3 Business Functions To Outsource Today

It's worth noting that in the UK, a significant trend is emerging. By 2023, nearly half of local small businesses are projected to utilise outsourcing services for a variety of tasks, with customer service being the most commonly outsourced business function. This begs the question, what are the advantages of outsourcing, and why might your business benefit from it?

Essentially, outsourcing is the process of allowing a third-party company to take over the handling of one aspect of your business to eliminate it from your list of responsibilities. Typically, companies which offer these services are experts in their fields and can offer you greater skill sets, up-to-date tools and technology, as well as the latest working practices for the tasks they will be carrying out. And in many cases, the set monthly or annual cost of doing this can be more cost-effective than hiring employees to do the work for you. However, it's important to note that outsourcing does come with some risks. You need to relinquish control and trust that the outsourcing partner you use is doing what you need them to do and paying them for it. There's also the risk of quality control, as you're relying on an external party to deliver the same level of quality as you would internally. It's crucial to choose your outsourcing partner carefully and establish clear communication and performance metrics to mitigate these risks.

With this in mind, what are the best tasks for you to outsource aside from the aforementioned customer service?

SEO and Marketing

Marketing is a full-time job on its own, and for any small business, it's one that is too far from where their skills are. Marketing requires you to have some level of knowledge and competence in terms of reaching your desired audience and gaining visibility and customers. For this reason, many businesses will typically outsource these tasks so they can lean on the experience and creativity of those adept at marketing. The same goes for SEO, too. SEO is complex, and many different aspects must be put in place for an effective campaign. Working with an expert SEO Agency can help you avoid common SEO mistakes and get on the right track from the beginning, instilling confidence in your marketing strategy.

CyberSecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest growing threats against all businesses and, indeed, the general population. But putting stringent cyber security measures in place can be tricky, especially if this isn't in your wheelhouse. Outsourcing your cyber security needs allows you to rest assured you are following all legal guidelines, that you have only the best defences in place. Should the worst happen, your security partners will be on hand to help you mitigate the damage and rebuild your defences fast, providing a sense of security and peace of mind.

Accounting

If numbers and figures aren't your strong suit, then you need an accountant to let you crunch the numbers and stay in the black. Poor cash flow is one of the leading causes of business failure, and if you want to avoid falling into this common trap, having an expert control your finances and assist you in balancing the books, making important spending decisions, and keeping the cash flowing is a top priority. This will make your accounting needs perfect for outsourcing.

Multiple aspects of your business can be effectively outsourced, freeing up your time to focus on other areas of the business. You will maintain quality and improve functionality and standards, all for a set cost that will support and enhance what you do.