Does Outsourcing Increase Productivity

Outsourcing and Productivity

Entrepreneurs often question whether outsourcing offers any real benefits. Some swear by it while others say it’s the worst choice they ever made. Michael Hyatt is an excellent example of someone who loves the virtual assistant industry and outsourcing his needs. The real question comes down to whether outsourcing really has the potential to increase productivity and efficiency in your business?

Choosing a Provider

The quality of outsourced tasks boils down to the provider you choose. Choosing someone who is more interested in partying than preparing invoices may not give you the best experience. Any time you choose a provider, research them carefully. Don’t simply trust their profile. Ask questions. After all, you will be trusting them with important tasks.

Look for providers who have previous experience in your industry or at least with the tasks at hand. Ask questions as if you were hiring a full-time employee. Don’t hesitate to ask for references. In the end, they will be a partner helping you meet your business goals. The right provider will increase productivity by allowing you to focus on other tasks. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you can trust the provider.

Communication

Don’t expect to give a few tasks to a freelancer and expect things to be perfect. Many people who complain about outsourcing make this mistake. Remember that most employees are provided an orientation and training period. While a virtual assistant knows how to do common tasks, they need to know how you expect them to be done. From report formatting to how to best represent your company on the phone, every business is different.

Communicate with your provider to make sure you are both on the same page. Taking a few minutes each week to talk will reduce errors, making the provider more efficient and the overall process more productive.

Choose Tasks

Before you even start looking for a provider, decide which tasks you want to outsource. Depending on how much or how little you need done, you can find a single person or team to handle everything or you might need several people with different skill sets. Knowing what you’re looking for beforehand makes the process of finding and hiring a provider easier.

Don’t be afraid to let go. Choose tasks which will actually free up your time. Choosing tasks which you only spend a minute or two on each day won’t make you more productive. Choose time-consuming tasks such as data entry, preparing invoices and even website management to see the real productivity and efficiency benefits.

Start Small

When you choose a provider, start with a small task. Don’t outsource multiple jobs at one time. This is a great way to test the provider and see if outsourcing is right for you. For instance, some entrepreneurs may outsource a single task to multiple providers to see which one offers exactly what they need.

Outsourcing is extremely beneficial when you choose a professional provider. Take the time to plan and research to get the most benefit and cost savings. You can visit our Work With Us page or the FAQ page for more resources.