Benefits of Outsourcing

Outsourcing started to become popular in the 1970s and has grown to standard practice today due to its numerous benefits. Collectively, these benefits help an organization to grow and prosper more than it would be able to on its own. These largely boil down to the simple factor of finances and how outsourcing can reduce costs. Outsourcing cuts labor costs in the form of employee salaries, equipment, technology needs, office spaces, etc.

In addition to extra finances, outsourcing allows company executives to spend more time elsewhere, focusing instead on improving core tasks, developing internal staff, and planning growth. In addition to internal focus, you now have access to whole new skill sets through outsourcing. Utilize this to innovate and excel beyond competition.

Risks of Outsourcing

Despite the benefits of outsourcing, there are various risks to be considered. This is not meant as a deterrent to utilizing outsourcing, but rather information to help create awareness of how to best utilize outsourcing and prevent unnecessary risk.

One of the largest risks organizations face is the lack of control over processes and services that are no longer internally managed. This is especially true for organizations that are offshore outsourcing, or outsourcing to a location that is beyond in-person audits or walkthroughs. You then have to verify that your new partner is compliant with all regulations and contract terms, which can be a difficult task at a distance. Privacy and security concerns must be addressed ton confirm that your and your customers data is properly protected. Any data that your partner has access to is at risk and can create a vulnerability in your own security efforts as well.

Other risks include a vendor simply failing to meet obligations. You could have completed all due diligence in ensuring that you would not have any issues with outsourcing, and yet your partner simply fails to deliver what was expected or has delays. Your customers do not hear excuses and will blame you if the delays trickle into their experiences. This holds true for issues with quality as well. Ultimately, risks with third parties are going to be risks faced by your own company.

Challenges

In order to complete this outsourcing process, there are also some challenges that will have to be overcome. This includes unforeseen costs in your agreement or onboarding process, such as any training time, software upgrades, troubleshooting, after-hours service if you don’t have a 24/7 support agreement, etc. To help combat this, make sure you plan for possible issues, thoroughly review your contracts, and leave room in your budget for unforeseen circumstances. You will also face challenges vetting potential partners. This includes performing audits that determine if your outsourcing to an organization that is financially stable, appropriately secure, has the necessary equipment and staff to fulfill obligations, and is excited about working with you.

Managing Outsourcing Risk

The key focus of managing outsourcing risk is communication. Many issues can be resolved by setting clear deadlines, expectations of business, and conveying any unsatisfactory performance so it can be remedied. This involves establishing communication between key staff members of the outsourcing company and a management team internally.

Draw up an airtight outsourcing contract that has been reviewed by a legal team to ensure you’re protected. This includes an NDA for any confidential information the outsourced partner may become privy to.

For more outsourcing assistance and to perform a free assessment on your organization, start a free trial of ComplianceWatch, our risk assessment platform. It will provide free access to our content libraries that have specialized assessment criteria, ensuring companies you partner with are secure and compliant with all standards, regulations, and contract details. Gain a calculated risk score across all areas of your partner organization to learn where your greatest risks lie and how to mitigate those risks. You’ll also benefit from automated reporting and data analysis, so you can present your findings and track progress with minimal effort.