What Is Outsourcing?
Outsourcing is a business strategy that includes transferring work from a company’s employees to an external party. Many companies choose to outsource their services (and the creation of goods) with the goal of decreasing costs such as employees, overhead, equipment, and technology.
Outsourcing jobs, services, or production to other countries may further decrease costs and allow a company to focus more heavily on its critical operations. However, to preserve domestic jobs, companies may also outsource within their own country.
Common Terms for Outsourcing?
Outsourcing may be used interchangeably with the terms contracting-out and externalization.
Are Outsourcing and Subcontracting the Same?
Outsourcing and subcontracting are similar, but the level of control held by the company can be different for each case.
For instance, outsourcing delegates an entire project or department’s operations to an unaffiliated individual or business. Subcontracting may only assign part of a project temporarily – and each task is mutually agreed upon on a contractual basis.
The Difference Between Offshoring and Outsourcing
While outsourcing refers to any shifting of work to a third party, offshoring refers to outsourcing work to a third party in a different geographic area. Offshoring can save companies money on products and services while also providing jobs for workers in developing countries.
Outsourcing vs. Globalization
Globalization refers to the interdependence of various countries in terms of economies, cultures, jobs, products, information, technology, and populations. Global outsourcing is just one factor of globalization.
Outsourcing Examples
Companies can outsource many of their operations in an effort to reduce costs, save time, and earn more money. It may even give them a competitive advantage in their industry.
Common outsourcing examples include:
Manufacturing
Distribution
Shipping and logistics
Research and development
IT Services
Bookkeeping or payroll
Marketing
Sales
Administrative tasks
Human Resources
Customer Service
Top Examples of Outsourcing Companies
There are plenty of companies that outsource their employees, but some of the most famous ones include:
Apple
Nike
Cisco Systems
Walmart
IBM
Ford Motor Company
American Express
Microsoft
The Most Common Outsourcing Models
There are eight common outsourcing pricing models, including:
1. Staffing Model
A service provider handles a project for a specified period. During this time, the client has full control and is given the necessary equipment and workspace to complete the work.
2. Fixed Price Model
A service provider sets a standard rate for the services to be provided monthly or annually. This includes charges for equipment and workspaces.
3. Cost Reimbursable Model
A service provider limits the number of expenses they will accrue before adding a percentage for profit.
4. Time & Materials Model
A service provider will bid on a project by providing the potential client with a proposal of time needed and cost.
5. Consumption-Based Pricing Model
A service provider charges their client based on actual usage.
6. Profit-Sharing Pricing Model
A service provider receives a percentage of profits from the client.
7. Incentive-Based Pricing Model
On top of their normal rate, the service provider receives bonuses or commissions for their work, based on performance.
8. Shared Risk-Reward Pricing Model
A service provider will share the risk and reward with the company. In addition to their normal rate, they receive compensation based on company performance. If the company experiences challenges, however, their additional compensation may decrease or not exist.
Is Outsourcing Good or Bad?
There are distinct advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing to consider, and they’re typically dependent on a company’s situation, motivators, and goals.
Advantages of Outsourcing
Reduced costs such as overhead, staff, equipment, and technology
Work may be less expensive than hiring staff members
May have greater access to experts in the field
Tasks may reach completion more quickly
Companies can focus on revenue-driving work
Assistance in planning and mitigating against potential risks
Ability to take on more projects that work towards the company’s mission and goals
Disadvantages of Outsourcing
Complex contracts between companies with possible hidden costs
Access to confidential data can cause security threats or data breaches
Communication challenges that cause project delays and slower turnaround time
Language and cultural barriers
Time zone differences
Little control over quality from the originating company
Less knowledge of the industry or domain
Public backlash or moral dilemmas
Does Outsourcing Affect the US Economy?
The effects that outsourcing has on the US economy can be viewed from multiple lenses. Outsourcing enables companies to lower their production costs and these savings can be passed on to consumers who will (ideally) make more purchases. Outsourcing encourages US companies to be more globally competitive.
However, outsourcing can also hurt the US economy if many people lose their jobs. Individuals and families without stable incomes aren’t as likely to make discretionary purchases.
How Outsourcing Affects Developing Countries
When companies outsource their work to developing countries, it can have an overwhelmingly positive impact on economies and workers alike. The creation of jobs enables people to afford basic necessities as well as make discretionary purchases. Outsourcing has the potential to improve the standard of living in developing countries and has helped to create the middle-class in nations like China and India.
Negative Effects of Outsourcing Jobs to Developing Countries
Workers are understandably typically drawn to cities with larger outsourced industries and promises of higher earnings. As people seek out higher-paying roles that aren’t critical to their nation’s development (e.g. call centers, assembly lines), a large hole is left in farming and cottage industry communities.
Due to a cheap and replaceable labor force, some employers may exploit employees by enforcing longer working hours and unsafe conditions. Because developing nations also tend to have more lax environmental standards than those in developed countries, factories may cause more pollution (to create cheaper goods).
