Outsourcing is often thought of as a dirty word. Remote agents working outside the United States, offsite new hires, or corporate remote work can make it seem like a business owner has unplugged from the needs of the staff. This comes with a minimal office and the loss of jobs, right? Not right. This isn’t actually the case, as over 99% of employer firms in the United States are small businesses, with 89% of all businesses in the U.S. listing fewer than 20 employees. In addition, there are almost 25 million non-employer businesses in the country, meaning that virtually all corporate entities in the U.S. are either sole proprietorships or operate a bare bones office staff already.
Minimal or localized production is simply the metric of a successful businessman. Outsourcing and hiring remote workers then becomes essential company culture and the best advice for entrepreneurs looking to keep costs low and efficiency high. Successful entrepreneurs and a small business owners know that the best way to keep revenue high is to lower costs. Read on for examples of how successful business owners are doing this today, whether it’s by using the services of remote agents or limiting new hires to specific areas of their startups.
Outsource your data and software needs.
Building a server farm within the space of your business is an expensive proposition, and one that you should avoid at all costs. The future of computing is in the cloud. Moving your data management operations offsite is a great way to take advantage of the space and energy saving features of a cloud based storage system without having the hassle of setup or data management within your in house team. A minimal data team that is well versed in Java or Python scripting (such as, ‘what is np arrange,’ or ‘how does a vibrant database change the way you do business?’) will keep your team members focused on the day to day business of your operation. You won’t have to employ a secondary team of Python professionals to maintain data types or keep your support machinery running.
Use remote call center technology.
Similarly, introducing the elements necessary to field a remote call center is a crucial part of the business process that sees your outsourcing taken into full gear. This is particularly important in the age of coronavirus lockdowns that have stunted corporate and small business growth over the past year. With lockdown measures killing off in person business for much of 2020, and a continuation of these measures extending into the new year, the ability to work remotely has never been more important. Of particular note is the ability to contact and work with clients remotely, which is where remote call center software comes into play.
Call center software gives you unique access to your clients, and vice versa, that other technological inclusions simply can’t muster. With remote call center software you can send staff home to work from the comfort of their living rooms, and it’s a great way to introduce remote agents to your startup’s workforce. Old and new employees can keep themselves and their families safe from contracting this deadly virus while still providing the required personalized touch for contact with your clients that is a staple of a highly efficient call center.
Alternatively, you may choose to outsource this business service altogether. Call centers located outside the United States provide a great way to cut down on costs, and the professional services of these outfits can give you the same customer-focused results that you would expect from an in house team. Finally, outsourcing your calling needs to a team of remote agents who are located in the U.S. is another option for those looking for the right blend of service and skill. Many clients in the United States would prefer to speak to a call center agent based in their home country. Hotbeds for call center facilities have sprung up in Texas and Florida as a result.
Many companies have opted to bring their calling needs back to the shores of the United States, and are onboarding many new hires as a result. Balancing price and service level is just one aspect of how to be a good businessman in a world of fast movers and constant exposure in the media and online. Even though the world is fast moving, make sure to take care of your new hires and ensure that they’re properly trained on the first day that they join your team. Getting ahead of the curve and remaining there with the help of a new employee training video that outlines a commitment to employee wellness is a great way to foster a continuously high performing and efficient office culture that utilizes a mixture of in house and outsourced services. Efficient and fun tutorials also mean good news for morale, even if you’re managing a remote team.
Lean in to marketing assistance.
Your advertising budget is one of the most important places to focus on the addition of outside help. Hiring a team to do much of your advertising in the first phase of business is a great way to cut down on costs, and is standard advice for growing a business focused on food and nutrition as well as those that are based in digital technology, consumer services, or really any market sector.
Outsourcing your marketing team is a great way to capitalize on the marketplace experts without having to shell out precious capital on expensive salaries in the early days. With the help of a professional advertising team you can keep your budget low and tap into the zeitgeist of the marketplace at the same time. Professionals in this industry have their ears to the ground on what makes consumers tick, and they are more than happy to share their market insights with their clients.
Rather than trying to figure out a marketing strategy within a team of pros with experience elsewhere, relying on a team of industry experts can get you the insights you need to perform well in your advertising and reach the target audience that you need to connect with. Many marketing teams will even provide the market research service that is so desperately needed for this task as a standard inclusion in their contract. Utilizing this will help you and your own team focus on developments that fall within your wheelhouse rather than having to branch out and wear many hats that you may not be totally comfortable with.
Outsourcing is a core component of steering corporate profit, especially for small businesses that haven’t built out each of these unique silos of customer service, business development, and marketing already. In your early days, or throughout the life of your small business for a single proprietorship, outsourcing these core tasks can be a lifesaver. Lean on professional help to continue growing your business and your lineup of products and services.
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