Maximizing an Outsourced Work-From-Home Model

There is an unprecedented challenge today for companies worldwide to transition office-based employees to a remote work environment. For the BPO industry, the COVID-19 crisis serves as a catalyst for rapid transformation to a hybrid model of outsourced work-from-home model.  

To prevent the downsides from outweighing the positives of an outsourced remote team, organizations must rethink, reimagine, and reinvent their post-pandemic strategies to maintain seamless collaboration, shared trust, and social cohesion within the workforce.  

Read on to find out how companies can reap the potential substantial benefits of an outsourced work-from-home model.  

1. Understand Employment Laws  

Employment laws ensure employees’ rights are respected and protected in the workplace – even in a remote work environment. Following and keeping apprised of all labor regulations is integral to running a successful outsourced work-from-home workforce.   

2. Set Clear Goals and Objectives 

 Creating clear goals and objectives, following structured timelines for project deliverables, individual result metrics, and wider organizational goals upfront helps team leaders and remote workers achieve productivity, satisfaction, and business growth.  

• • Take the time to have an in-depth discussion about goals and objectives so that team leaders and remote workers alike can feel confident knowing they’re working on tasks and projects that will help them and the company to be successful.  
  • Focus on (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) SMART goals and objectives, and hold each remote team member accountable for updates on task progress.  
  • Encourage effective collaboration and strategic partnerships within each project to leverage strengths of each remote team member, build trust, and drive innovative and results-driven solutions.  
  • While results matter, don’t lose sight of the fact that remote workers also need to be cared for and understood, which is essential for better performance and productivity.   

• • Identify subject matter experts and make their skills known to the rest of the remote team. 

3. Secure Remote Workforce and Assets 

Organizations must balance connectivity and cybersecurity to establish a highly secure remote workforce that safely and continuously operates, with the ability to scale and thrive in response to changing business requirements.  

• • Educate remote workforce about cybersecurity risks and best practices for online vulnerabilities and attacks. 
  • Monitor networks regularly to spot anomalies and respond to threats quickly and effectively. 
  • Reevaluate current cybersecurity strategy and prioritize budget for cyber resilience.  

4. Provide Meaningful Support 

Current global health issues have completely thrown out of the window predictable processes, structures, and components for communicating about work, sustaining team rapport, and ensuring mutual accountability.  

• • Bridge distance and stop feelings of isolation and loneliness through regular check-ins, frequent connections, and two-way dialogues.  

• • Enhance motivation and capacity through positive feedback and constructive criticism.  
  • Establish a sense of involvement, recognition, and worth by encouraging and giving opportunities for continuous learning.  

5. Hire the Right People  

Not everyone is cut out for an outsourced work-from-home environment, so there is a need to redesign the hiring process to recruit and hire the right remote workers and effectively manage and retain them. 

• • Build a strong brand reputation to help attract qualified people. 
  • Advertise open roles on job boards, social networks, and online sites dedicated to remote work. 
  • Use the right tools to make it easier to communicate and evaluate candidates’ set of skills despite not meeting in-person.  

Remote work has become a crucial part of business process outsourcing. To ensure that an outsourced work-from-home model succeeds, it’s critical that the right processes, support, and safeguards are in place. If you need outsourcing advice for business growth and success, schedule for a FREE consultation today.