Latin American countries that comprise almost half of the Americas are diverse in terms of heritage, language, and culture. These are among the reasons why many companies are hoping to expand in the region. If your company is among those preparing to make a move, the following tips may give you ideas on how to make the transition smooth:
1. Know what exactly must be outsourced
No matter the company's scale, you will have certain tasks that require special abilities and skills. You have to analyze if you have the people to assign or if it would be more beneficial for the company to outsource some responsibilities. This way, you are preventing any weaknesses by identifying them early on.
Outsourcing is similar to extending an existing team. You will work together with the outsourcing team toward the same goal - to foster productivity by maximizing the budget allocated for the move.
2. Choose the right outsourcing services
Whether you run a software company or sell products or services, you need to use outsourcing services and choose based on value and not on the price. You have to settle for a provider that can give quality services and help your company grow.
You have to look into the background of the outsourcing provider. What projects have they handled? How did they fare with their past clients? What is their history when it comes to managing a remote team?
The right provider will work with you, emphasizing integration and branding. You both have to set up software that will integrate all workforce and make things easier and more productive for everyone involved.
3. Choose the outsourcing services with mastery of running a virtual workplace
The provider has to have vast experience in managing a remote team. For example, the task involves working remotely as a content specialist; they have to let you know how their typical day goes. This way, you will know how much effort goes into one task and how many people you need to ensure the task will remain well-managed and maintained through the years.
In the sample of a virtual content specialist, the usual tasks given to a sole person include collaborating with the video content specialist about new testimonials and demos, working with developers and designers regarding the launch of new web pages, writing email content, and outlining the content.
The workflow of a virtual content specialist usually begins by logging into the system and checking the scheduled tasks for the day and days to come. If a meeting with an overseas team is set, they will do this early in the morning to ensure the attendance of most of the participants. They will start working while checking what other team members are working on.
They also need to keep on checking the messages received and respond to them. It's part of their responsibilities to respond to comments and assign Teamwork tasks. They will go through the comments in Google Docs and InVision and address any comments left.
Then they will check through the emails and make long follow-ups if necessary. They have to document everything before signing off and prepare for likely similar tasks for the next day and the days after.
Aside from ensuring all their tasks are done efficiently, mastering the virtual workplace also means encouraging a positive culture. You need people to finish the tasks, but you need them in their best physical and mental health, so you must set priorities and boundaries.
4. Search for the outsourcing services provider
Despite the need to delegate tasks to a remote team, you are still the boss. You have to know if you are handing a part of your company to the right hands. First, it will help if you will search online for details about the provider.
Look at the past projects they've handled, and check the reviews and comments. If you can contact some of their past or existing clients, you may want to get in touch with them to know more about what you would be getting yourself into.
When it comes time to meet with the provider, you have to be straight about the tasks you want to accomplish. Hear their suggestions on what they intend to do to make the team productive and help you reach your goals. You have to listen if they are bringing new ideas to the table.
You have to set measurable goals to meet your defined goals for the company. You have to communicate with the provider that you expect nothing else but the best quality output.
5. Work on a budget
When it comes to outsourcing, cheap may not be the best option. Outsourcing services do not only vary in terms of pricing. They also give different levels of work quality. If you want this venture to succeed, you have to look beyond the price and settle for the services whose goals and work practices align with yours.
You are lucky if you will find a cheap outsourcing company that does an excellent job. However, make it a priority to check the quality of their work and not the price.
Final Thoughts
Preparing your company for outsourcing is a big step for the business and all your employees. It is crucial to hire the right services to handle the remote team and integrate everything into the existing team on the base.
It is also crucial that you keep on working on the company's internal organization. You have to keep a good management team that will oversee everything from your business location and collaborates with the remote team regarding workflow and goals.
Outsourcing will benefit the business in more ways than you can ever imagine, but it can only happen when you've got the services of the right provider. By handing specific tasks to expert hands, you can focus on setting new goals and develop more measures to ensure the growth and success of the business.