What Is Back Office Outsourcing: Cutting Costs, Boosting Efficiency
Back office outsourcing is becoming a more common business strategy for those that want to streamline their processes and focus on what they do best. But what is back office outsourcing, exactly? It basically means giving non-core business tasks like banking, HR, and IT to outside companies. This is the same as giving up the work that keeps your business running but doesn't directly bring in money. What is the main goal? To free up your resources so you can focus on improving your business. How? By taking care of the "behind the scenes" work.
What's the Point of Outsourcing?
It's not easy to run a business; juggling all the tasks and duties can feel like a high-wire show at times. This is where back office outsourcing comes in handy, taking a lot of stress off your shoulders. Not only is it a way to cut costs, but it's also a complete plan to improve the structure of your business and make it more flexible so it can handle the challenges of today's competitive market. There's more to "what is back office outsourcing" than just saving money. It's also about making operations more efficient and flexible.
Bringing Out the Savings
The question of how outsourcing cuts costs might come up. The answer lies in delegating jobs in a smart way. When you outsource your back office tasks to specialised firms, you can save a lot of money on the costs of keeping a large in-house team, such as pay, perks, office space, and technology. These outsourcing partners have a lot of experience and know how to make things run more smoothly. They use cutting edge technologies and methods to get things done faster and cheaper.
Increasing the efficiency of business
When you outsource your back office, you get a virtual team member whose only job is to improve and speed up your back office processes. Because of this benefit, activities are carried out faster, smarter, and more easily, with a lower chance of mistakes and delays. The main idea behind "what is back office outsourcing" is using outside knowledge to strengthen your company's core operations. This creates a smaller business that can adapt and grow as market needs change.
Gains Strategies for Streamlining Operations through Outsourcing
Over the years, outsourcing has grown into more than just a business strategy; it has become the key to making processes more efficient and flexible. Understanding what is back office outsourcing and how to use it can have a big effect on the success and bottom line of your business. It's about making your company run as smoothly as a well-run fair, but without the chaos and with all the fun.
How to Choose the Right Partner
Choosing the right partner is the first step in outsourcing. This choice can set the tone for the future of your business. Finding a provider that fits with your business's ideals, goals, and standards is an important step in getting the most out of back office outsourcing. The best partner isn't just a service provider; they're also a team player who helps your business do its best work and keep things running smoothly. They should be able to improve business operations in the past, know a lot about your industry, and be able to guess what you need, sometimes even before you do.
Making Services Fit Your Needs
The most important thing about back office outsourcing is that it can be changed to fit the needs of each business. Back office outsourcing strategies that are carefully made to fit your business like a glove work better than options that are already on the market. This customization gives you freedom and speed that you might not be able to get with your own resources. You can make sure that every part of your back office works at its best by working closely with your outsourcing partner to create a set of services that are tailored to your business challenges and goals.
Talking is Very Important
Communication that works well is the key to any outsourcing connection that works out. It's very important that the word is clear, just like in the game of telephone. When it comes to back office outsourcing, this means setting up strong ways to communicate and regular times to check in and give information. Communication that is clear, brief, and constant makes sure that everyone is on the same page about what is expected, what needs to be done, and when it needs to be done. This makes it possible for operations to run smoothly and for everyone to work together to achieve success.
Real-World Success Stories
In business, success stories are very powerful, especially ones that show how someone went from facing a problem to overcoming it. These stories not only motivate, but they also show the way to growth and efficiency through smart choices. Back office outsourcing has become a game-changer for many, opening up new opportunities and improving operations in ways that no one could have imagined. But what is back office outsourcing, and how did it become the key to business success? Let's learn more about these trips that can change lives.
The Boutique's Change from Overwhelmed to Overjoyed
Back office outsourcing can make a huge difference, just like Sarah's story shows. As the owner of a store, her love for fashion design was overshadowed by the growing number of administrative tasks she had to do, such as keeping track of supplies and helping customers. When she chose to take advantage of what back office outsourcing could offer, things changed. Sarah could regain her time and focus on what she really loves: making clothes that inspire by giving these chores to professionals outside of her business. And the result? Her ideas are now famous in places other than her own town, showing how smart outsourcing can have a big effect on a company's main goal.
A Tech Startup Takes Off: the Spark of New Ideas
Alex's journey with his tech startup shows another aspect of what can be done by outsourcing the back office. At first, the technicalities of IT support and HR operations slowed down his team's ability to come up with new ideas. When the choice was made to outsource these tasks, a huge change began. Once the company wasn't having to deal with problems and do paperwork every day, it could finally focus on coming up with new ideas and products. This change took the company from a small operation run out of a garage to a global player. It also showed how important back office outsourcing is for businesses to reach their full potential.
How to Make Money at the Restaurant That Turned into a Franchise
A family-owned business that was having trouble with its books is a standard example of how outsourcing the back office can lead to sudden and huge growth. The owners couldn't focus on growth because they were too busy managing the business's money. Outsourcing their back office work for their financial tasks was like finding a secret way to make money. This smart move not only made their finances easier, but it also gave them the confidence and clarity they needed to grow their business. As a result? The restaurant has grown into a well-liked chain across the country. This shows that small businesses can grow if they get the right help.
Overcoming Common Efficiency Obstacles
It can be hard to find your way around the world of business. Especially when you're trying to be more efficient and streamline processes. Back office outsourcing has become a strong way to deal with many of these problems by giving non-core jobs to companies that are experts in them. Getting behind this answer does come with some problems, though. Businesses can get around these problems and use the full potential of outsourcing to achieve operational success. This can be done by understanding what is back office outsourcing and how to do it right.
Getting Ready for Change and New Ideas
To get around problems with speed through back office outsourcing, you must first be open to change. This can be just as scary for many businesses as going into the dark, unknown. But just like a main character has to learn to get through it, businesses have to change in order to grow. Back office outsourcing is a leader in new ideas, bringing new ways of doing things. Not to mention tools to make processes that were stuck or not working well more efficient.
Integration and the Smoothness of Transitions
Integrating outside services into current processes without any problems is one of the most important parts of what is back office outsourcing. Imagine trying to time two different dance moves so that they work together in a single show. To do this, you need to carefully plan, coordinate, and have a clear set of rules. It's important for your business and the outsourcing partner to find a pace that works well together. This will make sure that the transfer of jobs goes as smoothly and quickly as possible. There are several ways to make sure that everyone is on the same page. This could include training classes, regular meetings, and making sure that everyone knows what the goals and standards are.
Keeping Quality and Control in Check
People often worry about losing control over the quality of non-core tasks when they outsource their back office work. But this doesn't have to be the case. You can think of it as controlling your TV from a distance with a remote. You're not pressing the buttons directly, but you still have control over what happens. In the same way, businesses can make sure that they hire someone else to do meet their high standards. However, they're setting clear success metrics and reviewing them regularly. With this method, businesses can keep a hands-off but controlled setting where quality is the most important thing and speed is improved.
Your IntelligentBee Solution is the last act.
What is back office outsourcing? It's not just a smart move; it's a trip that will change everything in the way we do business and save money. One thing is clear from the stories told, the strategies talked about, and the problems that were solved. Outsourcing is a game-changer for companies that want to focus on what they do best and grow.
It's very important to find the right person for this journey. That's where IntelligentBee comes in. We're not just a service provider; we're also your strategic partner, and we're ready to make our back office outsourcing options fit the exact needs of your business. With IntelligentBee, you can count on quality that doesn't waver, easy integration, and a dedication to speed that turns business problems into wins.
Outsource Customer Service: Key Trends for 2024
Ahoy, fellow navigators of the customer service seas! As we chart our course through the unexplored waters of outsourcing, let's dive deep into the treasure trove of emerging technologies that are set to redefine the game in 2024 for those who want to outsource customer service.
1. The AI Symphony: Bots Taking Center Stage
Imagine a support team that never sleeps, never tires, and is always on point. That's the magic of AI in customer service outsourcing. In other words, the bots are not just helpers; they're maestros conducting a symphony of efficiency and charm. Picture this: a virtual assistant resolving your query with the finesse of a seasoned support agent.
AI isn't here to steal the show; it's here to enhance it. To summarize, it's like having a trusty sidekick that makes your outsource customer service experience smoother, faster, and a bit like chatting with your tech-savvy best friend.
2. VR and AR: The Support Adventures Come Alive
Say farewell to mundane troubleshooting guides, and welcome the era of immersive support experiences. To this end, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are stepping into the outsourcing spotlight, turning routine interactions into adventures.
Picture this: instead of reading a manual, you pop on your VR headset, and voila! A support wizard appears, guiding you through the steps with a wave of their digital wand. It's like having a support genie who not only solves your problem but does it in a virtual wonderland.
3. The Chatbot Ballet: A Dance of Efficiency and Charm
Let's talk about the stars of outsource customer service—the chatbots. But these aren't your run-of-the-mill bots; they're more like virtual dance partners. Picture this scenario: you have a query, and within seconds, the chatbot waltzes in with a solution, all while cracking a virtual joke to lighten the mood.
This is the secret sauce of what it means to outsource customer service in 2024. It's not just about speed; it's the finesse, the dance of technology that makes you feel like you're in capable hands. To explain, a chatbot should be like a helpful dance partner, leading you through the steps of issue resolution with grace.
Navigating the Tech Waters: Your Outsourcing Toolkit
As we sail through the exciting landscape of emerging technologies that are helping to outsource customer service, remember this: these innovations are not here to replace the human touch but to amplify it. They're your trusty toolkit, each tool designed to make your outsourcing journey smoother, more enjoyable, and a bit like a tech-infused adventure.
How AI is Changing Customer Interactions
Imagine your typical customer service interaction turning into a smooth conversation where every query is met with lightning-fast responses. Consequently, that's the AI magic at play in customer interactions. It's like having a virtual assistant that not only understands but anticipates your needs.
When it comes to outsource customer service, AI isn't just a tool; it's your co-captain steering the ship through the sometimes choppy waters of customer inquiries. To put it another way, it's less about pressing buttons and more about having a digital conversation that feels almost human.
Chatbots: Your 24/7 Crew for Support Adventures
Say farewell to the frustration of waiting in line for assistance. Enter the era of chatbots—your round-the-clock support crew. Surely, these aren't your average bots; they're more like friendly guides on this customer service adventure.
Picture this: you have a burning question at 3 a.m., and voila! The chatbot is there, ready to assist. It's like having a 24/7 concierge service. Chatbots are changing the game, not just by providing instant solutions but by doing it with a sprinkle of digital charm.
AI-Personalized Experiences: Making You the Star of the Show
Ever had a service interaction that felt tailor-made just for you? That's the AI effect on customer interactions. To be sure, it's not just about solving problems; it's about making you feel like the star in your own customer service story.
In order to outsource customer service, AI is crafting experiences based on your preferences, previous interactions, and even predicting what you might need next. It's like having a service genie that knows your wishes before you utter them.
Navigating the AI Waves: Your Customer Interaction Compass
As we surf the AI waves in customer interactions, it's crucial to understand that these technological marvels aren't here to replace the human touch but to enhance it. They're your trusty compass, guiding you through the digital sea.
Outsourcing and Customer Satisfaction: Current Data
Embarking on the outsourcing odyssey, let's first cast our gaze upon the vast seas of data. Picture this: a ship navigating through the turbulent waters of customer satisfaction, with outsourcing as the steady wind guiding it.
The data, like a celestial map, reveals fascinating insights into how, when you outsource customer service, it shapes the satisfaction of the customers you hold dear. It's not just about cost-effectiveness; it's about the journey of delivering exceptional service with the wind of outsourcing at your back.
The Magic Numbers: How Outsourcing Elevates Satisfaction Scores
Oy, ye seekers of satisfaction! The numbers tell a tale of their own. Studies reveal that companies that are commiting to outsource customer service witness a surge in satisfaction scores.
It's akin to having a fleet of skilled sailors—outsourcing teams—that navigate the customer service waters with finesse. Whether it's quicker response times, efficient query resolutions, or the delight of 24/7 availability, the numbers say it loud: outsourcing is the compass pointing north to satisfaction.
The Dance of Cost and Quality: A Delicate Balancing Act
In this outsourcing ballroom, cost and quality engage in a waltz. Contrary to the fears of sacrificing quality at the altar of cost-cutting, data pirouettes in a different direction.
The dance unfolds, showing that, when you outsource customer service, you don't get a compromise but a harmonious partnership. It's possible to achieve cost savings without sacrificing the quality of service. Imagine a dance where every cost step is in rhythm with the quality twirl—a dance that leaves customers applauding.
The Human Touch in Outsource Customer Service: Bridging the Digital Divide
Now, skeptics might wonder, "Does outsourcing dilute the human touch?" Fear not, for data unveils a splendid paradox. It turns out that the right outsourcing strategy enhances the human touch rather than diminishes it.
In the realm of customer satisfaction, a well-chosen outsourcing partner acts as a bridge, connecting the digital prowess of technology with the warmth of human interaction. It's a dance where efficiency meets empathy, creating a delightful experience for the customers you cherish.
Subhead: Customer Voices Heard: The Power of Real Testimonials
Dive with me into the treasure chest of real customer testimonials. These are the stories etched in the sand, echoing the sentiments of those who've sailed the outsourcing seas. They speak louder than numbers, painting a vivid picture of satisfaction.
John from Texas shares, "Outsourcing turned my customer service nightmares into a dream. Quick responses, friendly interactions—imagine that!" Here, the subtext is clear: outsourcing isn't just a cost-effective strategy; it's a satisfaction booster painted in strokes of real experiences.
Subhead: Navigating Storms: How Outsourcing Handles Customer Complaints
Every sea has its storms, and so does the realm of customer service. The question arises: How does outsourcing weather these tempests? The data-backed answer is reassuring.
When storms of complaints brew, outsourcing acts as a sturdy vessel, navigating through troubled waters with finesse. The efficiency of outsourcing teams in addressing complaints not only salvages the ship but transforms challenges into triumphs.
Subhead: The Future Forecast: Outsourcing in the Years Ahead
As we glimpse into the future, the data-driven crystal ball suggests a continued surge in outsourcing's impact on customer satisfaction. It's not a passing breeze but a prevailing wind shaping the very landscape of customer service.
The forecast predicts innovations, technologies, and strategies that will further elevate the outsourcing game. From AI-infused interactions to even more personalized service, outsourcing seems poised to become the North Star guiding the ships of customer satisfaction through uncharted waters.
Predictions for the Next Five Years
Picture this: a ship equipped not just with sails but with futuristic engines powered by AI, personalized experiences, and a touch of digital magic. This isn't a cruise; it's an odyssey where outsourcing becomes the North Star guiding your customer service ship.
AI Ahoy! The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Customer Service Outsourcing
Let's talk about the rockstar joining the outsourcing bandwagon: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Undoubtedly, in the coming years, AI isn't just a crew member; it's the captain of efficiency and innovation.
Imagine AI-powered chatbots not just resolving queries but anticipating them before they arise. It's like having a psychic crew member, steering through the waves of customer interactions with foresight. Granted, AI isn't replacing the human touch; it's enhancing it, making interactions smoother than a dolphin's glide.
Personalization Paradise: Tailoring Service Experiences in Outsourcing
Get ready to embark on a journey into the paradise of personalization. Surely, in the next five years, outsourcing isn't just about resolving issues; it's about creating bespoke experiences for each customer.
Think of it as a virtual butler who doesn't just greet you by name but knows your preferences, remembers your past interactions, and tailors the entire service experience accordingly. It's the Disney magic but in the realm of customer service.
Digital Alchemy: Turning Challenges Into Opportunities in Outsourcing
Every sailor encounters storms, and the seas of outsourcing are no different. But worry not, braveheart, for in the coming years, challenges will be transformed into golden opportunities through the alchemy of digital innovation.
For instance, when a customer complaint arises, instead of being a tempest, it becomes a breeze of improvement. With real-time analytics and adaptive strategies, outsourcing partners turn challenges into stepping stones, propelling your ship forward.
The Anchor of Trust: Strengthening Customer-Service Provider Bonds
Trust, the sturdy anchor that keeps any relationship steady, is set to become even more crucial. In the years to come, customers won't just seek service; they'll crave trustworthy relationships with their service providers.
Outsourcing isn't just about transactions; it's about cultivating trust. This means transparent communication, proactive issue resolution, and, most importantly, treating your customers not as transactions but as companions on the customer service journey.
Conclusion: Your Odyssey Awaits—Sail into the Future with Outsourcing
In brief, dear navigators of the service seas, the outsourcing horizon is gleaming with promises. The waves of AI, the winds of personalization, the storms turned opportunities—these are the elements that will shape the outsourcing narrative in the next five years.
So, as you prepare your ship for this odyssey, remember: outsourcing isn't just a strategy; it's an adventure. Embrace the AI-powered winds, dance with the personalized waves, and turn challenges into golden opportunities. The future is calling, and your customer service odyssey awaits. Set sail, and may the winds of outsourcing be ever in your favor! ⚓? #OutsourceCustomerService
Business Process Outsourcing Services: Key Industries That Benefit The Most
If you're in the world of retail and e-commerce, you know that it's a fast-paced, ever-changing domain. That is because clients demands shift, trends come and go, and competition is fierce. To stay ahead of the game, many are turning to Business Process Outsourcing services. But what does this mean, and how can it help you streamline your operations and boost success in this dynamic field? Let's dive in.
What are Business Process Outsourcing Services?
Business Process Outsourcing Services, or BPO Services, is like having a secret weapon in your retail and e-commerce arsenal. It's about teaming up with experts who can take care of certain tasks for you, so you can focus on what you do best – growing your business. Therefore, these services cover a wide range of functions, from customer service to supply chain management, and all else in between.
Why Retail and E-commerce Love BPO
Streamlining Customer Support: When a customer has a question or issue, they want answers fast. In this case, BPO can provide dedicated customer service teams that respond promptly, enhancing customer satisfaction and trust.
Managing Orders and Inventory
In the world of e-commerce, order and inventory management can be a logistical nightmare. That is why BPO experts can help you keep stock levels optimized and orders flowing smoothly.
Digital Marketing Magic
Online presence is everything in e-commerce. BPO experts can help with SEO, social media management, and other digital marketing tasks to boost your brand.
The Role of Data - Insights and Analytics
BPO services can also offer a leg up in the competitive world of e-commerce through data insights and analytics. Your outsourcing partners can help you make sense of customer behavior, buying patterns, and more. Therefore, with this data in hand, you can make informed decisions on pricing, product offerings, and marketing strategies.
A Closer Look: Customer Support
In e-commerce, customer support is the bedrock of your reputation. That is why Business Process Outsourcing Services can provide dedicated teams that are well-versed in your products and services. What they do is handle customer inquiries, process returns, and troubleshoot issues, giving your customers the support they deserve.
Navigating Supply Chain Challenges
In retail and e-commerce, managing the supply chain efficiently is critical. BPO services can assist in optimizing your supply chain, ensuring products are in the right place at the right time. As a result, this not only reduces costs but also minimizes delivery delays and improves customer satisfaction.
Boosting Online Visibility
In the digital age, having a strong online presence is key to success in e-commerce. For instance, BPO experts can assist with various aspects of digital marketing, from optimizing your website for search engines to managing social media campaigns. In turn, this boosts your online visibility and helps attract and retain customers.
Tech Startups: Outsourcing as a Growth Strategy
So, you've got a brilliant tech startup, a groundbreaking idea, and a passion for innovation. But in the fast and furious world of technology, keeping up can be a bit like juggling flaming swords – exciting, but also risky. This is where Business Process Outsourcing Services can step in and save the day. Let's take a closer look at how tech startups can use outsourcing as a growth strategy.
The BPO Balancing Act
As a tech startup, you're wearing many hats and chasing a million dreams. Your priority is to build and launch that amazing product or service. But guess what? You also need to keep the lights on, manage administrative tasks, and handle customer inquiries. This balancing act can feel overwhelming. BPO services are like your trusted sidekick, taking on those non-core functions, so you can focus on your tech wizardry.
Streamlined Administrative Tasks: Paperwork, invoicing, data entry - these are all necessary evils in the business world. But for a tech startup, they can be a major buzzkill. Business Process Outsourcing Services can handle these administrative tasks efficiently, ensuring that your startup stays organized without you drowning in paperwork.
Tech Support Superheroes: Your tech product or service might be awesome, but it's inevitable that customers will run into issues. BPO experts can provide tech support, resolving customer inquiries and technical glitches, leaving you free to keep innovating.
Scalability with Business Process Outsourcing Services
In the tech world, scalability is the name of the game. When your product takes off, you need to be ready to grow fast. BPO services can quickly adapt to your changing needs, ensuring your startup is always ahead of the curve.
In tech, data is gold. BPO services can not only help you gather and manage data but also provide valuable insights. With the right data, you can make informed decisions, refine your product, and better target your audience.
Cost-Effective Growth
Startups often have limited budgets. Outsourcing can be a cost-effective way to access high-quality services without the overheads of hiring full-time employees.
Healthcare: Ensuring Data Accuracy and Security
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, precision is paramount. Your patient's data needs to be as accurate as a laser-guided scalpel. And security? It's as critical as a doctor's steady hand. That's where BPO Services come in. Let's dive into how healthcare is using outsourcing to keep those data woes at bay.
Data Precision - Vital in Healthcare
In healthcare, even a tiny error can have colossal consequences. Think about it – a misplaced decimal point in a prescription or a mislabeled patient record can lead to dire outcomes. But Business Process Outsourcing Services can meticulously handle data entry and management, ensuring that precision is non-negotiable.
The Data Entry Doctor
With BPO, you have a team of data entry doctors at your service. To illustrate, they'll transcribe medical notes, manage patient records, and ensure your data is pristine.
Ironclad Data Security
It's not just about getting the data right; it's about keeping it safe. Healthcare data is like Fort Knox, and breaches can be catastrophic. BPO providers are experts in data security, implementing robust measures to protect your patient's sensitive information.
Compliance Peace of Mind
The healthcare industry is a minefield of regulations, from HIPAA to GDPR. However, Business Process Outsourcing Services specialize in navigating these compliance hurdles, ensuring your data practices meet all legal requirements.
Telehealth Assistance
In the era of telehealth, the volume of patient data has skyrocketed. BPO services can assist in managing and organizing this data efficiently. From scheduling virtual appointments to securely storing telehealth records, outsourcing ensures smooth operations.
Streamlined Appointment Scheduling
BPO services can manage appointment scheduling with ease. For instance, patients get prompt access to healthcare professionals, and you reduce the risk of scheduling conflicts and delays.
Data Backup and Recovery
Imagine a data disaster. In this case, BPO services implement robust data backup and recovery plans to ensure your patient records are never lost.
Reduce Overhead Costs
Every penny counts! Outsourcing non-core functions to experts can reduce costs substantially. BPO services can also help you cut down on the overhead costs of in-house data management. That means more resources for medical equipment, training, and patient care.
Scale with Ease
As your healthcare facility grows, so does your data. BPO services are flexible and can scale with your needs, ensuring that data management remains efficient, even as you expand.
Manufacturing: Leveraging Global Supply Chain Advantages
If you're in the world of manufacturing, you're no stranger to the intricate dance of supply chains. Moreover, it's like choreographing a global ballet with materials, parts, and products pirouetting across continents. That's where Business Process Outsourcing Services swoop in like logistics superheroes. So let's take a closer look at how manufacturing is using outsourcing to leap ahead in the global supply chain.
Global Supply Chain Mastery
In the world of manufacturing, having all of your supply chain ducks in a row is essential. For example, you need your raw materials to arrive on time, your production to run smoothly, and your products to reach customers without hiccups. Hence, BPO services are your supply chain command center, ensuring that everything moves like a well-oiled machine.
Global Reach, Local Knowledge
Manufacturing isn't just about making things. On the whole, it's about making them cost-effectively and with top-notch quality. BPO services can help you tap into global resources and knowledge. As a result, they can connect you with suppliers and manufacturers who offer good prices and great quality.
Cost-Efficiency and Scalability
Manufacturing often involves high overhead costs. Outsourcing can reduce these costs significantly. In brief, you can scale up or down as needed without the financial strain of hiring and firing in-house teams.
Efficient Inventory Management
With Business Process Outsourcing Services, you can optimize inventory management. In other words, no more overstocked warehouses or running out of crucial parts at the worst possible time.
Streamlined Procurement
Business Process Outsourcing Services can handle your procurement process, from picking your supplier to negotiation and ordering. As a result, you'll always have the right materials at the right time.
Lean Production Planning
Outsourcing can assist with production planning. In other words, making sure that your manufacturing processes are efficient, cost-effective, and match to market demands.
Supplier Network Expansion
Business Process Outsourcing Services can help you identify and onboard new suppliers from around the world, therefore expanding your network and reducing dependence on a single source.
Quality Control
Manufacturing defects can be costly. However, BPO providers can implement rigorous quality control processes to ensure that your products meet the highest standards.
To wrap things up, Business Process Outsourcing Services are like a manufacturing Swiss Army knife. They streamline your supply chain, provide global reach, ensure quality, and help you save costs. With outsourcing, you can take your manufacturing game to the next level. So, don't be afraid to join the outsourcing revolution and dance your way to manufacturing success in the global arena.
42 Stats about BPO
It is the contracting out of specific needs to external properties by a business process outsourcing organization. BPO activities are included in the following figures, which include both domestic and offshore firms. The global market size of these services has been estimated at 88.9 billion dollars, but this number does not include the informal activities that freelance platforms like Fiverr facilitate.
At least one-third of the American workforce engages in some form of freelance work, with unofficial outsourcing figures sometimes double or even triple those recorded by governments.
It has been found that most BPO activities are actually internal business functions like human resources or front office tasks like customer service that get outsourced to third parties. The global activities within this segment were reported to have generated revenues of around $24.6 billion in 2017.
Stats on the BPO industry that are fascinating
#1. Over the period 2012-2016, the global business process outsourcing industry grew at a rate of 4.4% per annum. Right now in the United States, there are more than 160,000 companies operating in the telecommunications industry. (IBIS World)
#2. 2016 was the first year for the business process outsourcing industry to have revenues of over $140 billion due to the high rate of growth it experienced. There are currently just under 1 million direct jobs being created thanks to business process outsourcing. (IBIS World)
#3. It is the region of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe that has the largest share of global outsourcing revenue. As of 2017, the total amount of contracts awarded to India from this area was $55 billion, and India ranked as the top recipient country during the year. (Statista)
#4. Outsourcing generated 19 billion dollars in revenue for Accenture in 2017, which makes it one of the largest outsourcing firms in the world. It is through this figure that the company managed to gain a net income of more than $4.85 billion over the course of the year. (Statista)
#5. Manpower Group generated $22 billion in revenue globally in 2017, of which about 25% was generated by the Americas segment of the company. (Statista)
#6. Business process outsourcing is currently used by 74% of businesses in order to provide them with information technology for business processes. (Statista)
#7. The percentage of owners of small and medium sized businesses familiar with human resource management solutions, such as WebHR, which are part of the business process outsourcing industry, is about 18%. (Statista)
#8. In order to reduce costs, companies cite outsourcing as one of the most important reasons for embracing the business process outsourcing industry. 57% of companies say this allows them to concentrate their attention on the core aspects of their business. Engaging with the industry presents other benefits such as the ability to resolve capacity issues (47%) and enhance service quality (31%), as well as the ability to access intellectual capital (28%). (Deloitte)
#9. Business process outsourcing continues to grow in popularity as offshore contracts become more common place. Globally, approximately 80% of businesses report that they are satisfied with their relationship with an outsourced service provider. (Deloitte)
#10. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the rise of automation have posed a threat to over 1 million jobs in the business process outsourcing industry in the United States, India, Poland, and the Philippines. (AT Kearney)
#11. It is estimated that one new management position will be created to oversee the technology for each four jobs that get lost in the business process outsourcing industry due to automation. (AT Kearney)
#12. Sixteen out of the top twenty offshore call center projects in 2016 were located in the Philippines, the country with the largest English-speaking population in the world. This country's literacy rate stands at 95% on the island nation. (AT Kearney)
#13. Approximately 54% of all organizations use a third-party support team to help them connect with According to that statistic, the United States outsources 300,000 jobs to other countries everynited States each year. (Fortunly)
#14. Business process outsourcing, which specializes in bringing business processes to the cloud, is a growing industry with a lot of concerns around data security. Sixty eight percent of compaThere are 45% of people who say the service might not be stable or reliable enough for them to use, while 35% report being anxious about losing their intellectual property in the process.ble enough for use, while 35% report anxiety about losing their intellectual property. (Fortunly)
#15. Software application development makes up 64% of the outsourced offshore technology functiMore than half of today's technology executives say that they outsource maintenance needs to a third-party, and 3 out of 5 say that their data centers are also outsourcing in this way.tion. (Fortunly)
#16. In comparison to 2013, 44% of Chief Intelligence Officers say they are more likely to use providers from the business process outsourcing industry today than they were in 2013. (Fortunly)
#17. Defense and government are the two most important sectors in the Americas that use outsourcing, in fact, they represent 81% of the annual contracting value that is available in the region. (KPMG)
#18. Since the economic collapse that happened in 2008, called center workers in the United States earn just 14% more than their counterparts in this same sector in India as a result of the economic collapse. (The Balance)
#19. It is estimated that 85% of the deals in the business process outsourcing industry are originated in the United States. A second-largest contributor to this statistic is the United Kingdom, which had a 5.2% contribution rate. (KPMG)
#20. As soon as the recession years of 2007-2009 came to an end, only 9% of U.S. companies decided to refrain from using business process outsourcing services. 57% of them have decided to increase their reliance on this service. (Deloitte)
#21. In the business process outsourcing industry, India is the leading recipient of contracts, leading with an index of 7.07 due to the combination of skill and value it brings to the table. China is ranked second with an index of 6.31, while Malaysia is ranked third with an index of 6.11. As for Sri Lanka, the country has the cheapest outsourcing value for BPO, but it is low on skill, as its index is only 3.42 (AT Kearney)
#22. Business Process Outsourcing is an industry that generates an average annualized contract of $32.6 million in 2017. This represents a 53% increase from the previous year. (KPMG)
#23. 65% of the companies who plan to enhance their investments in the business process outsourcing industry for application hosting within the next 12 months say that they intend to invest more in this area. (Computer Economics)
#24. One of the biggest concerns when it comes to BPO outsourcing is the quality of the service that companies receive, which represents 50% of concerns in general. The anxiety experienced by employers due to the inaction of outsourced workers to deal with problems is similar to the anxiety experienced by employers with their own employees. (Credit Donkey)
#25. In spite of all of the advantages that the BPO industry offers, 89 percent of companies say that they would "never" outsource their strategic planning functions to another firm. (Credit Donkey)
#26. Compared to other industries, the banking and financial services industry is known to rely more on business process outsourcing industry services than others. It is estimated that over 40% of the help desk positions in banks, credit unions, and similar institutions are outsourced today. (Credit Donkey)
#27. Compared to businesses that forego outsourcing their payroll processing to BPO industry providers, companies that outsource their management of payroll save an average of 18% more on this need than businesses that do every thing in-house. In fact, when an agency opts to contract multiple functions to a single vendor, then this figure goes up to 32%. (PwC)
#28. An entry-level IT worker in China can expect to earn about $7,000 a year on average. This amount rises to $8,400 when the worker is hired in India. In the United States, someone with the same level of education and experience could earn $45,000 in this position. It is precisely for that reason that the business process outsourcing industry is such a highly attractive prospect for many companies today. (The Balance)
#29. I find it rather surprising that the Ukrainian information technology sector is a hotbed of business process outsourcing activities. There are more than 200,000 people working in this country and that workforce is expected to reach over 200,000 by the end of 2020. The country has the highest number of professionals in Eastern and Central Europe. (Ukraine Digital News)
#30. According to the Indian Government, the BPO industry in the information technology sector generated an overall revenue of $154 billion in 2017. (NASSCOM)
#31. Approximately 40% of India's workforce involved in the business process outsourcing industry would have to upgrade their skills by 2025 to keep up with trends in emerging technologies. The opportunities for big data, artificial intelligence, and robotics contracts may not seem as plentiful without this improvement. (NASSCOM)
#32. In the Philippines, 34% of outsourcing deals involve contracts that are part of a knowledge process. In turn, this makes it a top destination for highly valuable services such as legal consultation, content production and animation. (EnterPH)
#33. There are 35% of companies enforcing contractual obligations regarding data security and data risk when addressing the cyber risks associated with outsourcing. The majority of companies (34%) say that they evaluate their partnerships on a periodic basis. There is a high expectation that vendors will determine the level of risk available to businesses (18%), and they expect that the provider will determine the level of risk available to the business (8%). (Deloitte)
#34. According to a recent survey, 76% of C-suite professionals indicated that regulations around data privacy and protection have an impact on their disruptive outsourcing decisions. (Deloitte)
#35. Almost 80% of companies plan to change their existing outsourcing processes so that they can take a more structured approach to outsourcing. According to 42% of respondents, they would like to spend more time on RFP in the future, whereas 39% plan to use competitive bidding in the future. (Deloitte)
#36. 8 percent of the agencies that have contracts with business process outsourcing companies do not know whether an audit of their partnership has been completed or if one has even been initiated at all. (Deloitte)
#37. It is estimated that only 2% of organizations with outsourcing initiatives that have been reviewed by a third party auditor, as well as those that have been evaluated by their internal audit teams, completed the process with a failure listed as the outcome. (Deloitte)
#38. Among the concerns executives have when approaching the BPO industry from an RPA point of view, data security is the top concern in 62% of cases. Among the top three anxiety points cited by these organizations are performance and resilience (48%), vendor compliance (42%), IP loss (39%), and the ability to terminate a contract without excessive penalties (38%). (Deloitte)
#39. More than half (62%) of executives surveyed say that one of their primary objectives when adopting RPA is to improve performance. More than half (59%) of respondents said that they wanted the time to market to be improved. On top of these points of emphasis, 55 percent of respondents cited error reduction (53%), 52 percent cited streamlining existing processes (52%), and 51 percent mentioned access to new technology. (Deloitte)
#40. RPA adoption is important from a cost-reducing point of view, but it is not one of the primary drivers for forming relationships in the business process outsourcing industry. Only 44% of companies believe that it is important from a cost-saving point of view. (Deloitte)
#41. Approximately 80% of the BPO industry's contracts are awarded to India's top three cities: Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi. Chennai comes in ninth, while Hyderabad ranks fifth. (AT Kearney)
#42. By increasing the number of unemployed domestically, the BPO industry has a negative impact on society. The number of jobs outsourced is more than double the number of unemployed Americans, with more than 14.3 million being outsourced in total. In short, bringing back those jobs would be enough to hire every full-time and part-time worker that wants a job. (The Balance)
100 Tasks You Can Outsource to Virtual Assistant Services
Here are 100 chores that virtual assistant services may help you with.
Providing virtual assistant services to help startups and early-stage organizations get off the ground is an important part of their success.
Entrepreneurs, I'm sure, are superheroes, or at least would like to believe they are. At the start of the entrepreneurial process, being a micromanager may be required.
However, as time passes, you must gradually begin to let go of the steering wheel.
You may focus on your primary business operations and build your firm by outsourcing part of your business's time-consuming chores to a virtual assistant.
The goal of this essay is to define virtual assistant services and aid you in determining what to outsource. We'll also go through 100 different chores that your virtual assistant can help you with.
What is the procedure for using Virtual Assistant Services?
Virtual assistants, often known as virtual assistants, are persons who work from a distant location to provide various services to entrepreneurs or enterprises.
Over the last several years, the number of virtual assistant services has exploded.
Working as a virtual assistant is appealing for a variety of reasons, including:
They should be able to work at their own speed.
Working from home is an advantage.
Salary that is competitive.
The capacity to spend more time with family and friends, for example.
If you're not sure how popular virtual assistants have grown, simply look at any website that lists contract listings. There are several job postings for virtual assistants.
What Can You Get From A Virtual Assistant Service?
You may expand your business while also shaving hours from your weekly schedule with the aid of a virtual assistant.
Small company owners can also profit from employing a virtual assistant because there are no employee-related costs, no separate office space, no downtime concerns, and so on. Paying the VAs for the work they did is as easy as paying them according to their contract.
A dependable and professional VA, according to business experts, becomes as valuable to the team as a permanent employee and should be regarded as such.
When you realize you have a diamond in your hand, when you trust and rely on the VAs, they become fundamental to the organization, and you know you have a diamond in your hand.
You may experience burnout if you're overburdened with chores and obligations, especially if your company is tiny and just has one or two people.
Hiring a virtual assistant or contacting a firm that can help you locate the proper virtual assistant for your requirements is a good idea.
Seven tedious and repetitive jobs that you may outsource to virtual assistant services for as little as $3 per hour are listed below:
Without a doubt, a VA service will lack the competence and capability to complete duties in all of the aforementioned disciplines. A small company owner should hire a virtual assistant with a certain skill set and then move on.
If a VA is good at writing, for example, you may pay them for content creation and digital marketing. You can engage an experienced virtual assistant or executive assistant in addition to a virtual assistant or executive assistant to perform data input, reminder services, and appointment scheduling.
Your virtual assistant will take care of the things that consume the bulk of your time as an entrepreneur, enabling you to concentrate on building your company.
Virtual assistants, in essence, are time savers, and time is a valuable asset in both work and life.
So how can you figure out which jobs to delegate to a virtual assistant?
Before the day is done, you will have hundreds of chores to complete as a small company owner. You'll have a lot on your plate every day, with everything from accountancy to social media management.
Three lists are provided below to assist you in more successfully delegating your time and increasing your productivity:
Make a list of the things you despise doing.
Things you can't accomplish on your own.
This is a list of things you should avoid doing.
On a daily basis, write down what you despise doing in your business. That's the first thing on your to-do list. It might be anything from bookkeeping to administrative chores, for example.
Additionally, there are daily components of the business that you are unfamiliar with, such as social media marketing and graphic design.
Finally, according to Ducker, the third placement will radically alter your business and even the direction you're on. So, honestly, ask yourself, "What shouldn't I be doing?" You're not a superhero, remember.
It's important to remember that this is essentially a guide to hiring a virtual assistant.
You Can Outsource 100 Tasks To A Virtual Assistant Currently
The following are some of the responsibilities you may delegate to a virtual assistant:
(1) Responsibilities: Virtual Assistance in General (2) Serve as a virtual assistant in general.
In addition to personnel expenditures, administrative support costs are a significant burden on small firms when examined from both a financial and operational standpoint.
Administrative responsibilities like email management, invoicing, customer service, and answering FAQs may drastically limit the amount of time a small company owner has to dedicate to other important work.
other necessary actions
A generic virtual assistant can be really useful in this situation. Account managers, marketers, project managers, and whatever else you need from them, they can handle it all.
A virtual assistant's role is comparable to that of a personal assistant, except that the virtual assistant works from home. As a result, you won't have to worry about overhead fees like renting an office facility or purchasing office equipment.
Here are some administrative responsibilities that your virtual personal assistant can take care of for you so that you can concentrate all of your efforts on building your small business:
1. Taking care of your bookkeeping and payroll responsibilities: calculate hours, add costs, and update salary information.
2. Incoming phone calls, voicemails, and message verification are all handled by an answering service and receptionist.
3. Database creation, input, and maintenance (sales, lead generation, contacts, CRM, etc.).
4. Manage banking demands such as bill payment and money transfer.
5. Prepare and submit customer invoices.
6. Create a weekly report on sales, deliverables, hours, and tasks that you can format, file, and show.
7. Manage emails, customer queries, and spam complaints.
8. Participate in customer service activities and manage technical support requests.
9. You must design and distribute greeting cards, invitations, newsletters, and thank-you notes.
Establish, update, and manage key events on your calendar.
11. Schedule meetings with prospective clients as well as other sales appointments.
12. Create and manage cloud computing accounts (DropBox, OneDrive, Google Drive).
13. Converting, combining, and dividing PDF files are all options.
15. Create papers based on handwritten drafts, faxes, and dictations.
16. Create forms or surveys to collect client feedback.
17. Read, proofread, and edit papers and other office materials.
18. Create graphs using data from a spreadsheet.
19. Use spreadsheet data to write articles and blog entries.
20. Write guest pieces and blogs for others.
21. Write and send press releases and newsletters to news release directories.
22. Infographics, white papers, and ebooks should be created as content marketing materials.
23. Create brochures and the material that will go within them.
24. Write in-depth how-to instructions and book reviews about your field.
25. Translation of corporate marketing materials into foreign languages.
26. Write op-ed pieces for newspapers and internet outlets and submit them.
27. As part of your work responsibilities, create industry-related listicles (list articles).
28. Respond to any blog comments made by the company.
29. Talk to industry sources to do a thorough market study.
30. You will need to interview former customers in order to develop case studies.
31. For your organization, plan, build, update, and improve an SEO and e-marketing strategy.
32. Conduct website keyword research and a blog analysis for each website.
33. Creating and putting up a landing page
34. Conduct a detailed competitor analysis (targeted keywords, ranked content, position on SEMrush).
35. Oversee sitemap and webmaster submissions.
36. Launch a link-building effort for your website and develop a suitable number of backlinks.
37. Commenting on other blogs, engaging in forums and message boards, and replying to the public on YouTube and news websites are all examples of off-page SEO.
38. Examine your Google Analytics statistics on a weekly and monthly basis, as well as the traffic to your website.
39. Locate and create acceptable, high-traffic websites for your adverts (banners, side panel graphics, etc.).
40. Take on email marketing management tasks, including the establishment of new email contact lists, email newsletters, and promotional material.
41. Make sure that follow-up emails and auto-responders are set up and updated in accordance with the response rate.
42. For your ebook, create logos, ebook covers, headers, icons, and other visual components.
43. Hire a content marketing or copywriting service to help you post branded material.
44. Make contact with media outlets and influencers to let publications know about your brand.
45. Create Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Instagram accounts.
46. Make extensive social media accounts and provide connections to the company's website.
Writing, editing, and posting pieces on social media are all part of the content development plan.
48. Analyze the traffic, shares, and mentions to your social media profiles thoroughly.
49. Check out how your rivals are performing on social media by looking at their ranks, online presence, and top keywords.
50. Make sure your small business has a mobile social media plan in place so that you can fully maximize it.
51. Determine which hashtags are trending on social media that day and assess if they align with the company's marketing objectives.
Respond to enquiries, give pertinent information, thank consumers for their mentions and purchases, and write about specials.
53. Keep all of your social media profiles up to date.
54. Check to see if your images may be pinned on Pinterest.
55. Hold a social media contest or challenge.
Upload photographs to Flickr, Pinterest, and Instagram as part of your marketing plan.
57. Web design, development, and planning, including WordPress sites (in the absence of a business website).
58. Provide coding help for the building of WordPress websites.
59. Install, configure, and update WordPress plug-ins and themes
60. Ensure that the website's integrity, functionality, security, and troubleshooting are all up to date on a regular basis.
Assist with the setup and maintenance of payment gateways and ticketing systems for eCommerce sites.
62. Using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery, and APIs to integrate web applications and programming languages into a company's website.
63. Make the user interface (UI) and cross-browser interoperability better.
64. Including tags and photos in web pages and blog posts
65. Back up your data on a regular basis to avoid data loss.
66. Developing online forms for content submission, consumer feedback, and queries.
67. Begin affiliate marketing on behalf of the firm and begin affiliate marketing initiatives.
68. On behalf of the firm, monitor and manage other affiliates and their links.
Splicing intros and outros, as well as adding visuals and music, are all examples of basic video editing.
70. Your videos may be shared on YouTube, DailyMotion, and Vimeo.
71. Remove background noise from your audio files and boost the volume.
72. Audio and video equipment management (cameras and microphones), as well as equipment maintenance.
73. Prepare rough and final edits of the material by trimming and editing video parts.
74. Create, edit, and record podcasts, as well as embed them in a web page.
75. You'll be in charge of using Photoshop and other image editing tools to create and edit basic graphic design assignments.
76. Take notes throughout meetings and compile a complete paper.
78. Voicemail transcripts, video or audio files, podcasts, and meeting recordings
78. Hire potential team members, contractors, and freelancers.
79. You should investigate key data, figures, and facts for the conference using the data you acquired to make a Powerpoint presentation or blog post.
80. Running errands for the workplace, such as purchasing supplies online, scheduling meetings, hiring a cleaning service, and planning office celebrations.
81. Post job openings on job boards, examine resumes, and contact qualified individuals.
Conduct interviews with job candidates and check references.
83. Create training programs for on-site, virtual, or freelance staff.
84. Based on raw data, create a thorough report and presentation.
85. Create and deliver data-driven slideshow presentations.
86. You can plan your business trip by booking hotels, flights, and creating an itinerary.
87. Keep SBO up to speed on the most recent industry developments and trends.
88. Gather all required documentation for tax season.
89. Create a web-based project management system for the entire company.
90. Keeping in touch with subcontractors, sending out reports and reports, using online calendars, and updating team leaders about deadlines are all part of project management.
91. You can send a gift card or a thank you message to your clientele on holidays and anniversaries.
92. Request assistance from customer support representatives with technical issues, financial concerns, and so forth.
93. Conduct employee background checks, credit checks, and criminal history checks.
94. Hold an internal office or competition to award incentives to staff.
95. Create welcome and farewell packages for both clients and employees.
96. Find and contact industry experts or guests for podcast and webinar appearances.
When the firm fails to fulfill its monthly, quarterly, or yearly targets, provide comments and recommendations.
98. Keep track of consumer refunds.
99. Write customer service scripts in response to customer service inquiries.
100. Make contact with clients about past-due payments.
How to Outsource BPO Work
As businesses increasingly outsource their office functions to outsourced BPO partners, so they can concentrate on their company's strategic development, they are entrusting more and more of their everyday tasks to the outsourced business process outsourcing companies.
There are companies of all sizes, from startups to multinational corporations, who have discovered that outsourcing is beneficial to both their front and back offices through outsourcing. Despite the BPO industry's advantages, the industry continues to grow, with the CAGR estimates for this year's forecast moving from 3.53% to 4% for the forthcoming years.
As a result, the manufacturing industry has made significant progress, with a number of companies having been among the early adopters. BPO - Business Process Outsourcing - provides manufacturers with the opportunity to bring their products to market faster and at lower costs by outsourcing business operations to third parties.
In what ways does Business Process Outsourcing work?
A BPO strategy refers to the process of outsourcing business functions to a third party, and it is a strategy that many companies use in order to propel themselves forward. An example would be hiring third-parties, such as contractors, to perform less-critical business functions on behalf of a company.
You can choose to outsource either the company's back-office operations or its front-office functions if you would like to receive BPO services. The back-office of the company entails functional areas such as accounting, payroll, human resources, and quality assurance, while the front-office entails functional areas such as customer service, sales, marketing, and the like.
A business process outsourcing (BPO) service is designed to assist you in outsourcing one or more of your day-to-day business operations, namely those that are not core to your business model, but are still essential parts of your operation on a day-to-day basis. This approach has the advantage of allowing your organization to dedicate resources to activities and tasks that will have the greatest impact on the result.
Business Process Outsourcing: Advantages and Disadvantages
There are a number of reasons why outsourcing business process outsourcing could be beneficial, including financial aspects, marketing opportunities, and overall competitiveness for the business. Let us take a closer look at some of the ways in which outsourcing could enhance your business.
It has increased the level of efficiency in the organization
I believe it is a fact that BPOs make the management of operations much easier. The third-party providers are experts in business processes and, as a result, have specialized knowledge or skills that, otherwise, are not available on demand to you.
Experts with years of experience in the field
Generally, the BPO industry employs people who have excellent educational and professional backgrounds, so you can expect an industry workforce that is comprised of industry practitioners. It is our conviction that they possess the right mix of knowledge, skills, and values to satisfy your staffing needs, and we are confident that they will provide excellent service to you.
Upgrading the technology to keep up with the times
In the field of business process outsourcing, a BPO company invests heavily in technologically advanced tools where they hire them to handle these processes, in order to enhance their services. With technology innovations, your business can in turn stay on top of market trends and be more prepared to deal with challenges that may arise in the future by implementing technology innovations.
The development of competitive advantages
By outsourcing less critical processes to BPO services, your company will be able to realize more sales opportunities since you will be able to take ideas from concept to product, and then later turn them into high-demand products and services.
Efficiencies and savings on costs
In an article published in Business Process Outsourcing Worldwide, it was noted that 70% of BPO clients partner with third-party service providers in order to reduce costs. Several BPO firms are based in developing countries where labour costs are lower, and because of that, outsourcing can help reduce overhead expenses in your business. In addition to BPO services, clients of these providers can also use their infrastructure and office space, and this can translate into significant cost savings for their businesses.
International expansion of the company's business
One of the benefits of business process outsourcing is that it eliminates the challenges that are commonly associated with setting up a business in a new location, market, or setting. In order to establish your company within a new community while adhering to all legal and professional requirements, you would benefit from using a BPO provider.
What are the different types of business process outsourcing?
Based on the type of services being provided by the contractor, there are generally four general types of business process outsourcing.
Knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) is the process of outsourcing knowledge processes
A business process outsourcing (BPO) service is a method of outsourcing services that is purchased from a third-party provider with specialization in a particular field, such as education, finance, healthcare, insurance, or engineering that requires a significant amount of expertise.
It is a type of service that is provided by IT, which is made possible by the use of information technology.
As a part of business process outsourcing, is also referred to as information technology-enabled services (ITES) due to the fact that IT infrastructure plays a major role in the success of the outsourced services. In terms of its business process outsourcing services, its goal is to provide businesses with the support and services needed to work with large volumes of data and to take care of large volumes of data on their own. There are many prominent uses of ITES, some of which include help desks, customer support centers, and data warehouses.
LPO (Legal Process Outsourcing) is the process of outsourcing legal processes.
It can be said that, according to its name, this service is aimed at handling legal functions for clients such as the preparation of legal documents, legal research, and legal advice. It is highly likely that LPOs will come into play in the back office for tasks such as human resources, compliance with legislation, etc.
The outsourcing of the research process (RPO)
When a BPO specializes in research functions, it is known as a BPO specializing in research. For example, a BPO company might be contracted to provide Reverse Process Outsourcing (RPO) services for clients in the pharmaceutical, investment, and marketing industries.
How to Define Your Business Process Outsourcing Objectives
As with any business endeavor, you need to understand what you intend to accomplish before beginning the process of outsourcing and this applies to every business endeavor as well. Getting the right business process outsourcing company is the first step in making your project a success. The second step is to find out what you expect from the partnership. In order to communicate your expectations to your BPO provider effectively, you will need to be able to clearly explain what you expect them to do and what results you would like to see from them.
In this sense, you should set clear objectives so that you can clearly communicate to your BPO provider the responsibilities they are expected to take on and what you are looking for in them. In other words, your business process outsourcing partner can use these objectives as a guide to set appropriate targets and develop strategies for reaching those targets.
Taking into account just a few of the objectives that businesses consider when considering outsourcing, let's look at just a few of them:
To reduce operational and labor costs as much as possible
It has been noted that approximately 70% of businesses rank cost reduction as their primary objective when it comes to outsourcing, as reported by Deloitte in its 2020 Global Outsourcing Survey. In spite of the popular belief, however, the cost savings are not primarily due to tax breaks. PolitiFact, on the other hand, explains that while companies can benefit from tax exemptions if they relocate their headquarters to another state or country, the U.S. federal income tax code does not contain any specific exemptions related to outsourcing.
Outsourcing has the advantage that it allows you to optimize processes while saving money at the same time without the need to hire new personnel or spend more money on new infrastructure. In addition, you will have access to a team of professionals who have a wealth of experience with the processes that your internal team may not have any knowledge of. In essence, you will save time and resources on recruiting and training employees. Last but not least, out-sourcing processes to professionals who are familiar with them will enable you to ensure quality and efficiency at all times.
Focus our efforts on the products and services that are core to our business
It can be really difficult for business owners to think of expanding their business as a battle against hydras - as soon as one obstacle is overcome, two more will appear. The expansion of your organization can be both exciting and draining at the same time. On top of that, it cannot help but cause you as well as your employees stress to have to constantly keep up with new business requirements in addition to the needs of your customers.
There is a possibility to outsource some of these tasks so that you can concentrate on your core competencies and this will allow you to increase your efficiency. It is also important to note that this gives your employees the time, energy, and headspace necessary to think about improvements that can be made to critical processes, and in turn can lead to the development of new products and services, which can benefit your clients.
An increase in the number of staff
If your company runs a busy business at the busiest times of the year, especially if it has a peak season, your employees are likely to take on too much work. The number of employees can be increased to offset some of the load, but recruiting and training of new employees can be quite expensive. In the event you refuse to hire new employees, you might end up compromising customer service or productivity.
Through Business Process Outsourcing, scalability in staffing is made possible. As a result, you will be able to have experienced workers available when you need them. Consequently, you will be able to satisfy the needs of your clients and ensure the efficiency of your business operations without needing to hire new employees over the course of a prolonged period of time.
Enhancing the overall experience of the customer
There are many ways to develop wonderful products and offer stellar services, but not all of them translate into equally outstanding customer service. Thus, as a result, ensuring the customer experience - including handling queries, supporting them through the transaction and providing support after they have purchased - is a challenge.
If you find a BPO provider that can provide you with customer service, tech support, and similar services, you can ensure that your customers always have a pleasant time dealing with you. It will definitely improve your customer loyalty and help you increase sales.
Choose the Right BPO Outsourcing Company for Your Business
BPO companies act as an extension of your company, rather than just a service provider for your company. Furthermore, these services will not only be able to access some of your company's confidential data, but they will also play an integral role in helping you run your company effectively. Considering this, it is imperative that you carefully pick your partners.
The process of choosing a BPO company is not as straightforward as simply picking the top companies. There are many factors to consider before choosing one. In deciding on a BPO company, you need to consider the following:
- The ability to understand processes in-depth
The best choice is finding a provider with a specialization. If you need them to help you with customer service, you have to make sure that BPOs can provide support in multiple ways, such as multi-channel support. If you have experienced this before, then you can be sure that they are capable of completing the tasks with efficiency and consistency according to the industry standards.
- Being able to handle multiple types of business processes at the same time
The more your business grows, the more likely you are to need assistance with more and more processes. It is therefore necessary for you to hire a BPO company that can deal with a variety of business processes if you want to partner with one. With the help of a BPO partner, your business will be able to scale as you grow. You may want to verify with the provider you intend to outsource your customer support processes to if they offer multilingual support options, for example, if you intend to outsource your customer support processes. This avoids the need to switch companies if your company takes on customers from other countries as a result of this method.
- Have a team that is dedicated to the company
The BPO partner you choose should be capable of putting together a team that fits your specific business requirements as well as being able to handle their training as well. Moreover, I think it would also be great if they could provide you with a guarantee that the team they assign to you is dedicated to your project and does not bounce from job to job.
- Acknowledged for its close collaboration with its partners
In any BPO outsourcing process, you must keep in mind that your company will be represented by the BPO company. This is especially important if you are outsourcing BPO. In order for a seamless experience to be provided to customers, the customer service team should work closely with you to ensure their needs are met as one team.
- Developing a solid transition plan in case of changes in the future
There is always an element of change in the processes and the partnerships we work with. The process of switching providers may seem difficult, but your BPO provider should implement a protocol that will ease the transition for you, whether your business is restructuring, whether you are looking for a different provider, or if you are simply renegotiating your rates. In this way, it is possible to minimize the disruptions to the operations of your business that may arise as a result of the change.
Business Process Outsourcing: What It Is and How It Works
It's important to understand that business outsourcing involves a wealth of technical details that extend far beyond the basic concept that one company hires another to cut costs from their operations.
Due to these reasons, outsourcing business processes not only reduces costs, but also gives companies the possibility of acquiring more specialized talent for specific tasks, obtaining highly competent second opinions for no additional charge, and improving internal processes.
There has been considerable progress in the recent years, both in terms of the development of BPO service providers as well as in terms of how these services are sought by clients, leading to the provision of simplified solutions to a wide range of business challenges. There are a number of different types of outsourcing services that are accessed by companies. Examples include:
Offshore Outsourcing
It is one of the most drastic forms of the outsourcing of business processes, since it involves companies contracting the services of companies situated in another country or continent.
Onshore Outsourcing
The companies that choose to resort to offshore BPO, however, tend to limit their options to providers that are located in the same country as their company.
Nearshore Outsourcing
In terms of Nearshore Business Process Outsourcing, it is a method of using services that are exported by companies that are located closer to the recipients than the offshore options. For such a business to be described as outsourcing their customer support functions to a Mexican firm, the term US business outsourcing would be appropriate.
Despite the fact that Business Process Outsourcing can be done in a wide range of different ways depending on the industry, the functions, and the scope of the project, there are some simple concepts a company can apply to ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible. There are a wide variety of useful resources available to you to learn to benefit from BPO, and you can make the most of them by checking out the links below.
How to Outsource Business Processes: Tips for Success
Make sure that executives are involved in the process of creating a new product.
It is extremely important that executives from your organization participate in the decision-making process if you want to make sure that your outsourcing partnership will be successful. With outsourcing, the top management has a crucial role to play in effectively communicating ways to reduce costs for the company, as well as to achieve the strategic goals of the company and further enhance its competitive advantage. Outsourcing is seen as a true strategic advantage that can easily be purchased by executive management, as these individuals can clearly see the value of outsourcing partners in terms of increased productivity as well as significant overall cost reductions that can be achieved by the organization. In order to make the outsourcing process more effective, you should spend time explaining how outsourcing fits perfectly with your strategic vision and engaging your executive teams in the planning process.
Prepare a list of growth objectives ahead of time.
If you are seeking to outsource your business, it is imperative to align your company's long-term business and financial plans with your company's strategic objectives at the outset of the process and to identify possible outsourcing partners that have the kind of global presence that your company is looking for. An example of this is if a hotel chain anticipates growth and expansion in Eastern Europe over the next five years, a localized call center in Eastern Europe may be the best strategic location to deliver its services based on requisite infrastructure and language requirements.
A company's IT capabilities shouldn't be overlooked.
According to IDC, 75 percent of enterprise software vendors and independent software vendors will have included AI functionality in at least one application by the end of 2018. Due to this fact, BPO firms that adopt new technologies are likely to become more future-proof and to have a more stable outlook in the near future. The off-shore vendor should ensure that a senior engineer from the client site is regularly on-site during the design phase in order to ensure that he or she has a clear understanding of the project. Alternatively, if you are outsourcing, you might be able to benefit from visiting your outsourcing provider in person as a way to get a different point of view on your company.
As you consider outsourcing, do not forget that quality needs to be the most important factor in your decisions at all times.
While outsourcing certainly has a lot of advantages, the most important thing is that it is capable of delivering the quality that you expect from such a service. It would be a waste of money if anything less than what you expected from the outsourcing was delivered.
There is no reason why you should not be able to successfully outsource certain tasks, but I think the expectations for the quality of work should be discussed before you assign the work.
The implementation of your BPO strategy should not be rushed. Don't rush. It's important.
It is important to gradually expand the work you have outsourced once you have outsourced some of it. The first thing you should do before embarking on a huge outsourcing strategy is to take a step by step approach. By following this approach, you will have the flexibility to adjust as your company's needs change, as well as a flexible way to scale up or down as necessary.
It is advisable to seek out providers who do not require any babysitting service.
No matter what number of business requirements you may have, it is a given that an outsourcing company will handle everything from scratch when they are hired to work on your account.
In order to achieve the results, one should not allow sloppy or low quality work to exist, and the results should be achievable (There should be no room to tolerate shoddy work).
In order to choose the best vendor, you should choose one that will handle the projects and be in charge of them from the start, so that you can devote a minimal amount of time to each of them and let them handle the rest.
By doing this, you will save time and be able to devote it to your core business functions.
Ensure that the provider you choose possesses expertise in the field in which your business operates.
If you are planning to undertake a project such as the one that you are undertaking, I recommend that you select a provider who has previous experience managing such projects. When it comes to complicated technical projects, such as software development, it is best not to act as the guinea pig for somebody else. Especially when outsourcing operations such as these, such an attitude is vital. It is a good idea to make sure, for example, that the candidate you are considering has developed applications for the iPhone and has previously performed commercial projects on that platform for other clients who were satisfied. You should also follow the same advice in case you are working on other types of projects as well.
When it comes to putting together a business plan for opening a retail store, it is important to hire a consultant who has experience in the retail market. In terms of creating a business plan for a retail store, you will be able to produce the best results.
The first thing we need to make clear is that the savings results are going to fall short of what we have projected.
The reason many businesses choose to outsource is that they expect to save money by doing so, but you should note that it is extremely rare for actual and projected savings to be the same. There is a good chance that you will lose some time and adjust to a new partner's lifestyle during the first few months of the new partnership. Because of these factors, it is a good idea to save about three quarters of your projected amount.
In order to begin an outsourcing relationship, there are a variety of costs you may not anticipate at first glance. Choosing the wrong vendor will, for example, require you to spend a lot of time searching and you may end up paying a lot of money from network websites or other sources if you choose the wrong one. Negotiating and drafting an agreement will take time, and there may even be travel expenses and legal fees that need to be paid in order to maintain the relationship. –
The use of fixed-cost BPO arrangements should be avoided at all costs.
One of the good things about a fixed-cost project is that they can be planned out with a budget and you won't have to worry about going over the budget as you are on a fixed budget. In the process of establishing a fixed cost, you can face a number of other challenges as well.
In the case of fixed cost projects, vendors tend to charge up to 50% more in order to cover the possibility of project delays or risks. Also, do not forget that you will have to go through a lengthy and arduous negotiation process every time the scope of the project changes - which of course will happen. There is a third problem with the fixed budget method because once the budget has been established, your vendor will focus on hitting the set price instead of focusing on quality. Long term, fixed-price bids end up being more time-consuming and more expensive than negotiating on a variable price.
It is very important for you to always be in control of your projects, products and services.
On the other hand, when you hand over your product to a large design firm, you can expect that you will no longer be in control of the end result. The concept you've come up with has been around for a while now, and you have spent a great deal of time on it, now you are ready to take the project to the next level. Oftentimes, many people do not realize that unless they remove themselves from the process at this critical moment, they will not get what they envisioned, and they will probably regret it later in life.
Leaders should be able to guide the project in the right direction, push it forward, and keep up-to-date on all of its progress. It is vital that you remember that you do not have to do everything yourself, but to remain in control of every step that you take.
Look for opportunities to form long-term partnerships with your partners.
There are times when it is much more efficient to spend your time working with a company on an ongoing basis instead of continually posting new projects and comparing lots of bids for each one that you find a good quality company that does good quality work, works well with you, and is reasonably priced.
A great deal of caution should be taken when choosing between individual BPO providers or organizations.
It is evident that outsourcing your IT services to an IT outsourcing company comes with many benefits. The good news is that if they don't meet your expectations, they can easily be replaced as they usually hire highly qualified individuals. In addition to offering 'checks and balances', some companies handle the entire process of developing their products in-house, thus minimizing any potential risks. A large number of engineers and managers are actually employed by this company and are responsible for making sure that everything is checked and that any issues are resolved when something goes wrong during the process.
There are two main risks associated with hiring a freelancer. There are two risks involved with hiring the work of just one engineer: the first risk stems from the lack of any means to check the work of this engineer, and the second risk arises from the fact that the contractor may not finish the project on schedule.
It is impossible to expect a 'jack of all trades' to be a good developer in all areas. Things just happen, don't they? Of course, there will be problems. One possibility is that an independent freelancer or a couple of independent freelancers may be able to act as a second opinion. You can save a lot of money by hiring a third party to review a contractor's work and lower the risk that the contractor will do a poor job.
In order to find the greatest value from BPO, one needs to look beyond savings.
Comparing costs isn't enough since you may miss out on the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry if you outsource purely based on the price. There is no doubt that the fact that outsourcing is a strategic way for you to gain knowledge in the process of developing new products and technologies is something that should not be overlooked.
You should ensure that all the details regarding your partnership are documented in writing.
The business world recognizes the importance of putting every agreement on paper to avoid any misunderstandings in the future. And this is no different. However, in spite of the fact that I do believe you had already told freelancers or agencies what you wanted, there is no legal obligation for them to follow up, and you may encounter some difficulty at some point. Apart from ensuring that all information is documented, it is also important to make sure that all documents are signed and dated (which can be proved later on), so all parties have access to the information.
The importance of avoiding common pitfalls such as poorly designed incentive models and poor corporate governance cannot be overstated.
The following are some of the most common mistakes in outsourcing:
Whenever outsourcing is undertaken, it is vital to identify the motives, the goals, and the objectives before commencing
In comparison to concentrating on benefits or value additions, it is more important to focus on cost reductions
Having an outsourcing program that has substandard corporate governance over a long period of time
An inability to appoint someone who is responsible for managing the relationship and the contract
An inefficient management of communication with staff, clients, and other stakeholders
Incentivising models that fail as a result of insufficient incentives
Make use of the industry's continued growth to your advantage.
A variety of technological advancements in telecommunications and information technology have led to a rapid increase in outsourcing of human resources within the last 25 years. The economy has slowed down recently as a result of this growth slowing. There are many people who are concerned that the industry is going to experience negative growth owing to the lack of new enterprise clients, as well as the rise of automation and artificial intelligence (AI). It is somewhat surprising to discover that outsourcing is growing at an astonishing rate contrary to what most people assume, which is driven mainly by small and medium-sized businesses that are often overlooked.
Outsourcing offers much more than just lower costs. It also has a great number of competitive advantages that offer greater value to businesses.
There are several reasons behind implementing outsourced services and the primary reason is to be able to reduce the cost of delivery. Additionally, there are a number of valuable advantages that can be taken advantage of, including the availability of better quality resources, continual technological advancement, and moving from fixed to variable costs, as well as improving integration of systems among them.
BPO approaches have many positive aspects, including risk sharing and resource sharing, which are the two main components of BPO.
The Outsourcing Institute, a powerful voice in the outsourcing community, has carried out a survey in which they have come up with a list of the top 10 reasons why a company may have to use such services.
Management of costs and operations plays an important role in reducing costs in a company
Ensure that the company's performance is being improved
The ability to choose from a wide range of options is an advantage
Providing a way for internal resources to be freed up to be used for other purposes
The company does not have the resources required for the job
Accelerate the benefits of reengineering so that it becomes more effective
The cost of driving has been high for some time now
Employee equity becomes available upon the termination of employment
We all share the same criticisms
Injection of capital
Using tools such as the outsourcing decision matrix, one can assess the impact and importance of a specific task.
If you consider outsourcing a task, the following two most important factors should be taken into account. According to the [Outsourcing Decision Matrix], these are the two most important factors to consider.
I believe that the task has a great deal of strategic importance. Does this task provide your company with a competitive advantage? Is it possible that it may?
It is important that you consider how the task will affect the performance of your company in the long run. How does the task contribute to the smooth running of your organization? How do you assess the task's contribution? What is the potential impact of it if it is not carried out properly? Also, how big is the disruption?
It is also possible for companies that use a method of offshore outsourcing at their own offices to benefit from the benefits of outsourcing.
It will come as no surprise to you that the partnership world is full of many types of partnerships aimed at improving captive performance while maintaining control in the hands of the buyers. When implementing a service chain model, one of the partners will provide complementary services from their own locations to the other partners in the chain. There are other models, such as hybrid or virtual captives, which rely on the integration of external service providers to handle some or all of the work required within the captive center. As a matter of fact, the challenge is to create a partnership that benefits from the expertise of local experts and the resources of the local community. This will create improvements in processes, and help to drive innovation, as well as reduce costs in the process. The result of this is that an organization's offshore delivery models tend to evolve over the course of time, i.e., there is seldom a clear line of demarcation between one model and another.
In order to best utilize and profit from any company's growth strategy, it is always helpful to understand the details surrounding the outsourcing arrangement.
The four main aspects of an outsourcing process should be borne in mind: Here are four main aspects to take into account:
The program has been launched
Implementation of the services
Final Agreement
Closure of the program
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It is important to understand the various outsourcing models in order to select the most profitable one.
The term "Tactical Consulting" is a general term that refers to a range of value-added services. In this case, the client's main driver comes from having access to expertise that is not available in-house, such as UX design, Architecture and Technology advisory, Security assessment, etc. Outsourcing vendors normally provide this service as a fixed price, time bound activity. However, for the sort of work that is uncertain, such as R&D, a T&M basis can also be considered.
BPOs can reduce obstacles through streamlining communication with the use of appropriate tools.
Diverse advantages can be gained by businesses through outsourcing. For many companies, however, managing multiple outsourcing teams can be a challenging task. In order to work effectively with outsourcing teams, companies must be able to communicate, collaborate, and share information effectively. Another challenge is engaging the outsourcing teams personally in order to improve their productivity.
Even if the necessary technology and skills are in place, it is important to keep a close eye on a project's progress and to keep track of the teams' tasks by using the right set of tools to manage them.
When you partner with a BPO provider, pay close attention to the legalities of risk management.
It is relatively easy to assume that outsourcing will transfer all risks and responsibilities to the supplier, and that the customer will be fully protected from all the consequences of failure if the outsourcing goes wrong. It is not possible for a customer, irrespective of the nature of the business area and regardless of the terms of the contract, to fully insulate itself against those risks and practical remedies are often insufficient to compensate for those losses. When a supplier fails to deliver outsourced services, the primary remedies are payment (whether this is in the form of indemnity claims, general damages, service credits, or liquidated damages) and termination. Despite the fact that other remedies may be specified in the contract (for example, stepping in) or are generally available as a matter of law (such as specific performance), in practice these additional remedies are rarely practical or effective.
Adopt a vested outsourcing model if you want to maximize the benefits of BPO.
Don't focus on transactions, but on outcomes. Traditionally, outsourcing agreements are focused on negotiating contracts at a detailed transactional level, paying either for a given task or dividing the cost based on the number of employees. In the case of simple transactions with abundant supply and low complexity, a transaction-based outsourcing business model would be the most efficient choice. Nevertheless, transaction-based approaches have a real weakness as soon as any level of complexity, variability, or mutual dependency is introduced into the transaction. The transactional approach cannot ensure a perfect equilibrium price based on the market in multidimensional or variable business contracts.
Make a list of your priorities and requirements
It is imperative that the company's objectives and operations are listed out, perhaps the most important step in the quest to find the perfect outsourcing partner. It gives clarity to help decide which processes and operations can be outsourced and more importantly, whether they should be outsourced. An additional advantage of doing this is that talent and resources can be relocated more efficiently.
Research on partner companies
Knowing your partner is crucial to a successful relationship. The next step is to make a list of the service providers in your desired field that are present in the market for your goals and objectives. Ensure that they have a track record, a list of clients that they have worked with, a list of successful projects that they have completed, and an estimate of delivery time.
Don't just focus on the price
It is a mistake to compromise on quality in order to save money, an error that can prove to be more costly than you even think. Finding the right partner that helps you optimize your goals while providing quality results may not be the most cost-effective option, but you will actually be more cost-effective in the long run if you choose the right partner.
Think about the pros and cons before making a decision
The best approach would always be to compare providers and list out their advantages and disadvantages after you have done your research and understood the costs involved. It is through this process that you are able to clearly see who will be your best business partner.
Make sure you ask for a hands-on demonstration
There is no better way to analyze the capabilities of your outsourcing partner than with a hands-on demonstration that ensures both parties have a clear understanding of the task at hand. In addition, the highlighting of potential problems would also help you evaluate the solutions provided and where improvements can be made.
Ensure that you are aware of the legal requirements
There are certain legal responsibilities that go along with finding an outsourcing partner. One of the most important documents is the Service Level Agreement. All details and responsibilities must be clearly defined in the document so that all parties understand their duties and responsibilities.
Establish a clear scope of work for the project
In addition to defining your priorities, it is essential to draw up a scope of work that is well-defined and comprehensive. Scope of work specifies the division of work that will be performed under a contract or a subcontract in the completion of a project, and is usually broken down into specific tasks along with deadlines.
Make sure that you set realistic deadlines for your tasks
It is important to remember that outsourcing firms cannot be considered as magicians. Despite the fact that outsourcing can be beneficial to businesses, having a realistic timeline is vital to productivity.
Review portfolios, samples, and other related documents
Keep in mind that you are the best person to determine your priorities and projects. It is essential that you review the work produced by potential outsourcing partners that are similar to your project and your goals for the project.
Don't be afraid to start small
If you want to make sure that you find your perfect fit, you must start small. As you and your partner are comfortable with the pace, you should begin with smaller projects and then expand them at a rate that is comfortable for both of you.
Establish the ownership of tasks from the outset
As a way to avoid confusion between different parties, it is always a good idea to clearly define who is responsible for the task at hand.
A project milestone should be tied to the payment of the project
Payments based on milestones made by your partner may be a way to ensure timely delivery and the growth of the project, depending on the agreement that you reach with them
The communication process
If you fail to maintain proper communication, you can severely damage your outsourcing partnership. If there is a lack of communication between your partners, it is likely you will lose the trust of your consumers.
Choosing a Company over a Freelancer is a wise decision
There is no denying the value of freelancers in certain circumstances, nonetheless, when it comes to outsourcing, finding a partner who is motivated and long-term is crucial.
Find a provider of end-to-end solutions
When it comes to completing tasks, make sure your partner can provide you with end-to-end solutions and a comprehensive process that can cover everything. When you do this, you will be able to improve your business's health and profitability.
Transfer of accountability
Outsourcing is a way to reduce your employees' workload by minimizing repetitive tasks that need to be monitored constantly. Ensure that the outsourcing service provider takes over full responsibility and accountability for the project after a certain period of time to eliminate the possibility of overlap of work.
Review of performance
To ensure that the project is resolved quickly if any complications arise during the project, it is necessary to conduct periodic reviews of the service provider.
Technology and the ease of implementation
In order to ensure that your employees and teams are supported during the transition process, you must find a partner that is technologically advanced and that uses easy-to-implement and use software.
Support after the project has been completed
It is easy to iron out any last-minute glitches that may arise if you ensure that your partner supports you after you complete specific tasks.
Develop a set of operational guidelines
Create a document outlining the process in as much detail as possible. Unless you are able to describe your process in detail, you are not going to be able to outsource it. Known as Operational Guidelines, this document is a compilation of the various considerations one should make when trying to accomplish the task at hand.
You should also make sure to explain clearly what the goal of the process is, and why it matters, so that the outsourced reps feel like they are part of something bigger.
There are a few guidelines that will serve as a manual for reps to interiorize and refer to first when in doubt. Your document will be a living, evolving document which you will maintain and evolve as the reps and you find inconsistencies and gaps between your theory and reality.
Preparation of training examples
In the absence of practice, theory becomes meaningless. Having a proper set of guidelines is only half of the battle. You need to compliment it with examples that reps can use to practice what they have learned and self-evaluate their performance.
The examples should include an increasing level of difficulty, and show how the different dos and don'ts of the Operational Guidelines are put into practice. Perhaps you would like to do this in the same document or perhaps in a presentation.
Evaluation of firms based on their expertise
There are many BPO service providers around the world, but most of them tend to specialise in a certain range of tasks, based on the demographics and skillset of their workforce and the ease with which they can recruit.
The following are some aspects to consider:
The following verticals are represented: finance, social media moderating, computer vision, medical imaging, and translation services.
Language, country of residence, age, and other demographic information.
Education: literacy, highest level of education.
Trial more than one firm
You can engage in a pilot period with more than one BPO, with uniform pre-agreed criteria and a time-boxed launch. As part of the engagement, we should establish measurable factors for success evaluation - more about this below.
By assessing both the costs and benefits of successful pilots that meet the criteria, you can select one that will be most beneficial for you in the long run.
Measure
The following metrics should be measured on a systematic basis:
It is the Turnaround Time (TAT) that is generally used as the measure of latency.
The AHT (Average Handling Time) is the standard for efficiency.
Quality: Accuracy measured by the proportion of correct decisions as a percentage of all decisions.
If you would like to learn more about the subject of Operational KPIs and Quality Measurement, we have previously blogged about it.
A penalty system based on SLAs should be established
You will most likely fail to get your outsourced process up to par if you don't have 'skin in the game' with your BPO partner. In order to improve alignment between your incentives and the BPO's, it is standard practice to set SLAs on the above metrics and to impose penalties in case the metrics aren't met.
Normally, these penalties come in the form of a percentage discount on the cost of the billed service.
Make economic incentives a priority
In addition to 'skin in the game', reward-based incentives are also a viable form of 'skin in the game. A penalty for failure to meet SLAs helps avoid mediocre results; however, rewards could help move the needle from adequate to outstanding results.
Results of the audit
It will not be enough to put the outsourced process into operation without auditing a sample of the work conducted as a means of quality control. If you have implemented a Quality Assurance process internally, you can do this more formally, or you can simply review random examples of the code in a more informal manner.
It is essential to have an internal expert - this could be you or a colleague - audit this work to ensure that errors aren't being made. Make sure that you correct every error as soon as possible. There will be some instances where this will need to be corrected due to a gap or point of ambiguity in the Guidelines. Many will be related to a lack of examples in the training material and will need to be reported to the BPO so that they do not occur in the future.
Open dialog
Maintain a dialogue of communication with the BPO throughout the process. Allow questions, feedback and suggestions to flow both ways. It's in your best interest to make yourself and your team available to avoid blocking reps — if latency matters to you — and to help avoid errors.
If the software supporting the process offers a mechanism to make these comments, then you're all set. Otherwise you can set up a shared chat group with all stakeholders to also foster frequent communication and collaboration.
Align reps often
A common pitfall of fully operational outsourced processes is how little cross-pollination of knowledge exists between reps. As a result, each reps mental model of the process might diverge from everyone else's, resulting in increased inconsistencies.
This is especially true in a post-Covid world where everyone who can is working remotely, physically isolated from everyone else.
Hosting joint audit review sessions will help keep everyone aligned with your internal expertise. To make this most productive, everyone should prepare tricky cases they've encountered that they would like to discuss with the team.
By investing in business process outsourcing, you can get back to your core functions and focus on growth, development, and other areas of potential.
How To Outsource Marketing Services - The Ultimate Guide
Are you interested in outsourcing marketing tasks to a third party?
In order to create brand awareness as well as generate leads for your business, marketing plays a key role.
Even so, for most smaller businesses, having an in-house marketing department is not always feasible.
In addition to the hiring and training costs, running a full-time in-house marketing team can be a costly endeavor. It is also true that managing the multiple tasks involved in marketing often directs your focus away from your core competence.
It is one of the main reasons why many companies outsource their marketing activities as a result.
But what is it and what does it have to do with your company?
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about outsourcing marketing services, including its benefits. On top of this, we will also discuss how to select the perfect outsourced marketing agency for your business.
Let's get started, shall we?
How Does Marketing Outsourcing Work?
In marketing outsourcing, you hire a third-party marketing agency or a marketing professional to do your marketing activities on your behalf.
What is the reason?
As a result of outsourcing, the external entity performs the task on your behalf. Instead of managing your marketing obligations yourself, you will be free to focus on your core competence instead of managing your marketing responsibilities yourself.
What marketing services can you outsource to a third party?
Let's take a quick look at 4 of the most commonly outsourced marketing activities:
Market Research
Research involves a comprehensive study of your company's marketplace, its competitors, and its customers. It is important to identify your brand's USP (Unique Selling Proposition), understand what your customers need, and gauge what your competitors are doing.
However, since this task entails a great deal of research and analytical work, it can be extremely time-consuming and tedious when performed in-house.
It's more common for marketing agencies to dive deep into Google and other social media analytics when they outsource marketing research services. In order to understand where you stand against your competitors in the market, they analyze every competitor's position.
In addition, they will perform a SWOT analysis on your firm (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), which will help you strategize branding and marketing better.
Strategy And Planning
If you create a marketing strategy, you can define and even reconstruct the image of your brand. In addition, it will assist you in determining how and when you can introduce your brand into the market.
What does it feel like when an outside marketing agency is hired to create a marketing strategy for your business?
By strategy and planning, marketing agencies are able to develop your market persona and generate leads for you. Several tasks are performed by a digital marketing agency to create your brand's marketing strategy, including:
- The positioning of your brand
- The creation of value propositions
- The development of growth strategies
- You can even get them to conduct keyword analysis for SEO marketing to figure out which is the best platform for marketing your business.
Creative Projects
Our creative services include the creation of marketing materials that deliver the story and identity of your brand to your target audience via the web, social media, and e-mail campaigns.
This includes logos, websites, apps, emails, newsletters, and marketing campaigns that can be used for branding, promotion, communication, awareness, and lead generation.
According to a recent report, almost 84 percent of B2B companies outsource their content creation.
What is the reason?
Marketing service providers will have an experienced content marketing team, which includes a content writer, editor, copywriter, and designer who will take care of the task for you.
Using your marketing strategy, they design and create your brand's marketing materials, which will help you improve your public relations and establish a stronger connection with your target audience.
Marketing Operations
The marketing operations division is responsible for the management and optimization of your whole marketing process, beginning from strategy and deployment and ending with measurement, report generation, and attribution.
What are the benefits of outsourcing your marketing? How can it help your company with its marketing operations?
A marketing expert in an agency performs several tasks such as:
- Planning a project
- Management of the creative process
- Technology Management in Marketing
- Checking the compliance of your brand with the law
- Measurement of Marketing Performance
The best way to handle your marketing operations is to have an in-house marketing department. It can be a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Additionally, you won’t have to invest in the software to perform the tasks as the service provider will have the latest technology to do it efficiently.
Outsourced marketing has 4 major benefits
The following is a quick look at the 4 major benefits of outsourcing your marketing.
- It is a cost-effective method
When you use outsourced marketing services, you get a team of marketing professionals with a broad skill set at an affordable price.
From marketing strategists to marketing material producers, you get a professional team working for you at a fraction of what it would cost to hire them full-time in-house.
As a result, you won't have to pay each one of them an individual salary like you would if you were running your own marketing department in-house.
Since you are outsourcing your marketing, you only have to pay them for their time and the type of marketing services you need.
Additionally, outsourcing to countries with low cost of living, such as the Philippines and India, can give you a skilled team at a fraction of the price you'd pay for someone who's from the United States.
- Get Effective Content That Delivers Better Results
Marketing that is outsourced promises both quality and quantity.
Is that so?
Marketing agencies know the importance of regular content in generating customer engagement in the market. To ensure maximum lead generation, they ensure that the required content marketing materials are up to the highest standards.
In addition to producing quality content, SEO optimization, and graphic design, a good agency will also strengthen your brand's marketing campaign. As a result of their access to a variety of marketing tools and platforms, they make it easy to quickly promote your brand, which heightens visibility and organic traffic for your site.
On the other hand, a marketing department buried beneath a mountain of tasks may not always be able to strategize and execute every marketing campaign that is required regularly.
Your marketing process can be slowed down as a result of this. This can break the consistency of your marketing process, taking you off course from your marketing goals.
- It is possible to see the bigger picture
It is one of the issues with an in-house marketing department that they tend to repeat the same strategy over and over again. Since customer preferences and market trends change often, this strategy isn't viable for a very long time.
Hiring an external marketing company can help you get a fresh perspective on your marketing strategy.
Since an outsourced marketing agency will have worked with companies across a variety of industries, they will have enough experience to be able to reinvent your existing marketing strategies.
Understanding your industry, competitors, services, and company culture will give them a better understanding of showcase your brand in a completely new light. Using this method, your marketing strategies will always be relevant!
- Ensures that you get the desired return on your investment
One of the main goals of marketing agencies who offer outsourced services is to generate leads for your business through their digital marketing services.
There is an outsourced marketing agency that works to not only provide you with the promised ROI, but they also provide you with accurate growth reports as they send you those quarterly.
Therefore, even if your in-house marketing team is unable to achieve the desired return on investment for the month, your outsourced marketing agency most likely will.
Would it be right for you to outsource your marketing to a third party?
The advantages of outsourcing
Are you still unsure about whether or not it is right for you to outsource your marketing services?
Please take a moment to look into the following 3 scenarios, and if you relate to any of them, outsourcing marketing could be your best option.
Hiring An In-House Marketing Team Is Costly For Your Business
A business cannot afford to hire an in-house marketing team from the very beginning. The hiring of a marketing manager can be a challenge if you have a startup or a small business as the average base salary alone for a marketing manager in the US is over $54,000 per year.
You will still be limited to the number of marketing executives you can hire even if you are able to afford a marketing manager. If you want to expand your business' reach to a wider audience quickly, then having a really small marketing department is not going to help.
In order to avoid the high cost of hiring and maintaining an in-house marketing team, most of the new businesses choose to outsource their marketing.
Your current internal marketing strategy is not working
The reasons why a marketing strategy might fail can be attributed to a number of factors.
A poor marketing strategy is caused by a limited market perspective, a lack of familiarity with new trends in the industry, and outdated marketing tools.
If you have a marketing strategy that is failing, but you do not understand why, you might want to consider outsourcing.
Every business owner can get the expert marketing assistance they require to accelerate their marketing process and achieve their expected return on investment by outsourcing their marketing functions.
You Want To Shift Your Focus To Maximizing Growth
Businesses usually conduct a number of marketing experiments in order to find out what works.
The thing is, despite the fact that testing through trial and error can help you figure out what is right for you, it usually takes quite a lot of time, and usually requires a decent amount of investment.
As an alternative, if you work with an outsourced marketing agency, you will get data-driven marketing plans, strategies, and marketing materials right from the beginning.
By utilizing consistent marketing efforts, they help you instantly build a positive impression about your business online for maximum growth in the shortest amount of time.
Outsourcing Marketing Agencies: How To Choose The Right One
It can be tricky to hire the right marketing firm even though there are quite a few digital marketing agencies to choose from.
As a result, here are three tips to help you find a perfect outsourced marketing firm for your company:
Step 1: Know Your Marketing Needs
You must first consider your business's needs to understand your marketing goals and the digital marketing services you require.
Consider the following questions:
- How would you describe your position on the market?
- Would you consider yourself a startup or a large company with at least 50 employees?
- Are you looking for a specific type of marketing?
- Are you targeting a specific group of people?
- Would you consider yourself a B2B or B2C company?
- In your opinion, what will be the main purpose of your marketing campaign? Will it be lead generation or awareness?
After you understand what you need for your business, you will have an easier time hiring the right outsourced marketing services.
Step 2: Create A Budget
Despite the fact that outsourcing your marketing services is generally a less expensive option, you still need to consider the peculiar circumstances of your business and your capital.
You might want to consider asking yourself the following questions:
Is there a marketing department in your company? And if yes, how much do you spend on them at present?
Do you require any additional marketing services? If so, what do you require?
What will be the total cost of digital marketing if you choose to hire the service?
Also, it is a good idea to compare pricing models of various professional services firms to figure out what the average price of your digital marketing services will be.
After crunching the numbers and observing your overall business situation, you will be able to set a reasonable budget for outsourcing marketing.
Step 3: Search For A Digital Marketing Agency That Is Right For You
Taking a look at the various marketing agencies that cater to outsourcing can be very interesting.
Look through the website of the outsourcing marketing agency to analyze their marketing expertise in order to filter out the right agency for you.
In order to understand if they have relevant experience in your industry or not, look at the industries they have worked in in the past. As a rule of thumb, it's always a good idea to choose agencies that are more familiar with the industry you are working in.
It is also essential to get an overview of the technology they will use to manage your marketing strategy and analytics. If they are using the right tools to boost your marketing efforts, you will know if they are doing a good job.
Bringing it all together
A third-party marketing agency is often a better choice when it comes to efficiency, cost-savings, and ROI when compared to maintaining an in-house marketing team or hiring a freelancer for your marketing projects.
To determine whether outsourcing marketing is right for you, you can use the tips we discussed here. Then, if you believe it's going to be a good fit for your company needs, you should check out the companies we highlighted to find the best outsourced partner for you.
The important thing to keep in mind is that outsourcing marketing can take your company's outreach to the next level quickly and easily when done correctly.
How to Outsource Back Office Operations the Right Way
From data entry to payroll to admin and more, there are likely several tasks that are draining your resources when you could be focusing on core competencies instead. While these types of back office functions are certainly important, spending too much time and money on them isn’t conducive to keeping up in today’s competitive market.
According to a 2016 ADBI report, common challenges among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) include:
- Lack of financial knowledge and quality talent
- Inadequate networks contributing to slow expansion
- Higher transaction costs than large corporations
- Insufficient entrepreneurial spirit and resources
How can we overcome these challenges? Back office outsourcing makes a compelling case. Read on to learn more about what it can do for your business.
What is Back Office Outsourcing?
Like any form of outsourcing, back office outsourcing involves transferring specific functions to a third-party provider. In doing so, you can delegate non-core tasks such as marketing, accounting, human resources and IT to improve efficiency and reduce expenses. This naturally leads to positive growth, as you’ll have more room to leverage your full potential.
The aforementioned functions are typically handed over to a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firm that offers superior access to talented staff and the latest technologies. Making the move can spare you the cost of numerous back office expenses that would otherwise be sucking up your capital. This includes but is not limited to:
- Office space and utilities
- Hiring and compensating staff
- Hardware and software
- Equipment and maintenance
- Employee benefits and retention
Your BPO partner can be located anywhere from down the road to another country. Both approaches have their own potential benefits and drawbacks. While generally more expensive, local providers tend to be more reliable and easier to deal with, for example. Offshore outsourcing companies come with some unique challenges. These include:
- Linguistic and cultural barriers
- Legal and compliance issues
- Communication difficulties
- Security concerns
As for what exactly can be outsourced, your options depend on what your back office currently does. It can be any non-customer-facing function. They’re typically the more process-driven and resource-intensive tasks such as procurement, analytics and data entry.
Pricing
In exchange for their services, your outsourcing partner will charge a fee based on their pricing model. Most providers use an hourly rate for FTE or full-time equivalent, which is a unit that indicates the workload of their agents in the context of the tasks being carried out. Others charge per transaction, balanced with KPIs and quality control measures.
There are also ‘co-sourcing’ or ‘staff leasing’ models that charge for each agent. These are most common in functions that require specialist skill sets or in scenarios where businesses want to manage an overseas team directly. In other words, they aren’t leaving the management and control of external staff to the provider but are doing it themselves.
With these kinds of pricing structures, the provider facilitates office space, payroll, processing and IT support for their workers, who report back to the home country of the business. These models are usually more affordable as the outsourcing partner isn’t accountable for KPIs and employee performance. Of course, that’s left up to the business.
Staff leasing is charged in the form of a monthly service fee with wages and operating expenses passed through at cost or for a small mark-up that gets agreed upon in advance.
It’s important to take some time to find the right pricing model for your needs. In doing so, you can ensure that your outsourcing budget is used correctly. This is key to be able to reinvest as much of the saved resources as possible into other core, revenue-generating processes that drive your business forward.
What is Front-Office Outsourcing?
Traditionally, back office outsourcing doesn’t deal with customer-facing functions like market surveys, scheduling and help desk support. These are front office operations that are handled by staff who come into contact with customers or clients, while back office tasks are performed behind the scenes.
Here’s a brief overview of commonly outsourced front-office functions:
- Help Desk Support
External teams can efficiently assess problems and provide technical support services. This can improve customer satisfaction and give a better handle on staffing.
- Customer Service
With customers being the top priority, being able to offer around-the-clock support is key to staying competitive. Outsourcing has the benefit of gaining access to staff that are not only more available, but also more skilled and competent at providing customer service.
- Market Research
This includes compiling, sending and evaluating surveys. Understanding the market and competition is crucial to growing sustainably. Vendors can assist in helping a business make more informed decisions by handling research activities.
- Scheduling
Businesses need to have the right amount of trained staff available at all times. Not too many and not too few. Given that it can be a heavy-duty job, especially as a business grows, outsourcing the scheduling function makes sense. There are many providers that are more capable of handling a company’s human resources effectively.
Now that we have a better idea of what it all involves, let’s head back behind-the-scenes and take a look at how back office outsourcing can benefit your business.
Benefits of Outsourcing Back Office Processes
Still sceptical? Here are the main advantages of outsourcing your back office needs.
Lower Costs
The primary reason that most companies outsource is because of how it can improve their bottom line. Developing and maintaining the infrastructure required to run a back office is expensive, not to mention time-consuming. Your provider will be responsible for handling the costs associated with recruiting, training and paying staff.
This includes compensation, benefits and taxes. The cost of equipment, tools, utilities and office space will also be handed over to your outsourcing partner. Simply shipping off an in-house IT department can save tens of thousands in yearly expenses. This can be true with just your data and network administrators alone, who demand high salaries.
Of course, this translates to more financial freedom on your side. You’ll have more funds to gain an edge on the competition and offer your products or services at a lower cost. Alternatively, you can reinvest the saved resources into other departments that are more conducive to growth.
Uninterrupted Service
Hardware and software management has become considerably more challenging with the advancement of technology. The need for innovative solutions is greater than ever. This includes being able to provide a continuous flow of functionality for your internal processes, especially when it comes to the IT department.
An outsourcing company that specialises in IT will be able to handle these technicalities and allow you to provide 24/7 service. This results in happier customers and more efficient business processes.
Dampen Anxiety
Both you and your employees will be less anxious when a proper disaster management and recovery system is put into place by the right outsourced service provider. The challenges of a network going down or computer crashing are not only physical, but also worrying for the people who work with the technologies.
There are concerns about lost productivity, security threats and data loss. These worries will subside when the services are sufficiently protected and maintained.
Lower Risk
There’s no getting around the fact that every kind of business investment carries a certain degree of risk. An ever-changing barrier of local regulations, competitors, market conditions and technologies ensures this. The external team that you work with will take on much of this risk, allowing them to take it on and avoid it more effectively.
Disaster Recovery
Let’s say that something does happen. What happens then? Whether it’s a cyber-attack, flood, earthquake or simply human error, management must be able to quickly and correctly address the issue so that it doesn’t result in costly data loss. Let’s not forget about insurance claims, customer relations, structural damage and a myriad of other tasks.
Most companies are ill-equipped to handle these kinds of responsibilities, which can arise at any moment. Having outside help from professionals who are well-versed in disaster recovery and have the backup technology on hand can therefore prove to be extremely valuable.
Compliance and Security
When it comes to data protection, suffice it to say that you can never be too safe. Take a look at these major data breaches from a few years ago:
- Over 4.8 million users at V-tech had their data compromised
- Stolen call logs and recordings resulted in the violation of attorney-client privileges among 70 million inmates
- Thousands had their personal details compromised after credit card data was stolen from Trump hotels
- As many as 15 million T-Mobile network subscribers had their information stolen
These make up a fraction of the data breaches that companies have suffered in recent years. To safeguard against them, your business needs to be up to date on the latest security standards. This includes checking if you have a firewall and the right software installed, as well as if all workstations and servers have been audited.
Of course, these responsibilities all take time, money, effort and expertise to carry out. An outsourced service provider can ensure that you not only stay secure, but also compliant with governed regulations. This can save you from a great deal of trouble further down the road.
Talent and Technology
Another benefit of back office outsourcing is that you can gain access to trained staff with the necessary expertise required to achieve high results. And instead of having to purchase and maintain new software and hardware, your provider will cover your technological needs. This can be especially valuable when it comes to IT-related functions.
Productivity
Perhaps the true value of back office outsourcing lies in helping you reinvest your time and budget into key priorities. Cost savings lay the foundation, while increased freedom to focus on core components further drives growth. Your employees will also be happier and more efficient when doing what they do best as opposed to menial, repetitive tasks.
Drawbacks of Outsourcing Back Office Processes
Valuable as its aforementioned benefits may be, back office outsourcing doesn’t come without a few potential setbacks. Knowing them will help you mitigate any risks before they become a threat. Keep the following points in mind when choosing an outsourcing partner. This will help you avoid providers who put you at risk of facing these drawbacks.
Data Security
Letting a third party take the reins on your internal functions often requires entrusting them with sensitive information. This is a primary concern among businesses that outsource, as they no longer have the same level of control over their data. Play it safe by checking if the vendor has security certifications such as ISO 27001, HIPAA and PCI DSS.
You’ll have little to no oversight on how your data is used and stored. That’s why it’s important to assess the provider and ensure that they are using the latest security measures, as well as having the correct data protection and recovery measures in place. A careless partner can result in the costly loss of private information.
Be sure to also find out about how they dispose of old information. There shouldn’t be any cracks in their wall of defense, even when your sensitive data is no longer in use. Sticking to outsourcing companies with more experience in the industry is a good idea, as this indicates that they likely have enough security measures in place to stay operational.
Quality Control
The lack of control may also extend to quality of output. That’s why you need to work with a partner who’s able to provide regular updates detailing the condition of your outsourced processes. It helps to be clear about your standards and expectations from the get-go.
The outsourcing provider should have effective policies and measures in place for feedback reporting. No less important is that your company does the same with regular check-ins to ensure that your standards are being followed.
Hidden Costs
Another thing to request from your provider is a transparent report on where exactly your money is going. Working with a cheaper partner puts you at risk of facing additional charges on top of the specified fee. Investing in a quality service will pay off in the long run.
Take some time to carefully read the contracts and ensure that you’re aware of all the potential costs and charges that come with your outsourcing partnership. Having a legal team on hand can be helpful here. At the end of the day, no trustworthy vendor will subject your business to any hidden costs, so it really comes down to finding the right partner.
Communication Barriers
Depending on where your provider is located, you may have to contend with linguistic and cultural differences that can make it challenging to communicate your needs. Aim to outsource either to a local vendor or one with a reputation for having high adaptability and familiarity with different cultures.
Affordable labour isn’t always worth the struggle of not being able to effectively convey what you want and bring up problems when they arise. Choose outsourcing partners that have extensive experience working with global businesses. Some countries that are newer to business process outsourcing, such as the Philippines, are suitable options.
Thanks in part to the influence of Western culture, their way of working is strikingly similar to the US and UK. Aside from the obvious difference in accents, their English is also nearly indistinguishable from native speakers among leading vendors.
If you can fly abroad and visit them to see their office in action, your chances of partnering up with the right company will be even higher. This will ensure that you avoid most, if not all of the concerns that come with offshore outsourcing.
Time Zone Differences
Getting work done with an external team, even if they’re just a few hours away, can prove to be problematic. The presence of varying work holidays and major time zone differences will inevitably lead to some frustrating business interruptions if not handled properly.
The good news is that even offshore providers - at least those that are worth your time - compensate for this by working around the hours of the businesses they provide their services to. Ensure that your partner is flexible and has a history of being able to communicate effectively in the face of time zone challenges.
The right outsourcing partner has endured the test of time to ensure that their team is available whenever you need them. Get these areas right and you can look forward to a fruitful relationship where the above-listed concerns are a non-issue as you enter your outsourcing partnership.
Most Outsourced Back Office Functions
Back office outsourcing can incorporate virtually any process that doesn’t involve being in front of a client or customer. This includes accounting, finance, engineering, virtual assistants, software development and more. What constitutes a task worth outsourcing depends on your individual circumstances.
Remember that not everything in your back office can or must be outsourced. Some functions and processes need the special touch that only your internal staff can provide. Others have sensitive information or require certain knowledge that would take too long for an external team to be trained with.
To get a better idea of what you should choose, consider the following five most outsourced functions.
- Data Entry
Given its monotonous nature, it should come as no surprise that data entry is a popular candidate for back office outsourcing. Granted, it can involve some complicated tasks, such as when information needs to be researched, identified and interpreted. The right provider will have the necessary skills required to ease through these processes.
- Payroll
Another area where a capable outsourcing partner can shine is their ability to reduce the risk of costly payroll calculation errors. You’ll also be able to ensure that staff are paid correctly and on time in addition to shipping off a menial task.
- HR and Administration
Businesses can choose whether to outsource their entire HR department or just specific processes. In doing so, you can improve staff satisfaction and streamline operations by freeing up precious time. Internal admins will have more room to focus on the tasks that require their individual knowledge or ‘special touch.’
- IT Support
One of the most important back office functions to consider outsourcing is IT. This is particularly true for post-sales or technical support, which is key to analysing customer interactions to gain valuable insights that drive growth. Your outsourced IT partner will have access to the latest tools and trends, as well as security and recovery systems.
Some of the specific IT functions that are commonly outsourced include:
- Help desk operations
- Desktop support
- Network management
- App development
- Hardware servicing
- Telecommunications
- Marketing and PR
Outsourcing your marketing and public relations needs allows you to strategize and execute across multiple channels while focusing on core competencies. It’s akin to having a great marketing department, but without all the associated costs and responsibilities.
While these make up the most outsourced back office processes, there are a few more that are regularly outsourced by certain companies. This includes the following functions:
Secretarial Work
If your office is handled only by one person, outsourcing the secretarial function is a good idea. It can save space and significantly reduce your running costs. Your provider can deliver services such as arranging schedules, confirming appointments, answering emails and other duties remotely.
Typing or Transcription
Converting audio and video files into written format is for many businesses a necessary task. It’s also painstakingly menial. Instead of burdening internal staff with the time-draining task, you can send the material to an online transcriptionist. This can help you avoid having to hire someone just to type the document.
Customer Support
Not all of your customer support processes are front-office. Several aspects are more related to behind-the-scenes work. This includes analytics. It’s important to regularly assess your interactions with customers to find insights that help you improve your services. However, it requires the kind of expertise that an outsourcing provider readily has available.
Bookkeeping and Taxes
Needless to say that these tasks are crucial and mundane in equal measures. Important as they might be, bookkeeping and taxation are certainly a time-suck. They also require the highest level of accuracy and proficiency to stay clear of costly errors and comply with regulatory standards.
Managing the function in-house also comes with several expenses, including the cost of software like Quickbooks, Sage, Peachtree and other platforms that only get more expensive as your needs grow larger. Outsourcing companies can provide a range of bookkeeping services, including:
- Tax returns
- Cash flow statements
- Annual accounts
- VAT and liability reports
- Transaction entry
- Income statements
- Bank account and card reconciliation
- Accounts payable reports
- Ledger maintenance
Distribution
For businesses that have a fixed or estimated product distribution, the function can be handed over to a carrier. In doing so, you can reduce delivery costs and save a great deal of resources that would otherwise go into setting up a delivery system for your products. The back office distribution control centre is mainly what can be outsourced here.
Highly Specialised Functions
Finally, there are likely some processes that your business only carries out on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. Given their occasional nature, it stands to reason that they’re better off being outsourced as this eliminates the need to hire for and maintain the functions.
These short-term and temporary tasks can include project management, engineering, construction and contracting. Knowing that you have someone available to take on these processes and carry them out effectively, however seldom, is another way outsourcing can stave off some anxiety and help you focus on core operations.
Choosing the Right Back Office Outsourcing Partner
Your success with outsourcing back office functions mainly comes down to who you work with.
Make sure that the vendor aligns with your goals and resonates with your company’s values. Cost savings alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor. Check the provider’s track record and see if they’ve worked with companies in your industry before. You want a partner that’s well-funded to ensure long-term stability.
Look for a provider with the following qualities:
- Quality staffing and infrastructure
- Reasonable fees
- Legitimate and extensive work history
- Financial stability
- Clear and timely communication
Don’t forget about their location. Other than being free from communication barriers, your partner should also operate in a country with a decent economic climate and low risk of war or other calamities.
Here’s a closer look at the main steps that you should take when choosing an outsourcing partner:
- Define Your Scope of Work
Before you even start looking for a provider, you need to know exactly what you want from them. This can come in the form of a scope of work document. If that proves to be too technical, which is often the case with back office functions, then you can start by answering a few simple questions. For example:
- What are the exact tasks you want to outsource?
- What is the best potential solution?
- What are your quality standards and expectations?
- How much are you willing to spend?
From here, you can prepare a clear roadmap for outsourcing a particular function. It’s important to note that outsourcing isn’t a plug-and-play process. You can’t expect your partner to have the same level of familiarity with your tasks as you from the get-go, which is also why you need to be clear and comprehensive with your needs.
- Prioritise Expertise
Once your scope of work document is in place, you can start searching for BPO firms that fit the bill. Once you shortlist between three and five vendors, you can evaluate them based on the following factors:
- Technical competence
- Talents and skills
- Access to technology
- Passion for meeting your needs
- Experience with complex projects
While often overlooked, technical expertise is imperative for the success of any outsourcing partnership. Avoid partnering with any companies that are only proficient with a few technologies - especially if those technologies are out-of-date. The more software they (truly) know how to use, the better.
- Check Their Market Reputation
The last thing you want is a partner who always misses deadlines, is rude to your staff or perhaps even worse - your customers. That’s why it’s important to check the market reputation of your potential outsourcing partner before signing any contracts. This is easy to do in today’s internet-connected world.
For example, you can use platforms like GoodFirms and Clutch to learn more about the provider and see what previous clients have to say about them. If you still have doubts, you can always get in touch with businesses that the BPO firm has worked with in the past and ask about their experience.
- Know Your Budget
If you expect top-notch services, you need to remember that they cost higher than average. Determine and finalise the details of your outsourcing investment before moving forward. When you’re negotiating with any provider, make sure to clearly communicate your budget and ensure that they are able to offer a pricing model that fits your needs.
- Protect Your Data
In an era where privacy and data security are major concerns for any business, you need to ensure that your outsourcing partner has the right measures in place to keep your sensitive information safe. It’s often recommended that you draw up a nondisclosure agreement that your vendor will sign when the contracts are put on the table.
Aside from this, your provider should also be conducting frequent security and network audits on their premises. They should have the latest tools and software that will help your data stay free from any leaks or compromises, both of the internal and external kind.
- Find Someone Flexible
Another important factor to remember when outsourcing is flexibility, which goes beyond how you’re charged. The outsourcing company needs to be flexible enough to serve any of your requirements or solve your problems at moment’s notice. This is particularly important when you’re working between different time zones.
Outsourcing Back Office Operations Effectively
Establishing and maintaining a good relationship with your outsourcing provider is imperative. Aim to be insightful of your needs. Determine whether each function is truly worth outsourcing or whether it’s better off being kept in-house. Some processes may lose their value or uniqueness after being handed over to a third party.
You should also make sure to define exactly what you want from your partner. There’s no room for compromises here. Similarly, forgoing quality for cost savings is the worst thing you can do. It will only lead to bigger expenses later down the line. Remember that your back office operations are the basis for your front office.
That said, there are some ways to safely reduce your outsourcing expenses. This includes:
- Deciding whether cheaper offshore workers are more sensible than a local labour base that costs less to train
- Using online conferencing tools to communicate instead of traveling to your partner
- Choosing a country with a competitive advantage in the particular field you want to outsource
- Only hiring as many workers as you need
- Moving part of your internal team to the outsourcing location
- Building better relationships and negotiating with your provider
Here are five key steps to outsourcing back office operations effectively:
- Know Your Needs
To get the most out of your outsourcing decision, you should know which services you require help with in this department. It will also enable you to save on expenses as much as possible. This way, you won’t have to pay for additional costs when your internal team can manage certain tasks more effectively.
For example, if you require more help with IT than you do with accounting, then prioritising the former will be a more logical decision than spending additional money outsourcing both functions.
- Define Your Requirements
Not all back office operations are equal. They have different requirements when it comes to quality standards and the specific tasks that they encompass. If you want to outsource human resources, for instance, then you may not need to include payroll if you already have software that handles the process affordably and efficiently.
Similarly, having a third party take care of admin doesn’t always mean that you require assistance with procurement and purchasing. Having a clear idea of your expectations will assist in getting more accurate quotes and finding a service that best suits your needs. Don’t forget to have documentation that defines your expectations when it comes to quality.
- Avoid Cost-Cutting
As you are probably aware, reducing expenses should never be the sole reason for your outsourcing move. Forgoing quality for the sake of affordability is no way forward. Taking the opposite approach will ensure that you’re able to run operations smoothly and ultimately receive the output that customers expect from your business.
With fewer errors, quicker turnaround times and an overall more professional execution of your outsourced functions, you’ll see a clear difference in the final service that reaches your buyers. In addition, it will have a better effect on the satisfaction of your internal staff, especially when the outsourced functions pertain to HR and payroll.
That said, ensuring quality doesn’t have to mean paying unnecessarily high prices for your core processes. It’s mostly a matter of performing due diligence when choosing a partner, which the information listed above can help you with.
- Understand Legal Requirements
A common concern when outsourcing is determining whether the vendor is complying with any necessary laws and regulations. This can be particularly challenging when your partner is located in another country where the rules are different. That’s why it’s a good idea to be fully aware of all your legal requirements when making the move.
Local laws pertaining to minimum wage policies, tax statuses and data protection guidelines should be on the list. Remember that they don’t necessarily account for who is doing the work. Your own business is ultimately responsible for how processes are handled.
- Know How Costs are Calculated
There are a number of factors that influence what an outsourcing company will charge for their services. This includes the following key elements:
- Reputation
- Scope and speed of services
- Experience and skill level
- Portfolio and work history
- Ease of working together
Needless to say, all of these factors are important for a successful partnership. Keep them in mind when determining whether a certain vendor is worth the price, or whether it’s necessary to move up a level.
Key Considerations before Outsourcing Back Office Operations
Let’s end off with some things to be aware of moving forward.
You’ll need to discuss your outsourcing plans with internal staff. Get everyone involved and encourage them to share their thoughts so that you can gather insights. Don’t forget to look at the long term and do some analysis on how your outsourcing move will affect you in the future. It’s always better to mitigate the risk and start small.
Creating a transition plan will also help. It should include your specific needs, areas for improvement and potential concerns. In fact, you should have a detailed overview of all of the commercial, legal and financial risks that may come into play. Dealing with a single company will further reduce your risk.
As you move into the relationship, remember to keep your communication lines open and regularly monitor the performance of your partner. We can detail these key points over a three-stage process, namely planning, execution and supervision. Here’s what you need to know:
- Planning
Getting to this stage can be easier said than done. There’s a lot to consider, especially if it’s your first time outsourcing. Remember that a successful partnership requires collaboration from everyone - including your internal team. Getting staff to share their opinions on the move will help you gather valuable insights for a more informed decision.
You should also explain why you believe that your company needs to take this step in the first place. This will help everyone understand the reason behind your move. This is where it helps to consider the long-term outcome of your outsourcing choice. Knowing how it will affect your business in later months and years is important.
Explore your options carefully and try to start small. This will minimise your risk and help you become more familiar with how the outsourcing process works and what it involves.
- Execution
This is where you begin handing over your first back office function to a BPO firm. As mentioned above, you should take some time to employ a two-way transition plan. Discuss your specific needs with your partner and keep their own objectives in mind. They also have to benefit from the relationship if it is to be worthwhile for them.
From here, you can develop an effective governance and management process. This will ensure that your standards and procedures are carried out by the book. It will also guarantee that none of the work you’re entrusting will be compromised. On that note, you should determine a plan to counterattack any potential risks if they come to light.
Whenever possible, the best approach is to deal with a single provider as opposed to numerous vendors at once. The better they are at doing what they do, the more trust you can put into them and the more easily you’ll be able to oversee their performance. This also contributes to less admin work.
- Supervision
Back office outsourcing is a constant effort. A successful transition doesn’t mean the end of your contribution. To make your move work, you need to treat it as an ongoing relationship and not a way to hand off the responsibilities that come with the outsourced task.
For this reason, you should make sure to keep your communication lines open and maintain a constant feedback loop between both parties. Maintaining a positive and productive relationship will inspire your partner to provide better service. Analysing their performance and identifying room for improvement has the same effect.
Look out for any issues and be sure to bring them up with your vendor as soon as you’ve identified a suitable solution. Understand how you can contribute to their own growth at the same time. After all, your outsourcing partner is also a business that needs to thrive and stay ahead of the competition in a fast-growing industry.
Conclusion
Back office outsourcing is more than just an effective cost-cutting tool. Give your first outsourced function some thorough consideration before putting things into motion.