Remote Staffing is the next wave of innovation for small business, and could be the key to your tech business growth without costing you big bucks.
So, what is Remote Staffing? Why should we build remote teams? And what’s the catch?
What is Remote Staffing?
Remote Staff are used by a wide variety of large and small companies to reduce costs by transferring portions of work to outside suppliers rather than completing it internally.
Remote teams will improve efficiency, streamlining and productivity as the outsourced staff perform the set tasks better than the firm itself, allowing the local staff to focus on what they do best.
This strategy leads to faster turnaround times, increased competitiveness and the cutting of overall operational costs.
Businesses will also find their labour costs reduced significantly by outsourcing certain tasks, this allows for increased specialisation, technology investments or other capital growth while still maintaining secure and efficient workflow.
Other companies use remote staff to access technology and technical skills without investing large amounts of money to own the technology or local employment costs.
Why outsource to remote staff?
The primary reason for outsourcing is financial – remote staff have a direct financial gain due to reduced wages for more productive outcomes.
For growing businesses, remote staffing is a perfect answer to being able to afford staff numbers to achieve all the tasks without capital investment into office space and the crippling on-costs of Australian staff.
This will often flow into the second reason businesses outsource – growth. The freed up labour dollars plus increased profits allow for further investments into technical or highly skilled professionals that will drive the business to a whole new levels; developing new products or service; entering new markets or reaching international buyers.
Productivity is a big gain our clients* have reported back. Turnaround times are faster, accuracy higher and personnel complaints are rare. Staff turn and sick leave over is low, so there is greater consistency and reduced training.
Remote staffing is changing and more companies are looking for more than just process or task completion. Many companies have stumbled upon the less tangible positives that outsourcing brings – cultural diversity, multi timezone availability, specialist skills and innovation.
However, we believe remote staffing is more than just dollars, we believe the key reason our clients choose remote staff is for customer experience.
By utilising the right people for the job, at an affordable rate which allows the business to grow and strengthen, customers are the ultimate winners who can now enjoy responsive service, easier processes, systems that work for them.
Customer’s are the whole reason we are all in business right? So it makes sense to spend less, work smarter, grow faster and give our customers a sales experience they will keep coming back for.
What’s the catch?
Remote staffing is like any business decision – you need a plan, professional advice and clear understanding of what is involved.
In our experience, outsourcing fails because of these factors –
- No job description / task brief
- Fuzzy timelines
- Hasty set ups
- Unclear outcomes and expectations
- Inconsistent communication
- No plan, or changes to plans not communicated effectively
- Wobbly supervision
The most successful remote staff programs have these things in common –
- Comprehensive business plan that include outsourcing as a strategic skills and financial asset
- Clear reporting structure and supervision from head office to and from the off shore team
- Recruit and induct the right person for the job
- Training, support and quality control
- Task briefs and job descriptions
- Daily communications
- Regular whole team interactions e.g. celebrations / morning teas / etc include a link up to the outsourced team; internal messaging for quick chats; birthday celebrations, holiday celebrations, and so on
Remote staff are an extension of your local team, but with benefits. Like any team member, if you don’t look after them, provide training, neglect communication and inconsistently review the work – you will have problems.
Don’t forget the legals – clear contracts, payment processes, exit strategies are all part of a successful remote team plan.
Delivio provide sales support for tech companies, start ups, small businesses. We believe that outsourcing the right tasks is a key component in strengthening a business so it can flourish and grow, in fact we believe in it so much it is a primary segment of our business. Contact us today to discover if remote staffing is an option for you, or if you are looking for a review or support to improve your current sales program.
* (Delivio have a dedicated office in Quezon City, supervised by Katrina who liaises directly with Linda / client contact / or as arranged. Staff enjoy secure modern facilities, current technology, cooked meals and work inline with Australian time zones and holidays).
