Should your business outsource certain services?

Should your business outsource certain services?

There is a dilemma that many businesses face when planning a business strategy; should we outsource some services or bring in experts to fulfil the role? It is a question that gets different answers and it largely depends on the company. For example, what budget do they have for new staff, what would that person require to fulfil the role properly?

Large, multinational companies often choose to bring in the right person so that all the services are kept in-house but for SME’s it is often more efficient and cost effective for them to outsource the service.

What type of services can we outsource?

The answer is everything! You can find experts in all industries and sectors that can look after a particular service for you. The most common services that people outsource are the cleaning of the offices and surrounding areas, waste management which includes recycling and security which is especially important if you work on a site that has tens of thousands or millions of pounds’ worth of equipment to protect.

The growth of digital marketing has also led to an increase in agencies that are offering a range of services that help grow a company’s online reputation. The main point that needs to be made is that if you are not proficient in these services then you need to consider outsourcing them.

What are the advantages of outsourcing?

By outsourcing you are leaving your services in the hands of the experts, people who specialise in that particular area of business every day. They will have detailed processes already in place as well as knowing the ins and outs of the industry.

The leading companies, such as MITI will even provide you with a dedicated team that will be solely allocated to your business. The only negative of outsourcing for many companies is that they do not get someone whose sole focus is your company but by choosing one of the leading companies this negative is no longer applicable.

Do the costs of outsourcing outweigh the advantages?

You have to consider the costs that you would have to incur if you were going to set up the service in-house. The cost of all necessary equipment, investment in research, the list can be endless. It is not just the experience and knowledge that you can take advantage of, it is the years of fine tuning the process and technology that makes the facilities management companies so proficient in what they do.

Who can we use to outsource?

There are many facilities management companies on the market but there are some that have more experience than others. MITIE has a vast amount of experience in a variety of sectors including retail, education, healthcare, government, IT, leisure and more so a visit to www.mitie.com will tell you all you need to know about the company as well as how they can help you outsource some key services.

Make sure that the company you choose has experience in your sector as every sector is different and requires a different strategy. The leading companies will be able to call on years of experience to offer you the most effective deal possible.

Does Your Business Need an Answering Service?

   

Telephone answering services – answering services, for short – are companies that take calls for other businesses. In addition to simply answering calls and working as receptionists, answering services also perform a variety of other tasks, including appointment scheduling, customer service, order entry, service dispatching, and more.
For small businesses looking to enhance their image, improve customer service, and boost efficiency without drastically increasing their costs, an answering service may be the perfect solution. So, how do you know if an answering service is right for your business?

Examine your needs

Before you can decide whether an answering service could be helpful to your business, you need to examine how the phone is being used in your organization and how those processes could be improved.

For example, say you are a small HVAC company. You have a few people that work in your office, and a few technicians that handle work.

On a typical day, you probably receive several calls inquiring about your services, a couple more scheduling appointments, one or two confirming or changing their appointment, and a handful of other calls from vendors, telemarketers, and the like.
Now, because of your size, you likely maintain regular office hours. Since there’s a need for your service after hours, it may be beneficial to provide the same level of support after hours as you do during the day. Thus, you have a need for a service that answer calls and provide service similar to what your office does during the day.

Compare to answering service capabilities

Once you have examined what your business needs and where telephone support could be useful, you need to look at different answering services and consider whether they can realistically provide what you are looking for.

While telephone answering services are typically able to provide similar services, some are more advanced than others. For example, some services may only take and deliver messages while others may integrate with your business software and perform more detailed tasks.

If you need really advanced work, like technical support, then an answering service may not be able to meet your needs.

Is there an overlap?

Now that you know what you could benefit from and the capabilities of answering services, look for overlaps. If answering services can perform the services you need, then it may be a beneficial relationship. Since answering services typically charge based on usage, they are a cost effective option for companies who need support but don’t want to pay the cost of hiring and staffing additional employees.

About the Author

Melanie Cartwell is a blogger with Continental Message Solution, a leading provider of small business telephone answering services and call center outsourcing solutions.

Wright Place Challenges

Next month is Wright Place Challenges start! Kinda like the hunger games without the hunger, death, killing, oppression and arrow to the knees! It will be 20 challenges ( to help you grow your biz and yourself) and 13 people can play ( get it? 2013?) I have some cool prizes to send you from some great sponsors! You want in? Be sure you are on the Wright Pace TV Show mailing list on this site.

« Previous Page — Next Page »