How to Reduce or Eliminate Non-Essential Spending When Outsourcing Projects

The primary reason most companies have for outsourcing is to save money and increase work efficiency. However, even when outsourcing, you may fall into the trap of paying more than you should.

Such is especially the case if you rush through the process of selecting the outsourcing company that you’ll partner with. With the wrong company, you might end up spending more than you ought to — all while getting very little benefit from the collaboration.

To help you avoid just that, allow us to share with you these five tips when outsourcing.

Know what specific services you need

You need to evaluate your needs and be clear about what aspects of your business you should outsource, and the things you should do on-site.

Doing so will give you greater insight into what services you should obtain from an external provider. This information will be crucial for when it’s time to draft your contract agreements.

Have a budget

It’s important to know how much you’re willing to spend on outsourcing and how much different companies and services typically cost.

Also, take note that there are two kinds of costs: good costs and bad costs.

Good costs would be the things that drive profit and growth for the business, while bad costs are considered as non-essential spending areas.

Utilize as many resources as you need to increase good costs and make them more effective, while at the same time, eliminating bad costs.

Request for a personalized contract

Some outsourcing companies will hand you a generic contract that includes features and services that you don’t really need.

As much as possible, request for a personalized contract that includes only the key services you’re interested in and ask if they can provide a better deal this way.

If you’re working with a larger company, find out if there are activities that are done in two or more departments. 

There should be no duplication of tasks in multiple areas. Furthermore, you can even find out if one department can handle specific functions for all other departments in an effort to cut costs.

Adjust the terms of the contract to allow for flexibility

We all know that the costs of technology tend to go down over time thanks to advances in research and efficiency. 

This is why it’s good to have a ‘benchmark clause’ in your contract that compares the price stated in the contract with the market price so you end up paying what’s fair depending on the conditions of the market.

Track everything and adjust according to results

You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Monitor how much you spend on services and the results you’re getting for your money. 

If certain things were not fulfilled from your contract, then you are in a position to renegotiate the terms, including the pricing of the services.

Key Takeaway

Outsourcing is already a popular method to cut costs for many businesses. What some fail to realize, however, is that even in outsourcing, there can be hidden costs.

Remember, the goal is to save as much money as possible while achieving a level of work that lets your business thrive. It may be a hard balance to strike, but it is possible.