This document discusses outsourcing and the benefits and process of outsourcing business processes. It outlines the 7 key stages of an outsourcing process: 1) assessing business needs, 2) defining scope of work, 3) selecting a service provider, 4) negotiating a contract, 5) initiating the project, 6) managing service delivery, and 7) exiting contracts. It provides examples and details for each stage. Additionally, it discusses types of outsourcing, top reasons for outsourcing like cost reduction and efficiency gains, and common pitfalls to avoid in outsourcing. The overall document provides a comprehensive overview of how to properly plan and execute an outsourcing strategy for business processes.
3. The complexity of today’s business
processes and the demands to
consistently deliver results are
driving HR & business leaders in the
direction of outsourcing.
But achieving success with your
outsourcing strategy is not simple.
It is important to know when to
outsource, and also essential to
know how to use outsourcing to its
full advantage.
4. Outsourcing is a great way for
businesses to realise success
without hiring a lot of full-time or
in-house employees
HOW?
By leveraging outsourcing experts to
handle some of your business
processes or less strategic tasks, in
order for you to focus on your core
business functions.
5.
6. Focus On Core Business Activities
Outsourcing can enhance your business operation’s performance considerably because it frees
up time and resources to focus on your core business functions.
Top 5 reasons for Outsourcing
Cost Reduction
Not having to hire, train and pay employee benefits is the primary reason organisations choose
to outsource work. Having an outsourced party handle some of your tasks saves money and
makes the business more profitable.
Improved Efficiency
Outsourcing allows C-suite leaders to save time and increase efficiency by contracting third-
party companies to handle small time-consuming tasks.
Access to new ideas
Outsourcing helps organisations to onboard new talent and professionalism that expose them to
new insights and techniques that can be used to improve in-house employees
Risk Management
By outsourcing, your organisation does not have to undertake all the business risks alone.
Outsourcing of your non-core or even your core business functions helps with risk sharing.
7. Types of Outsourcing
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There are several types of Outsourcing you can choose from to
improve your organisation’s productivity, reduce cost and
improve your revenue drive. They can be categorised into: Business Process Outsourcing
This is a process of contracting a specific
business task like payroll management to a third-
party service provider.
People Outsourcing
This involves outsourcing a section of the
workforce within your organisation. It involves
the recruitment, training, and management of a
professional team (e.g. the sales team, bank
tellers or customer service executive) to manage
and deliver sustainable service to an
organisation.
Project Outsourcing
In this process, you contract functions or tasks
that are not core functions to a competent
partner to enable your organisation focus on
their core activities. For example, a bank can
outsource the development of its mobile app.
8. Outsourcing is a
powerful tool
When done rightly, outsourcing can transform
your business performance, enhance
shareholder value, sharpen competitive edge,
and boost the well-being and career prospects
of your employees and everyone involved.
As an HR or business leader, to achieve success
with your outsourcing engagement, it is
essential to comprehensively understand the
outsourcing process.
10. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Defining the Scope of
Work
Negotiation and
Contract Procurement
Managing the Service
Delivery
Assessment of
Business Needs and
Sourcing Strategy
Selection of Service
Provider
Project Initiation
and Transitioning
Exiting/Transferring
the Contracts
Click here to read: 7 Outsourcing Challenges Your Organisation May Be Facing
11. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Assessment of Business Needs and Sourcing
Strategy
This is the most crucial stage in the outsourcing process
because an inaccurate assessment of your business’ core
needs will lead to inaccurate solutions.
To accurately diagnose your organisation’s needs,
you must take a holistic view of the organisation and
outsourcing’s potential role in it.
Failing to do this can have unforeseen consequences, with the
worst being choosing the wrong partner or contractual
structure.
If after careful consideration, the decision is to outsource the
solution, the next step is to conduct a benefit-
risk analysis; This means you should outline the benefits and
risks of outsourcing and assess whether the benefits outweigh
the risks.
Click here to read: Outsourcing HR Activities: How to Keep HR Team From Panic Mode
12. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Defining the Scope of the Work
For some organisations, it is easy to define the general
functions within the business process that will be outsourced.
For example, while some organisations may prefer to
outsource only their HR administration functions, others may
request that their entire workforce is managed, from hiring,
training, performance management, to exit.
Click here to read: All You Need to Know about Recruitment Process Outsourcing
13. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Selection of Service Provider
Once the scope of work has been properly defined, the next
step is identifying the potential service provider(s) with the
resources, capabilities, and requisite experience to provide
your desired services.
Service provider selection can be a very complicated.
The main challenge is to ensure your chosen outsourcing
partner delivers quality services at a reasonable price, one that
reduces risks, and one that you can trust.
Choosing the right service provider is similar to choosing a
good partner; the chances are that if you make the right
decision from the onset you will have a potentially lasting
relationship while choosing the wrong vendor could damage
and thwart a well-intentioned outsourcing project.
Click here to read: 21 Things to Look Out for When Hiring Your Outsourcing Partner
14. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Negotiation and Contract Procurement
After proposals are received from the service providers, your
outsourcing team will need to take some time to review them
and evaluate which ones are best suited to provide the desired
services.
To facilitate this, it is helpful to prepare a list of key criteria on
which to judge the vendors and their proposals.
After selecting your preferred partner, final negotiations may
then begin, and the contract drawn.
Although it may seem complex, drafting and negotiating
an Outsourcing contract can be clarified into six basic issues
that must be clearly described:
• The scope and nature of the engagement
• Roles and responsibilities of the client organization
• Roles and responsibilities of the service provider
• The cost of the engagement
• Metrics for evaluating the performance of the relationship
• Recourses in case things do not go as expected.
15. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Project Initiation and Transitioning
After the contract is signed, transitioning of resources and
responsibilities from theyour organisationto
theservice provider can begin.
This represents theofficiallaunch of theoutsourcing project.
The focus of this stage is to transition work, decision rights
and knowledge to the vendor organisation, so that they can
conduct the work effectively and, for the most part,
independently from your organisation.
This stage is one of the most critical parts of
the entire outsourcing process because it sets the tone for
how the entire contract will play out.
16. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Managing the Service Delivery
This stage is typically the longestbecause it involves
maintaining a working relationship throughout the contract.
Relationship management includes the continuous monitoring
of the outsourcing engagement to ensure that your
outsourcing service providers meet expected levels of
operation. It also involves conducting routine audits on the
processes.
Click here to read: Successfully Managing the Outsourcing Process: 5 Critical Focus Areas
17. Step 01
Step 03
Step 07
Step 05
Step 04
Step 02
Step 06
Exiting/Transferring the Contracts
Once mutual trust is established, outsourcing relationships can
last for a long time.
However, the purpose of an Exit Management Plan (EMP) is to
agree on a set of procedures which is fair to both sides, and
the best time to do this is at the drafting of the contract, the
time when the relationship is healthy.
Click here to read: Outsourcing Cycle: Auditing Outsourced Services & Choosing Your Next Provider
18. Hurrying through Outsourcing Engagements
Minimal Knowledge of Outsourcing Methodologies
Lack of an Outsourcing Communications Plan
Inadequately Designing the Vendor Evaluation and Selection Process
Not Dedicating the Best Internal Resources
Inefficient Relationship Management Programs
No Exit Strategy
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Pitfalls to avoid when outsourcing
Click here to read the comprehensive article: How to Outsource: Common Pitfalls to Avoid
19. Outsourcing is a game-changer for businesses when done the right way
With 18+ years of experience, over 200 consultants and 8,000+ outsourced staff, we
have helped over 300+ clients achieve their desired business results, increase revenue
and mitigate risks of doing business in Nigeria and across the African continent.
With Workforce Group as your HR outsourcing partner, we will handle both core and
non-core HR activities and functions while you focus on the essentials.
Our in-depth industry expertise, experience and capabilities cuts across recruitment,
talent development, welfare management, performance management, and payroll
services.
To partner with us, please send us an email to hello@workforcegroup.com.
Scale the advantage…
22. What we do
We help organisations solve problems around:
Staff Payroll
Management
Performance management
support
Health insurance management
Executive, Experienced and
Graduate Recruitment
Staff onboarding and
training
Staff records
management
Leave and exit
management
Background
verification
Strategy Development and
Execution
Digital Learning Function Specific
Programmes
Leadership
Development
Digital Content Creation and
Conversion
Assessment and
Development centre
Occupational testing
and Success Profiling
Independent Contractor
Management
Assessor skills training
Professional Employer
Organisation
Employer of Record
Recruitment Process
Outsourcing