Companies are enjoying the benefits of outsourcing for a couple of decades now. Production costs are lower, and regulations are usually more easy-going. But businesses that are more customer-focused or more closely connected to domestic regulation practices can’t afford the risks of outsourcing.
Luckily there is a third way and it’s being used by increasing number of companies every day –nearshoring.
Nearshoring is the outsourcing of business processes, especially information technology processes, to companies in a nearby country, often sharing a border with a target country.
Why you should try nearshoring?
Creating a remote workforce has distinct advantages suited for both large and small companies. Here’s why you should give it a try:
More talent
First of all it gives you access to a bigger pool of talented people. Chances of finding the right person for the job increases when you don’t have to look so close to home. Education, especially in the IT sector is pretty much global and interconnected so you can find skilled workers almost everywhere. On the other hand, industry branches usually develop regionally, so there is a greater chance that someone from a neighboring country has a closer understanding of the industry.
Production costs are lower.
Starting an office isn’t easy nor is it cheap. Finding and renting the right space takes time and money. And once you’ve found the space you’re usually stuck with it for a while. Companies (especially start-ups) are changing way too fast for this – so you accommodations might need to change as well. Also there are always expenses you didn’t count on- furniture, electricity, internet access all of it cost money and can be easily replaced or eliminated with the right tools.
A word on the right tools
In choosing the right applications for your remote team – you should try to cover all the accommodations of a real life office. There should be an app for general communication purposes (yes this includes water cooler chats). All of your file sharing should be instantaneous (and accessible to anyone who’s involved in the project). There are also apps for assigning and following up on particular tasks. And in the end – every now and then some lawyer will need to sing something – so make sure you have an app for creating legally-binding electronic signatures.
Also if you can, find the time to meet in person once in a while- with employees being just a boarder away this can be arranged.
Workplace satisfaction
Remote teams can organize their lives more freely than does who work in the same office. First of all commuting is a challenge and it bites away a good chunk of your life. With nearshoring each employee can choose when they can work and how much. Work performance is based on amount done, not on the time put in. It’s probably best to choose one a hour a week to have a conference call in order to make short term plans and that’s all it takes- time zones are not the problem as they can be with outsourcing.
Responding to a crisis
Eventually there is going to be a crisis of some sort. Remote work teams can responds to such events in a way that’s preferable to actual offices and outsourced companies. Assembling at an actual office takes time and it can be the middle of the night in an outsourced office. Your virtual workspace is just a click away at all times.
Nearshoring is a growing trend and it has good reasons to be. It has benefits for both employers and the employees – it cuts down costs and makes teams more manageable and in the same time creates more free and liberating working environment (increasing productivity in the process).
