How to select an outsourcing firm that delivers exactly what it claims. Continue reading to make the process easier and smoother.
Over the last couple of years, outsourcing has gained popularity worldwide for the right reasons. It helps businesses in increasing their productivity, achieving more in less time and also cut the costs significantly.
When planning to partner up with an outsourcing company, it is crucial to consider a few factors before making the final call. Without a hinge of doubt, the selection process is time-consuming, which is why you need to carefully plan and evaluate before reaching the decision. In this article, we have answered the burning question, ‘how to choose a outsourcing partner that understands your vision and fits your requirements perfectly’.
“As the local and international market has become quite saturated over the last few years, it is not an easy task to pick the right outsourcing firm.”
Let’s get started:
Check their portfolio
When choosing an outsourcing partner, ensure that they have a great portfolio to prove their work performance. Don’t just take their word for it, take a detailed look at their portfolio, check their previous and current clients. You can ask them to provide you with case studies of some of the projects they have done for their clients.
Assess their technical expertise
It is important that your outsourcing firm as the technical expertise to complete your projects in a cost-effective manner. If they are not adept at the technologies or tools necessary for your project, you will end up wasting more time than saving it. To make it easier, assess the technical expertise of the firm. Ask them questions like what methodologies they will be using, what resources they have etc.
Check IT infrastructure
As you are outsourcing your IT operations, for instance development of a software/website/mobile application – it is important to see if the company has the necessary infrastructure to work smoothly. Your outsourcing partner should be equipped with the latest software and hardware, reliable internet connectivity etc. Depending on the scope of your project, you might require additional infrastructure and would have to check with the outsourcing company first.
Ask for references & testimonials
Before hiring an outsourcing company, knowing everything about them will help you in reaching a rational decision. Client references and testimonials play a significant role in the decision-making process. Ask them to provide you with an exhaustive list of their past and current clients. Moreover, take a look at the testimonials their clients have given about the company. If you feel skeptical, you can even call one of their clients to get a better idea about their service quality.
Inspect client management system
When you work with an outsourcing firm, it means you will not be meeting them physically every day. This makes efficient communication even more important. Ask them about the different channels they use for effective client management. If they are operating in a different time zone than yours, ensure that they will be available during your work hours or not.
The second part of client management system is reporting. Whether they will provide you with weekly progress reports or monthly and would that happen in person or over a Skype call are some of the questions that need to be put on the table. This will help you in realizing if they are fit for your business model or not.
Evaluate the resources
The last but not the least thing is to evaluate their workforce. At the end of the day, your project will be worked on by the resources the outsourcing company has. Ask them about their hiring process, recruitment policies and on-job training they give to employees.
Bottomline
By asking these questions, you will be at a better place to make a decision that is time and cost effective. Zepto System has been working for more than 10 years. We have a proven record of satisfying local UK and international clients with our excellent and unprecedented IT services.