get on with their day-to-day tasks without worrying about some of the things they may not even be qualified to complete.
Summary
Having skilled and qualified workers is just one of the main reasons for outsourcing business tasks. However, an external service can also highlight problems and provide insights into how the business is run. They can do this with new methods, expert knowledge, and professional analysis. If your business suffers from poor management due to workload stress, for example, an outsourced service can reduce the tension from the top down by taking some of the tasks.
