Outsourcing is an integral part of doing business in the 21st century; companies prefer to outsource rather than having an in-house department, as it does not tie up essential working capital. This is a relatively new business practice, which emerged in the 1980s and it doesn’t look like it is ending anytime soon.
Here are some of the common business services that companies like to outsource.
- Digital marketing– If you want your website to be on page 1 of Google search results, you contact a leading SEO agency. Most entrepreneurs do not have the know-how to carry out online marketing, which is why the digital marketing industry is booking. There are two main reasons why a business would outsource; they do not have the necessary resources or know-how, or it is cheaper to outsource to a 3rd party provider.
- Printing– With top printing in Sydney, why invest in expensive laser colour printers when an established local print shop can print whatever you need? Whether promotional material or internal paperwork, quality printing is cheap these days and that is why business owners choose to outsource their printing needs.
- Cyber-security – An essential service that every organisation needs, hackers are everywhere and they are very good at what they do (stealing data). Engage the services of a leading cyber-security specialist and protect your data 24/7.
- Web design & construction– Most companies no longer have an IT department, as they prefer to outsource all web and IT needs to a local 3rd party provider. IT is a complex field that is best left to the experts.
- Office cleaning– Rather than directly employing cleaners and taking on a lot of liability, contact a local commercial cleaning contractor and they will ensure that your employees are greeted by a clean workplace.
- Logistics– The third-party logistics (3PL) sector is booming and for a small business, outsourcing means you don’t have to run a fleet of vehicles and hire a team of drivers. The thriving e-commerce industry relies heavily on the 3PL sector and if you need any form of logistics, the cost-effective solution is to outsource.
- Bookkeeping & accounting– While multi-national corporations might have an accounting department, most small and medium businesses outsource all their bookkeeping and accounting to a local accountancy firm. You can grant access to bookkeeping staff and they can get the data they need from your cloud, which saves you time and money.
- Equipment maintenance – Computers, photocopiers, scanners and printers all need to be serviced and there will be a small contractor nearby who can visit you every month and carry out the necessary work to keep the equipment running.
- Virtual reception services– You don’t need a full-time receptionist to answer incoming calls; a remotely located receptionist is fully briefed on your company and will represent you in a professional manner.
Outsourcing empowers the small business to compete with larger companies, while it also streamlines business processes and reduces the need for working capital.
