Debunking the Myths of Outsourcing

Over the course of the pandemic, businesses learned that many integral tasks could be completed remotely. The opportunities for remote work increased exponentially in 2020 and 2021. While the outsourcing industry initially adapted to remote work to keep people safe and keep businesses open, remote work continues because it is effective and productive.

Even given the obvious positives of remote outsourcing, there still exist some myths that need to be debunked. By uncovering the truth about outsourcing, businesses can better understand how it can help them build and scale their ventures.

Myth #1: My business cannot be run remotely

There has been some pushback with the rise of remote work from businesses that may be set in the old ways of work. Some businesses do not believe any of their processes can be handled remotely. However, the pandemic showed that many jobs thought to be in-person only could be handled remotely with relative ease — and with productive results. 

The truth is that most businesses have aspects that can be handled remotely by outsourced teams. All businesses have administrative tasks, marketing tasks that can be done remotely, or customer service needs that can be effectively tackled by outsourced remote teams.

Myth #2: Outsourced workers do not have niche skills

When needing strong creative chops or marketing prowess, business owners may believe those roles must go to in-house employees to be done well. However, many virtual assistants have been trained in niche areas and can be incredible additions to your team. The output of skilled virtual assistants can be high-quality and truly up level your business from a creative perspective. 

Myth #3: Outsourcing complicates workflow 

The old way of work was to have everyone under one roof, working away in cubicles and talking to one another face to face from nine to five, Monday through Friday. However, the new world of work operates on a 24-hour, 7 days a week framework. People have grown accustomed to accommodating overseas time zones and holding meetings remotely. The technology has grown with us, allowing teams in different locations to seamlessly complete tasks. Outsourcing is no more complicated today than building teams under one roof, and may be even easier with all the technology tools available. 

Myth #4: Language or culture are a barrier 

Most outsourced virtual workers are overseas, and may not fluently speak the primary language spoken by your business. However, many overseas virtual workers are fluent in English or other languages, which will help businesses grow globally. Building an employee base that can speak many languages can be a boon for a company looking to gain ground in other countries. It is not a hindrance, but a help in this ever expanding global market. 

Myth #5: Outsourcing is only useful for big companies

With today’s multi-talented virtual assistant teams, any business, large or small, can take advantage of outsourcing tasks. Even solopreneurs can benefit from having a virtual assistant handle tasks that are not within their wheelhouse, such as social media advertising or scheduling. Remote outsourcing can take several tasks off the plates of people just getting their businesses off the ground, freeing them up for the tasks necessary to move the needle towards success. 

Myth #6: Outsourcing cannot be done long-term

Many virtual assistants or remote employees become an important part of their company’s team, moving up the ranks just as an in-house employee would and taking on leadership roles. While outsourcing may have once been viewed as a one-time “cost-saving” solution for companies, with today’s remote workforce, it can now be viewed as a way to bolster your employee base and strengthen your mission long term. 

Myth #7: Things will go back to the way they were pre-pandemic 

This thought process is likely a myth that some are still holding on to because they fear change, they are unaware of what outsourcing to a virtual assistant could do for their business, or they fear that a remote workforce means they are losing control. Statistics show that 36.2 million workers in the US alone will be working remotely by 2025. The virtual assistant industry is slated to grow 22% between 2022 and 2028. 

The work landscape is only getting more virtual-oriented, aided by technology improvements. We will likely not return to the days of all in-house, all in-person workforces. The world has changed, and businesses that shift with the changing times are likely to see more successful scaling and profitability.

There are excellent virtual assistant partners available for the needs of most industries. By embracing the positives of outsourcing and the power of virtual assistants, businesses can strengthen their global presence, reach goals faster, and see their businesses thrive in this new world of work. 

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