SOURCING OUTloud: The Good and Bad In Outsourcing

Outside resourcing. These two words comprise the concept of outsourcing. It can be defined as a result-oriented partnership to develop the business through the use of external sources or a service providers. Therefore,  instead of work being processed internally using internal resources, you acquire the services of people outside your organization. In this connection, Virtual assistants(VAs) are considered as external resources..

So, what are the benefits and the risks of outsourcing? Is it a good option for your business? Here are some important points to consider:

Pros: Benefits of using outsourced operations – Virtual Assistants

• Reduced cost and accredit asset. Organizations that outsource parts of their internal operations have reported having significant savings on operational and capital costs. According to studies, there is a strong correlation between outsourcing best practice and high performing companies. Accordingly, this means that outsourcing is considered a good cost-effective option.
• Focus on “core” goals. Becoming excellent at the operation of a small, manageable, the number of tasks is beneficial to most companies. By hiring a VA, you will have more time and resources to create and improve your activities. In addition, you will not be jeopardizing tasks entrusted to the outsourced agency.
• Complementary assets. Partnering with organizations with resources that complement their own is strategic management in operations is ideal. Suppliers may be significantly more advanced. Therefore, outsourcing to them allows organizations to make the most out of their advanced technologies.
• Improved Flexibility. There is a need to adapt to the market environment to meet changing business conditions.  Nowadays, outsourcing has become the norm in various business fields. So, it is a wise decision to take advantage of its benefits.

Cons: Risks and concerns related to outsourcing

• Unaccomplished benefits. Lack of formal outsource decision-making processes results in tasks not being achieved. Therefore,  it should be given more attention. You are trying to gain something out of outsourcing. Accordingly, you should plan what processes to outsource in order to get the best results.
• Creeping privatization. This goes to sourcing clinical services with private sector firms which is contrary to government policy and the ethos of the public sector healthcare system. Business does not operate in a vacuum. Consequently, it pays to observe governmental rules and procedures.
• Loss of job. Workers can lose their jobs in various ways. Some of these are unintended consequences of diverse, individual organizations’ actions. Displaced workers could harbor resentment towards previous employers. In addition, they could have negative feelings about outsourcing firms and individuals. Thus, it pays to weigh the positive and negative effects first before making your decision.
• Over-outsourcing.  Some jobs should only be partly contracted out. Hence, outsource only those tasks or processes that you can afford to. You must remain in control of the core processes all the time.

Final Thoughts

With proper management and outsourcing decisions, it is true that the advantages of outsourcing outweigh these concerns. Here at eVirtual Assistants, we make the hiring process as easy as possible for you. Moreover, we provide you with a trained Virtual Assistant who is a perfect match for your business needs.