Outsourcing is an excellent approach that finds use in everyday business activities. It is a good solution to some of the most common business problems. Whether you are a start-up company or a well-established business, outsourcing can provide a lot of benefits. Outsourcing non-core business tasks such as HR, logistics and accounting can really help the business to grow and succeed.
However, before you consider outsourcing for your business, it’s important to keep in mind it comes with its own pros and cons. It is all about analyzing whether your business will achieve more gain if you outsource the non-core business processes.
Below, you’ll discover the advantages and potential disadvantages outsourcing non-core tasks can deliver.
What are non-core processes?
Non-core business processes are classed as non-essential tasks. That is, if they are carried out poorly, they won’t have a significant impact on the business. However, that isn’t to say that these processes aren’t important. They just won’t harm the business if they aren’t performed correctly.
Some examples of non-core tasks include inventory management, HR and accounting. Outsourcing these types of tasks is less risky than core processes. Plus, it can deliver a lot of great benefits. So, what advantages could you expect to experience by outsourcing non-core tasks?
The pros
There are a lot of benefits that come from outsourcing including:
- Increased efficiency
- Cost savings
- Access to a wider talent
One of the main benefits of outsourcing is that it can drastically boost efficiency. Having someone help you with certain tasks, frees up time that you can spend on core processes. Freelancers are also usually experts in their field, so they will be able to carry out the tasks more efficiently than you.
It can also save you money in the long term too. When you don’t spend your time focusing on the smaller tasks, you can think long-term and fulfill the important large goals of your business. As you’ll be able to focus more on sales and improving core processes, you’ll earn additional profits. This is when you won’t see the outsourcing as an unnecessary cost. Outsourcing the work is also going to prevent the need for you to hire additional staff. Keep in mind that hiring additional staff may delay or slow down the working process, or impose changes to your current management system. Having more workers than the initial number will also impose the need for a larger working space. many companies will have to make changes to the existing or move to new working spaces to suit the number of employees. This action can make you spend more money. You’ll also have access to a much wider talent pool.
Also, you won’t have to invest in training and education for the people that aren’t your employees. The best thing is that they already have the needed experience, knowledge, and certifications to complete the job. You can choose whether you want to outsource for a simple task, as a short campaign, or even for long term.
The cons
The benefits of outsourcing are impressive, but there are also a few downsides to be aware of too. The initial cost can be off-putting, even if it does deliver long-term benefits.
When outsourcing, not all freelancers are reliable and high-quality. You will need to be very careful with your choice and pick professionals that have a proven track record. Otherwise, they might spend your precious time. So, it’s important to make sure you are choosing respected partners like RSM. You need to be able to trust that they will do a great job. Remember to look out for testimonials when looking for the right outsourcing partners. Read them carefully and create an overall image of the experience of the customers. Expect to get a similar experience when you work with them.
There are definitely more pros than cons when it comes to outsourcing non-core tasks. However, it’s still worth being aware of the disadvantages before deciding whether or not it is right for your business. Consider the needs of your business and the working process to determine whether you will need to outsource some services. Do a feasibility study to make sure that the outsourcing will pay off for your specific business.