Outsourcing is an acronym derived from "outside resource use," so it means using outside resources and services. The main goal of outsourcing is to maximize profits while minimizing our own internal input. To what extent can such activities support our organization? The possibilities are almost endless - any of the departments or projects in our company can be handled by an outsourcer. Thanks to such a solution, the company can significantly improve its market position - both on a functional and strategic level.
First, however, it is worthwhile to carefully examine your needs, determine the areas in which you will engage an external service provider and define the tasks you will entrust to him. In the process of deciding on cooperation with a partner providing such services, it is also important to choose a specific model, and there are many of these - offshoring, body leasing, nearshoring.... The list is long, but the characteristics of each type, contrary to appearances, very simple. We will focus today on discussing three that, if properly selected, can bring your organization many benefits.
Offshoring
This is an IT outsourcing model in which externally delegated activities are transferred to another country. Cooperation is often established between organizations operating on different continents. Geographic location is therefore of marginal importance.
When deciding on offshoring, we need to take care of appropriate communication conditions. Extremely important here is a strong Internet connection provided in each device, eliminating interference during remote conversations. In the case of this type of cooperation, it is also worth, from the beginning of the implementation of such a solution, to take into account possible differences
in time zones, or language barriers - the success of the operation of such a model is strictly dependent on our preparation for its implementation.
Benefits:
- access to a specialized cadre of experts makes the organization's development process faster and more efficient
- Savings in operating costs and employee retention
- The opportunity to find a new, lucrative local market.
Threats:
- the presence of language and cultural barriers can have a negative impact on communication and the process of setting common goals
- long geographical distance and different time zones do not encourage communication and make face-to-face contacts difficult
- Risk of loss of intellectual property (data leakage, acquisition of important information by foreign companies).
Nearshoring
Nearshoring is currently one of the most popular outsourcing models. As its name suggests, it involves establishing cooperation with partners operating in a relatively close location (example: a company from Poland decides to cooperate with an organization from Germany). What is extremely important, this type of cooperation largely excludes certain barriers concerning, among other things, cultural differences, work organization or legal conditions. Just being in the same or similar time zones, has a positive impact on communication capabilities.
Benefits:
- Cultural similarities and ethical similarities in the way we communicate have a positive impact on goal setting and the course of cooperation
- close geographic location facilitates face-to-face meetings
- Savings in operating costs and employee retention
- Access to a specialized cadre of experts makes the organization's development process faster and more efficient.
Threats:
- The existence of additional costs associated with the process of introducing outsourcers to the vision and mission of the organization
- Leakage of sensitive business data
- Communication problems resulting from the language barrier.
Body leasing
This model is often called outsourcing of specialists. It consists in making employees available to the company for a period of time specified in the contract. Such a solution makes it possible to obtain almost immediate support from experienced personnel. This type of cooperation brings economic and organizational savings to the organization. It avoids the costs associated with the process of recruiting, implementing or training a new employee, as well as his subsequent maintenance. The form of body leasing is adjusted directly to the needs of the company - it can be a contract with only one specialist or the whole team.
Benefits:
- Savings in operating costs and employee retention
- access to a specialized cadre of experts makes the organization's development process faster and more efficient
- Ability to tailor the expert/team to the specific needs and scope of the activity
- the duration of the contract can last from a few days to a few months - this gives you the chance to avoid contracts that are valid for the long term.
Threats:
- The requirement to continuously integrate new partners into the company's mission and vision
- Lack of understanding of the organization's goals and values on the part of outsourcers
- team/specialist busy with other projects may not be available and responsive enough.
How to take care of security during outsourcing
If we want to take full advantage of the potential and opportunities that outsourcing brings, we should keep in mind the most important aspect of future cooperation, which is the security of our company. Our priority in the process of preparing to start outsourcing cooperation should be the selection of a trusted IT partner. The right provider, thanks to its experience, will be able to provide our company with the highest quality of services and guarantee data security. At the same time, it should have the knowledge and resources to prevent all potential threats. Neglecting such an important aspect as security can lead, among other things, to data leakage, exposure to cyber attacks, and consequently to loss of reputation or a significant slowdown of our operations in the market. It is worth Take care of the security of your cooperation with your IT partner and familiarize yourself with security standards in outsourcing.
Summary
Each of the outsourcing models mentioned can bring your organization many tangible benefits. However, the key to the success of such a solution is its proper selection and a reliable implementation process. In the first step, it is worthwhile to analyze your needs and determine the areas in which such activities can help us. In this way we can achieve great cost savings, and qualified specialists will contribute to the rapid and effective development of our company.
