Many business owners like to offshore employees to scale their businesses with lower costs. But managing offshore employees isn’t easy, especially if you’re used to working with in-house staff. Apart from choosing the right offshoring service provider, you also need good management practices to ensure that both your business and your offshore employees benefit from the partnership.Below, we’ll walk you through on how managing offshore employees can be done effectively so, you can successfully scale your business!
How Is Managing Offshore Employees Different from Managing In-House Staff?
Because offshore employees are based far from you, you will come across a lot of differences compared to when you’re handling in-house staff. Below are some notable differences you should watch out for if you’re looking to offshore and plan on managing offshore employees.
Communication
Managing offshore employees requires more attention when it comes to communication because of language and cultural barriers. If it’s your first time offshoring employees, you can expect miscommunications at the start.
Time Zone Differences
Offshore employees may work in a different time zone, which can create scheduling challenges. Although your business can also use this to your advantage, you should still be aware of these differences and plan accordingly to ensure effective collaboration and seamless flow of managing offshore employees.
Technology
Unlike with in-house staff, it's difficult for you to supply your offshore employees with the necessary software and equipment they need for their tasks. Shipping and channel management are costly and inconvenient. Not to mention, different departments have varying technological needs that will require specialized equipment.
Legal and Compliance Requirements
Managing offshore employees may require additional legal and compliance requirements. This can include understanding local labor laws, tax requirements, and data protection laws.
Trust
Building trust with offshore employees can be challenging, as managers may not have the same level of face-to-face interaction as with in-house staff. You should take your time in establishing rapport with offshore employees and maintain open lines of communication to build trust over time.
What Are the Best Management Practices for Offshore Employees?
Managing offshore employees may be difficult at first, but with the right management practices, you can expect your working relationship to be just like that of in-house staff. Below are some tips on how effective managing offshore employees can be achieved.
Set Communication Channels
Regular communication is essential in effectively managing offshore employees. Since they’re far from you, expect that they may not be on the same level of on-call availability as in-house staff. To prevent issues like constant unavailability, slow response times, and communication delays, start by setting communication channels.During onboarding, orient them on how you’ll talk to each other. Specify if you prefer messaging through emails, SMS, or calls. You should also decide on what app or website to use, so you can ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Define Your Expectations
Make sure to take time to clearly define your expectations to your offshore team. This includes things like their performance, work hours, response times, and deliverables. Make sure that your offshore staff understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as how their work fits into the larger picture.
Provide Constant Feedback
Provide regular feedback when managing offshore employees to help them improve their performance. This can include constructive criticism, positive feedback, and recognition for a job well done. Doing so will give them an idea of their current performance, as well as your satisfaction level.
Foster a Sense of Inclusion
Offshore employees may feel disconnected from the rest of the team because of the setup. If not managed, this may affect their work performance and your working relationship. So, when managing offshore employees, try to foster a sense of inclusion by including them in team meetings, social events, and other activities. You can also hold programs, especially for them.
Emphasize Cultural Sensitivity
Always keep in mind that your offshore employees will come from different cultural backgrounds since you’re from different places in the world. Thus, it’s essential to emphasize cultural sensitivity and train all team members on cultural differences. Implementing related programs to your management style will allow you to maintain an ideal level of collaboration.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Technology is your friend when it comes to connecting and managing offshore employees. Utilize social media apps and software to make collaboration easier and more efficient. You should also look into using tools for video conferencing, project management, and instant messaging to streamline operations.
How to Ensure That You Get the Right Offshore Employees for Your Business
Aside from managing offshore employees effectively, getting the right offshore employees for your business is essential to ensure that your team is productive, efficient, and able to meet your business needs. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that you find the right offshore employees for your business.
Have a Clear Set of Requirements
Before you start looking for offshore employees, you should have your own set of requirements. This should include qualifications, skills, experience, and other standards that you think are essential for the job. Conduct thorough interviews with candidates to assess their skills, experience, and cultural fit, may it be through phone, video call interviews, or in-person settings.
Provide Clear Job Descriptions
The job descriptions should also be clear enough for the potential offshore staff to fully understand the roles and responsibilities of the position. This will help ensure that they are aware of what is expected of them, and, thus, they can make informed decisions about the job.
Consider Cultural Fit
Being culturally fit with your partners is essential when it comes to managing offshore employees. Cultural fit is an important consideration when hiring offshore employees. Look for offshore employees that share your values, so you can work effectively with your team.
Start with a Trial Period
If an offshoring provider offers a trial period for their service, you should highly consider availing the option before fully committing to the working relationship. Doing so will give you enough time to grasp and decide whether the employees are the right fit for your business.
Work With a Reputable Offshoring Provider
Work with reputable staffing agencies that specialize in offshore staffing services so, you can better handle managing offshore employees. These agencies can help you find qualified candidates who meet your requirements, thus offering a better guarantee of the quality of the service you’ll receive.
Tips for Choosing an Offshoring Provider
To get a dedicated team of offshore staff and make managing offshore employees easier, the best course of action to take is to look for an offshoring provider. They’re more convenient to work with since they already have a readily available talent pool that will meet your standards. Here are some tips to help you choose the right offshore partner.
Identify Your Business Needs
Before you start looking for an offshoring provider, clearly identify your business needs. This should include the services you require, the size of the team you need, and the budget you have available.
Assess the Provider's Experience
Look for an offshoring provider with experience in your industry and the services you require. Ask for case studies or references to assess their experience and track record. You can also look up the specific agency’s customer reviews on their own website or through Google My Business.
Check the Provider's Credentials
Check the provider's credentials, including their certifications, industry affiliations, and awards. Doing so will help you get an overview of expertise level and credibility. This will also aid in figuring out whether they can really meet your demands or not.
Evaluate the Provider's Infrastructure
Evaluate the provider's infrastructure, including its technological equipment, communication channels, and security protocols. Ensure that they have the necessary infrastructure to support your business needs, so you won’t have to worry about additional work like shipping equipment and availing of new software.
Look for a Provider with a Talented Pool
Look for an offshoring provider with a diverse and skilled talent pool. Find those that offer candidates with a range of expertise and experience levels, so you can get quality deliverables once you start working with each other.
Consider the Provider's Cultural Fit
Cultural fit is an important consideration when choosing an offshoring provider. The Philippines is one of the top choices to look at when it comes to this aspect as they have close cultural ties to Western countries like the US and the UK.
Check the Offshoring Provider's Scalability
Ensure that the offshoring provider has the scalability to support your business needs. This can include the ability to scale up or down as your business needs change, so you won’t have to worry about making big adjustments if ever your brand needs to grow or reduce operations in the future.
Evaluate the Provider's Pricing Model
You also have to consider your budget, so make sure to evaluate the provider's pricing model. It should align with both your financial capabilities and business needs. Look for a provider that offers transparent pricing and flexible payment options, and avoid those that come with hidden charges.On the other hand, if your goal is to cut down on expenses, offshore your staffing needs to a developing country like the Philippines. You can expect a 70% reduction in operational costs because of the lower labor costs in the said country. Read more about how much companies are able to save by offshoring to the Philippines.
Offshore Your Staffing Needs to KDCI
When choosing an offshoring service provider, looking at Philippine-based agencies is a great choice. 88% of Filipinos speak English and the Philippines has a similar culture to Western countries, making managing offshore employees easier for you.Get the best offshore team possible, and offshore your staffing needs to KDCI. Our offshore staffing services include back office operations, customer support, graphic design, digital marketing, finance and accounting, and web development.Find the perfect offshoring partner in the Philippines. Click the button below to learn more about KDContact Us
