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Four Staple Solutions In Offshore Sourcing

Four Staple Solutions In Offshore Sourcing

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It’s no secret that offshore sourcing is fast becoming the new trend in business development. There’s an increasing number of outsourcing companies, offering various staff leasing services to businesses. Big and small outfits, more entrepreneurs are deciding to adopt into this new platform. Outsourcing has proven essential in a technology-driven, technology-dependent business world.

To give further tips for businesses wishing to jump on the bandwagon, here are some of the most common outsourcing services you can avail:

Customer Support

Customer support is probably the most common outsourced service in the industry as of now. The rise of call centers has continued over the years and is still growing ever so rapidly. Countries like America, Canada, and the UK have been partnering with offshore sourcing companies all over the world. This growth boosts economies and creates countless jobs.

Computer Programming

Standard computer programming is also one good example of outsourced service, where a company depends on the skills and creativity of leased employees to monitor the company’s database and other related projects. Outsourcing a computer programmer is definitely much less expensive than hiring an in-house employee, in which case the company needs to expand its offices and delegate other resources.

Data Entry, Writing, & SEO

Data entry, writing, and SEO are preferable jobs for offshore sourcing. These jobs can be done without requiring full supervision from the company, as long as the instructions are clear. Technical writing, blogs, articles and web content are some examples of tasks which can be easily filled by leased employees. Again, a great way to cut company expenses.

Creative Services

Creative services such as animation, graphic designs, logos, and print design can also be simply passed to a group of leased employees. A lot of expenses can be spared through outsourcing, compared to hiring in-house employees. The PEO will be the one providing the workplace and all necessary equipment and software.

Big, small, and start-up companies find offshore sourcing a great convenience, and it’s not just about the financial advantages. The productivity and flexibility of the business also improves from the services rendered by PEOs, which offer excellent performance at a fraction of the cost.

Offshore Sourcing In Social Media Management; Building Street Cred For Your Business

Offshore Sourcing In Social Media Management; Building Street Cred For Your Business

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Social media management is now a staple service in offshore sourcing. Networking tools are now available to anyone, across different lifestyles and tastes. Age demographics, preference in music, and more are considered in sharing and optimizing content. Discovering things and meeting people with same interests are examples of what you can do with media; of course there’s also the opportunity to expand your business reach.

From a business perspective, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin are useful to anyone with a marketing strategy to execute. Targeting your market will be easy and convenient because of the features these platforms offer. In some platforms, you can segregate the target market into demographics, by using hashtags, or by analyzing what videos are trending, even by researching trends in search behavior. Marketers love to use hashtgas, since these offer insight on what the market wants for the product/service.

Facebook and Twitter are always top platforms used by offshore sourcing in social media strategy. Have you considered including these platforms in your social media campaign?

1. Pinterest

Pinterest is a great source of high-quality photos, and every user is part of a connected community. This is a visual platform, where relevant and attractive pictures gain more reach; there’s even good chance for content to go viral. Having a profile with many followers is great because of the influence that comes with it. By default, a pinned picture is visible to followers; gain enough pins and engagement, and the photo can become viral. A photo of a product gone viral is a boost to the company brand, attracting traffic and unique engagements.

2. Youtube

YouTube is the definitive video platform for marketers; it’s very accessible, and a relevant post can rake in millions of views. It ranks content with algorithm similar to Google’s, so if there’s one thing viral videos have in common, it’s community appeal. Searching through YouTube is like searching in Google; keywords and keyphrases are seeds in search. With this platform, your product placement (especially if advertised) can do more than demonstrate: it can engage and convert.

3. Instagram

Instagram is yet another visual platform, with very digestible content and appeal. Users navigate content with hashtags. The tags you use can make or break a marketing campaign. For example, using #marketing, the search will show all user photos with that same hashtag. Connect with people through hashtags, connect with the community, coordinate events, push promotions; the simple hashtag is an efficient marketing strategy.

With the variety of social media platforms to choose from, you’ll have to prioritize which to use in optimizing content. Offshore sourcing services ease the process, but it is still your decision that defines what’s best for the company, what’s best for your business.

Invest In Offshoring Services, Make Time For Deep, Focused Work

Invest In Offshoring Services, Make Time For Deep, Focused Work

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It’s difficult to sustain focus in fast-paced work environments. This is especially true in BPO and offshoring services, where multiple tasking is the norm. Millennial entrepreneurs are known for their energy and passion in start-ups, but sometimes there aren’t enough hours in a day to get things done. One solution is to outsource processes and streamline operations, which is always a feasible solution.

In a culture of long work hours and constant crunch time, the consequences of overclocking your attention span is often overlooked. The common notion is that longer work hours equals to increased output and productivity. Studies have shown the opposite is the case. Do you belong to the new breed of hungry entrepreneurs, or are you a hardened a veteran with lots of energy to spend? As much as you may take pride in getting by with little sleep, your body isn’t clockwork, far from it.

Here are four ways you can curb your overclocked routine, and recover hours of free time to spare.

1. Sleep is precious (and non-negotiable).

Lack of sleep limits your ability to focus on tasks, and you can only get by for so long with caffeine. You may not feel the effects early in the week, but it will eventually catch up on your health. The optimal amount of sleep varies between people, but seven hours of solid sleep is enough to restore and reboot you for the next day. Anything less than six hours eventually impairs judgment and concentration.

2. Cut down on distractions.

This is difficult in hectic work environments. If there are too many priorities competing for your attention, you have to put your foot down and streamline, hire offshoring services. Multitasking is a misconception; you can’t really perform two tasks simultaneously. What you can do is handle tasks one at a time. How much you’ll invest on a task varies on priorities, and productivity apps like Pomodoro help you get going. Once you’ve adjusted to the learning curve, you can stay in the zone of tasking routines, and it becomes second nature.

3. Manage Your Time.

Make time for each task, develop a schedule, and stick to the routine. Leisure time is also an integral part of the process; did you know spending a few minutes checking social media is actually a good thing? The danger is in losing yourself in the momentary distraction, find yourself wasting more time than you’re supposed to. Fortunately, decisiveness is a default attribute in entrepreneurs; compromised productivity is something few are willing to risk.

4. Delegate To Offshoring Services, And Spare Time To Spend On Yourself.

“Me time” often suffers under the pressure of busy workdays. You’ll find it easier to carve leisure time once you’ve streamlined your day. If you find hours to spare on a busy afternoon, don’t try to fill it with tasks; go out for a walk or take a nap, anything you consider an enjoyable way to spend idle time. Besides, there’s a reason why many entrepreneurs outsource. Time is your most precious commodity, you only have 24 hours to spend in a day. Make every second count.

Navigating Timezones: Three Strategies for Expanding Businesses

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Are you having trouble calculating the difference between EST and PST? Have you ever juggled one-hour discrepancies between states and cities? The tangle of time zones can twist your business into knots, especially if you’re involved in supply and customer service. Whether you’re dealing with clients or partners, it pays to be conscious of time zones. This inconvenience is necessary, but can be mitigated by outsourcing services to teams who can handle aspects of operations round the clock.

Toggling the timezones can be messy, but becomes second nature once you get the hang of it. Here are three strategies to start with:

1. Use Your Phone’s World Clock and Converter

It’s one of the most neglected features of smart phones, also one of the most useful. You’ll find this indispensable when you’re doing business in multiple locations. If you’re trying to schedule a meeting with clients from different countries, setting the best time to meet is easy when you have all the local clocks on hand for comparison.

Use this feature as a crutch until you know the conversions by heart. You can also rely on your smartphone’s world clock for every transaction. Either way, use this often enough and eventually you won’t need it.

2. Lay Down Timezone Rules with Clients

This is an awkward way to start, but must be settled so everyone’s clear on expectations. Which timezone will be used as basis in meetings, deliveries? This depends on your relationship to the other party. If you’re dealing with customers and clients, you’ll have to adjust. Otherwise you’ll have to compromise.

What’s the use of setting timezone ground rules? No one has an excuse for missing deadlines and deliverables if there’s a standard time set. You’re also displaying good business sense if you go out of your way and adopt a client’s local time as basis.

3. Keep Your 24-Hour Workday Feasible

Round-the-clock customer support is unavoidable when you’re serving customers in various timezones. It makes sense to have someone accommodating customers at the other end, responses customized and sent as soon as possible. This is crucial if you’re selling products worldwide; a feasible solution is to outsource services to contact centers, or dedicate teams to work in rotating shifts. You can also handpick sales reps based on locations you’re serving, working from home and on flexible hours.

Outsourcing pays off in customer service, if the response times complement the customer’s timezone. Being considerate of client’s time also increases chances of repeat service; you don’t want to annoy someone by replying on an ungodly hour. Personalize service by hiring someone local (or nearby) your clients to handle calls and queries.

Managing a business with global reach is a challenge, but it’s very doable with the right strategies. It also helps if you outsource services to reliable partners. Step up your game as you expand to new markets.

Elsewhere on this blog:

Three Odd, Specialized Tasks You Should Outsource

Essentials of Contact Center Management: Call Handling

Business Metrics: What Surveys Can Do For Your Business

3 Outsourcing Essentials for Better Business

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Business Process Outsourcing has become an all-in-one solution in today’s industries. This is evident in the Philippines, with the local outsourcing jobs exhibiting exponential growth. The country hit high margins of employment in August 2014; from 101,000 in 2004, the workforce increased to over 930,000. It’s evident why outsourcing is the byword in cost-efficiency across a variety of industries.

Outsourcing is only beneficial if you approach it with the right strategies. There are variable, essential factors to consider before adopting solutions for your business, and it’s important your decisions are backed by solid evaluations. Here are three essentials to consider before you commit:

1. Consider the Costs

It’s common knowledge outsourcing saves time and money, but this is only the case if the solutions complement the business’s needs. Yours must be realistic in terms of sales or savings, projected and actual. Anticipate problems in production / operation to preempt losses. Survey factors that can affect your income, pave a clear path for your prospects.

2. Partner with the Right People

Synergy is crucial to smooth operations, all the more important in outsourcing jobs. Ensuring a successful business requires partnership with the right team. You get to screen and choose the service, so bide your time and consider as many quotes as you can before you commit. Don’t give in to what’s most feasible until you’ve weighed all strengths and weaknesses.

Beware the pitfall of going for the cheapest offer, though; this sometimes comes with serious tradeoffs. It helps if you choose the best one as you contrast the qualities of the products and services being offered. Entertain quotes and proposals, conduct background checks, evaluate history of performance, and never, ever skip the fine print.

3. Draft a Solid, Airtight Contract

The terms of service will either ensure you get the best end of the deal, or it could leave you shortchanged. At the very least, there’s mutual benefit with the outsourced party. Closing on the contract is tricky if you haven’t fleshed out the essential details with your partner. The dynamics of your partnership hinges on the signed agreement – it’s your assurance of quality service, also your safety net in untoward incidents.

A cost-effective business involves taking advantage of every opportunity, and outsourcing jobs is proven an efficient, feasible alternative to in-house sourcing. Your business has everything to gain with the service, so long as you guard your interest, do your due diligence. In any case, outsourcing companies are well aware of these expectations, it’s just a matter of finding the right people to partner with.

Elsewhere on this blog:

Spotting the Right PEO for Your Business: Efficient Offshore Staff Leasing

When West Meets East: Outsourcing Services and the Corporate Cultural Gap

Why Outsource to the Philippines?

Three Odd, Specialized Tasks You Should Outsource

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Businesses delegate tasks for minimum cost and maximum efficiency, the primary reasons why outsourcing is so appealing. Companies often outsource so they can concentrate on big picture management. If you’re considering third-party services, it’s important the provider leases skilled, experienced. and specialized staff.

However, you might not be aware of unlikely processes you can also outsource, sparing you time and money. This includes podcast production and email management, anything you’d rather not do and willing to pay for. Here are three other tasks you can delegate to outsourced staff:

1. Logistics, Planning, Appointments, and Reservations

Isn’t it great if you didn’t have to worry about the day’s mundane routines? Businesses have the same needs; the service is similar to hiring a personal assistant, but the scope is wider, covering important operations and processes. You can also delegate what can be considered errands. If you’re managing the personal affairs of a team or department, you’ll need help handling the task that pile up.

It’s best if you outsource these tasks to virtual assistants: dinner reservations, spa appointments, car rentals, parcel tracking, even social media posting. These seemingly trivial tasks are real-world concerns of businesses and corporations, and entire teams are leased and hired to to handle the upkeep.

2. Calls Management, Inbound and Outbound

Unlike virtual assistants who juggle a wide variety of tasks, virtual receptionists are dedicated to call management. Instead of answering calls on your own, you can choose trained and experienced representatives to filter the flow. As authentic and professional fronts to your business, virtual receptionists will also screen your calls, sparing you time and trouble.

There are plenty of tools you can use online, with receptions always on standby to take over your load. If your needs are so involved you’ll need a team of receptionists in rotating shifts, then staff leasing is your efficient, feasible alternative.

3. Research and Documentation

These can involve something as simple as a background check, to a comprehensive survey of target market trends. Either way, you can do away with the legwork. Outsource this to skilled researchers with background on statistics or library science. Even if you’re only composing a blog post with detailed data, researchers ensure the facts and numbers are straight.

You can hire individuals or teams, depending on the bulk of the work to accomplish. If you’re pressed for time, then you can spend it rehearsing your presentation, instead of fumbling with the source material.

There’s always someone willing to take on the task. With outsourcing, costs are surprisingly feasible, and people bid with high-quality work and shortest turnaround times. Whether you’re a start-up or established business, outsourcing the small task ensures you’re focused on management and operations, everything that keep the gears of the company grinding.

Elsewhere on this blog:

Essentials of Contact Center Management: Call Handling

Spotting the Right PEO for Your Business: Efficient Offshore Staff Leasing

Staff Leasing 101: Is Cheaper Better?

Spotting the Right PEO for Your Business: Efficient Offshore Staff Leasing

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Business owners seeking the aid of offshore staff leasing have to make sure they are on the right side. While it is proven that this type of platform is highly cost-effective on their part, it is also wise to evaluate what is best for the company. Offshore staff leasing sure has lots of advantages to offer, but sometimes this strategy may tend to backfire.
To secure your business’s future, here are some of the things that you should consider in looking for a professional employer organization (PEO) that would represent your ideals and goals.

 

The Right Combination of Services

 

In considering which PEO to deal with, it is important to know the services being offered first. Do they have what you are looking for? Do you think they will be able to give you the kind of service that your business needs in able to grow its market? Ask as many questions as you like. Be very specific with your criteria; if you think the PEO will benefit your company in the long run, then you can consider it as a green light.

 

Financial Stability

 

Considering the PEO’s financial strength also counts when it comes to securing a good business deal. As an entrepreneur, it is your responsibility to avoid scams, misfires and similar failures to prevent damage on your behalf. A PEO with a clean and impressive track record is the one that you want to transact with.
Look into every detail before deciding to give it a go, ask for advice and references from colleagues, and most especially, study the contract meticulously. Scams tend to provide contracts which delude clients. If you see even the slightest anomaly in the details, raise a red flag and inquire before signing.

 

Rapport

 

Another thing to look over when dealing with a PEO is the personal connection between you and the representative. It is easier to do business with someone whom you’re comfortable with than with someone whom you don’t truly trust. Developing a close bond with a PEO may determine the course of the relationship which you may have with them in the long run.

 

The PEO you’re partnered with affects the trajectory of your business. Offshore staff leasing comes with plenty of benefits, especially if the people you choose share your ideals. Details are easily sorted out once you’re in agreement with the big picture.

Partner with us! We customize Staff Leasing Solutions to meet your business needs.

Elsewhere on this blog:

Staff Leasing: What to Look For When Hiring a Support Staff

Competitive Advantages of Offshore Staff Leasing

3 Ways to Improve Staff Leasing for Your Business

2013: The Growth of Call Center Industry in Philippines and Asia

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Philippines is a “rising tiger”, this is how World Bank country director Motoo Konishi describe the growth of Philippine economy during his speech on the closing ceremonies of 2013 Philippine Development Forum in Davao City Philippines, February 5, 2013. Motoo alleged that the government has demonstrated good governance and resulting to good economic status of the country. In terms of economic stand Philippines is no longer the “sick man of Asia”, Motoo added.

Due to the economic growth of 6.6 percent from the expected 5 to 6 percent target, The Philippines is expecting to reach the peak of its economy before the end of year 2015. There will be more employment especially to skilled workers, more job opportunity in Call center in the Philippines and Business Process Outsourcing, or BPO.

Call center industry in Asia will boost up due to the high English proficiency of Asians and particularly in the Philippines. Though China and India (other Asian countries that has a blooming call center industry) has an advantage due to low cost of labor, investors still prefer the Philippines to settle offshore outsourcing companies due to the fact that Filipinos are more polite and westernized than other Asian countries. Also call center in Philippines was an established industry since we beat India roughly 3 years ago as the leading in industry of call center in Asia.

BPO industry in the country opens another field such as healthcare accounts in which nurses could land in the said job. Philippines have approximately 40,000 new nurses every year, plus the knowledge of Filipinos in English language which could help them find a job such as Health care representatives in contact center industry of the country.

Today, Philippines hosts the biggest global call center companies like Convergys, IBM, Docomo, and Hinduja. This attracts more call center in Asia and other companies to start an offshore outsourcing company in the country.