Scaling Outsourced Teams According to Needs

Obviously, as your business grows, so does the need for additional talent. However, hiring full-time employees can be costly and time-consuming.  

Outsourcing solves both of their problems. 

To make the most of it, you need to consider the following: 

Your Business Needs 

First things first: 

What does your business need exactly? 

Or, in other words, what do you need to outsource?  

It could be non-core activities such as administrative tasks, customer service, or back-office operations. Or maybe your business requires specialized skills—such as IT, marketing, or legal help.  

Also: 

Do you need to outsource a project for a short-term or do you require a long-term partnership? What is your budget? Do you need any niche skills or tech? 

Answering those questions will help you build a suitable plan for action. It will also enable you to open discussions with suitable outsourcing vendors.  

Objectives and Expectations 

The next step: 

Defining clear objectives and expectations for the outsourced team.  

Having measurable goals will help you track progress and ensure success. In addition, you need to be specific about the roles, responsibilities, and deliverables of the outsourced team. This will help prevent misunderstandings.  

For example:  

If you’re outsourcing an IT project, be clear about whether your partner is responsible for maintenance, development, or both. 

Last but not least, setting clear deadlines will help ensure that your outsourced team meets project milestones on time. Remember – be realistic about your expectations. 

Communication Protocols 

Effective communication is crucial.  

So, here’s what you need to do to ensure you avoid any issues:  

First, if possible, assign a dedicated project manager or liaison to act as the main point of contact between your company and the outsourced team. Then, invest in tools that enhance communication, such as Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. This is especially important when dealing with remote workforces. 

Another vital thing is to define specific hours for availability and regular reporting schedules. That way, you ensure that your teams are always in sync. By the way, that’s another reason why nearshoring is the preferred method for outsourcing – having similar time zones helps a lot.  

Security and Compliance 

It should come as no surprise that security and compliance are among the top priorities. Outsourced teams will have to access to sensitive data. As you can see, it’s essential that you implement robust security protocols. Role-based information access is your best bet. Your external partners will only see data relevant to their work. 

Also, you need to ensure your outsourcing partner complies with relevant data protection laws. For example, GDPR. You can also ask outsourced team members to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and contracts that clearly outline confidentiality obligations. This is particularly important when handling sensitive customer or financial data. 

If you’re outsourcing in the UK, research the IR35. We’re talking about anti-avoidance tax regulation that aims to identify individuals who work as contractors or freelancers but are treated as employees. If any cover the criteria, they subject to PAYE (Pay as You Earn) tax and NICs. 

A pretty important thing to keep in mind. 

Performance Monitoring 

Once all of this is done, you can start working with your new team. Hopefully, all will go swimmingly. 

Still: 

You’ll need to continuously monitor performance and adjust where necessary. 

To do so successfully, you’ll need to establish key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, if you’ve outsourced customer service, track metrics such as response times, customer satisfaction, and resolution rates. 

Another good idea is to schedule regular performance reviews to assess the outsourced work. It will help you identify areas where improvements can be made and ensure continuous improvement. 

Keep in mind you may need to further expand or modify the outsourced team. Stay flexible and adapt to changing market conditions, business needs, or project requirements. 

How to Choose the Right Outsourcing Partner 

Here’s the thing: 

A good outsourcing partner can bring expertise, flexibility, and success to your business. So, the process of selecting the right vendor should not be taken lightly. You’ll need to consider: 

• Their reputation 

• The expertise they provide 

• Any relevant certifications 

• Openness to changes 

• Time zones and response times 

• Compliance with regulations and data security practices 

• Contract and pricing transparency 

Expert Allies offers all of the above and more. We’re success-oriented, result-driven, and quick to adapt. 

So, contact us now and we’ll get back to you by the end of the day! 

Let’s take your business to the next level together.  

Wrap Up 

It’s well known that outsourcing enables you to scale your team without the headaches of traditional hiring. 

But only if you do it right. 

By assessing your business needs, setting clear goals, and choosing the right partner, you can easily expand your team. It doesn’t matter if it’s for long-term projects or just busy periods. Outsourcing provides flexibility, so you can adjust your workforce as demands change. And yes, that means scaling down, too. 

With the right communication, management tools, and performance monitoring in place, outsourcing becomes a powerful way to grow your team efficiently and cost-effectively. 

So, shoot us a message and let’s see what your business needs.