Outsourcing is a good example of hitting two birds, or more, with one stone. Much has been written about the benefits of outsourcing. Well known writers like Tim Ferris, author of the best selling “A 4-Hour Workweek”, and Robert Kiyosaki of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” fame, include outsourcing in their books as a powerful tool to achieve success.
Outsourcing is an effective multi-pronged tool. It benefits the one who outsources, the person outsourced and the economy.
For the outsourcer: For the one who outsources, he gains cost-effective freedom from necessary but tedious and repetitive tasks in running his business. These include attending to emails and routine correspondence, clerical jobs, data entry, phone calls, etc. The time he saves by outsourcing these tasks can be directed to more important tasks like the expansion of his business or looking for additional resources.
He can delegate much of the financial phase of the business like accounting, permits and certifications, taxation, insurances, and the like which will otherwise eat up a big chunk of his time. He can also outsource highly technical or specialized functions such as computerization of system which can be only be handled and maintained efficiently by an IT specialist. The same is true with a financial consultant or legal expert. Outsourcing these positions instead of hiring them on a permanent basis will mean considerable savings to a business. In short, outsourcing is both cost and time effective for the outsourcer.
For the outsourced: Outsourcing is a very democratic system of hiring. People are hired based on their actual skills. This important aspect is often ignored in hiring because many human resource personnel are too much taken in by educational attainments (with mile-long titles). In reality, most of these impressive titles are merely theoretical and not useful to practical applications.
Outsourced people are paid based on the actual numbers of hours (even to the very minutes) they put in into their work and on their tangible output. No deductions are made from their pays so they are free to take care of their needs as they wish — no withholding tax, no municipal permits, no forced insurances. and no other dubious miscellaneous charges.
People who have some physical limitations have the opportunity to work as long as they can handle the mental or energy needed to perform the task assigned to them effectively. These people are impossible to get hired in most regular companies. The same is true with the age requirement which is getting younger each year. Most companies ignore skill and experience over lower compensation they can give to young and new job-seekers.
Outsourced people can save money since they do not have to bother with money and time in commuting to and from work. They do have to spend much on clothing, make-ups, shoes, and other personal effects. They have less need for these when they work at home.
Finally, people work more efficiently in a homey environment where there is no tension, more comfortable, and surrounded by their loved ones, instead of their equally busy co-workers. Studies show that happy people are more productive and efficient workers.
For the economy: The third and very important beneficiary of out sourcing is the community. This benefit of outsourcing is seldom mentioned — its contribution to the economy of the community or the nation as a whole. With outsourcing, the problem of unemployment is met. There are many who are not employed, not because they do not have the necessary skills, but because they cannot meet the standard (but not really vital) and sometimes stringent initial requirements of regular employment. These may include a diploma in a 4-year college course (regardless if it is relevant to the job being applied for), health certificates that can pass for an astronaut, or age and gender related issues. With outsourcing, more qualified people can join the productive section of the citizenry. This means less dole-out from the government and the strengthening of the economy.
Outsourcing is considered a milestone in the world of business and economy. It meets effectively the problems that face many businesses in this rapidly changing global economic climate. For one thing, outsourcing is able improve productivity more efficiently in lesser time possible.