Outsourcing Thus Saving Your Costs and Increasing Efficiency

Outsourcing Thus Saving Your Costs and Increasing Efficiency

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When talking about outsourcing, the simple definition of it likes contracting with other company to provide services rather than it being getting done in-house. The very fine reason given to outsource being to save money is not always true, it can be to create money because viewing the situation from another point of view, the time that you invest doing things that you outsource will invest your time and money and if you outsource the same you can invest the saved time in some other activities thus bearing you more fruits and more money. Companies can now focus on other business issues while having the details taken care of by outside experts. Outsourcing has many advantages as well disadvantages. The list the top outsourcing companies which are as follows:

Accenture

Sodexo

Wipro Technologies

IBM

ISS

Tata Consultancy Services

ARAMARK

CSC

Convergys

The disadvantages of outsourcing could be viewed as follows:

Control

Having a contract with another company doing tasks on your behalf, in this way you are providing them with the management and control of your activity to outsourced company. Hence there lies risk in such situation, hence having an appropriate agreement on specific terms and conditions cleared out in advance.

Disguised Costs

Make sure you get everything clear as far as finance is covered, if the things aren’t cleared they may charge you with the extra expenses for all the extra things that they do will be charged hence to avoid the same, getting things cleared in advance is needed.

Security

If the outsourced company involves sharing of company information and other details make sure if your are secured with the data and other factors should be taken into account. If the data gets leaked you have charge penalty to them, even though such an action is taken making sure that the terms relating to the data and other information should be sorted and inked.

Quality

The outsourcing company is motivated by profit; it is known to increase profit you should cut down expenses. Specific contracts are essential to avoid extra charges.

Finance

It wouldn't be the first time that an outsourcing company could go bankrupt and leave you holding-the-bag.

Publicity

Outsourcing can be viewed positively as well negatively, if you have friends working in outsourcing company you will definitely possess a positive image in the minds of people and vice versa.

Outsourcing problems could also arise out of positive performance from the vendor. The knowledge of the product or service managed by the vendor could be valuable and often the client is clueless once the vendor leaves. It can reap rich dividends but could also be fatal to the client's reputation or capabilities.

Advantages

Core Cynosure

The company can focus on its core activities and can outsource activates that they feel are time consuming as well as cost. Outsourcing such jobs not only helps management to focus on things that are relatively important from the firm’s point of view.

Cost efficiency

The back office operations that consume costs and it is not getting done at a pace that is expected, outsourcing the same will reduce cost and increase efficiency.

Overhead

The overhead costs included in performing back office operations are too high hence to skip the same outsourcing.

Control

Activities that consume loads amount of money and time can be outsourced. Outsourcing will allow operations that have seasonal or cyclical demands to bring in additional resources when you need them and release them when you’re done.

Risk

High employee turnover and uncertainty and inconsistency as regards the operations, it will provide continuity.

Staff

Some project requires skills that sometimes your employees may not possess. Hence trying to develop and enhance the qualities of the employees is one way or else outsourcing is another way to the same.

 
This article provides a balanced overview of outsourcing, defining it as contracting services to external companies rather than performing them in-house. It delves into the motivations behind outsourcing, its potential pitfalls, and its significant advantages, concluding with a list of top outsourcing companies.

Defining Outsourcing and its Core Motivation​

The article begins with a straightforward definition: outsourcing is "contracting with other company to provide services rather than it being getting done in-house." It immediately challenges the common perception that the "very fine reason given to outsource being to save money is not always true." Instead, it offers an alternative perspective: outsourcing can "create money" by freeing up internal time and resources that can then be invested in "some other activities thus bearing you more fruits and more money." This highlights a strategic view of outsourcing as a means to reallocate resources for higher-value tasks, allowing companies to "focus on other business issues while having the details taken care of by outside experts."

The article then lists several prominent global outsourcing companies, including Accenture, Sodexo, Wipro Technologies, IBM, ISS, Tata Consultancy Services, ARAMARK, CSC, and Convergys, providing concrete examples of major players in the industry.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing​

The article effectively outlines several critical disadvantages of outsourcing, which are essential considerations for any business contemplating this strategy:

  • Control: A significant risk is the loss of "management and control of your activity to outsourced company." This necessitates "an appropriate agreement on specific terms and conditions cleared out in advance" to mitigate potential issues.
  • Disguised Costs: It warns against hidden or "extra expenses" that may arise if financial terms are not "cleared in advance," emphasizing the need for meticulous contract negotiation.
  • Security: This is a crucial concern, especially when "sharing of company information and other details." The article stresses the need for "secured with the data" and clear terms regarding data handling and potential "penalty" for breaches.
  • Quality: It points out that outsourcing companies are "motivated by profit," which could lead to "cut[ting] down expenses" at the risk of compromising quality. This underscores the importance of "specific contracts" to maintain standards.
  • Finance: The risk of an "outsourcing company could go bankrupt and leave you holding-the-bag" is highlighted, emphasizing the need for due diligence on the vendor's financial stability.
  • Publicity: Outsourcing can have a mixed public perception, influenced by individual connections or general sentiment towards the practice.
  • Knowledge Loss: A particularly insightful point is that if the outsourced vendor manages a product or service, "the client is clueless once the vendor leaves," leading to potential "fatal[ity] to the client's reputation or capabilities." This emphasizes the importance of knowledge transfer and retention plans.

Advantages of Outsourcing​

Following the disadvantages, the article presents a concise list of benefits:

  • Core Cynosure (Focus on Core Activities): This is a primary advantage, allowing companies to "focus on its core activities and can outsource activates that they feel are time consuming as well as cost." This frees up management for more strategic tasks.
  • Cost efficiency: Outsourcing "back office operations that consume costs" can "reduce cost and increase efficiency."
  • Overhead: It specifically mentions reducing "overhead costs" associated with in-house operations.
  • Control (Scalability): This point, interestingly, reuses the word "Control" from the disadvantages section but in a different context, referring to the ability to manage fluctuating demands. Outsourcing allows for bringing in "additional resources when you need them and release them when you’re done," providing flexibility and scalability.
  • Risk (Mitigation): It states that outsourcing "will provide continuity" against "high employee turnover and uncertainty and inconsistency as regards the operations," implying risk mitigation.
  • Staff (Access to Specialized Skills): When internal employees "may not possess" required skills for certain projects, outsourcing provides an alternative to developing these skills in-house, offering access to specialized expertise.
In conclusion, this article provides a fundamental understanding of outsourcing, presenting both its strategic benefits in cost savings and efficiency, and its inherent risks related to control, hidden costs, security, quality, financial stability, and knowledge retention. The balanced approach, despite some repetitive phrasing, makes it a useful introductory guide for those considering outsourcing.
 
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