In this Q and A we’re going to answer :

  • What’s the difference between insourcing and outsourcing?
  • How do I record the systems and processes for my Outsourced Team Member?
  • How long does it take an outsourced team member to integrate into my business?

Transcript of the video:


David Judge from Affordable Staff and welcome to our RAW Q&A session around outsourcing.

We’ve created these series of videos for businesses that have considered outsourcing and they have genuine questions or concerns that need answering.

The format? 3 questions and 3 answers based on over 275,000 hours of outsourcing experience.

Let’s get into it



What’s the difference between insourcing and outsourcing?


Ok, there are 3 terms that have been floating around lately… Outsourcing, offshoring and most recently… insourcing.

Insourcing is where you perform a function/ task from within your business using internal team members. These team members may be sourced from an outside company and then integrated into your business.

This is essentially the service we provide as our clients approach us to find team members that work within our physical office in the Philippines and at the same time are integrated to work within their business full time.

Whilst we use the term outsourcing we’re really an insourcing business as 95% of our clients employ a person to perform tasks as if they were an employee within their business.



How do I record the systems and processes for my Outsourced Team Member?


There are a lot of options here, which you can use dependant on your industry and the type of clients you work for.

For example, if any of your systems involve a client’s personal data then you may need to keep them located in Australian servers and have team members ‘Remote in’ to access the data.

If you’re talking about more generic systems and procedures then you can store your data on programs like DropBox or my personal favourite Google Drive. There are also other more tailor made solutions like a program I came across recently called ‘Way We Do’ where you’re able to add a company structure, operations manuals, etc.

Really the key point here is to look at where you’re at right now and to chat to someone that has experience in the outsourcing industry on the specific ways to record your systems and processes.

How long does it take an outsourced team member to integrate into my business?


Rule of thumb is you will know if a person is going to be a good fit within the first few days.

If you’ve started working with a person and they don’t quite feel right, or you think that they’re not immediately a good fit, then you need to get a new person then you’ve invested too much time.

I get that sounds pretty nasty, but I’ve only been proven wrong a few times when it comes to this approach and think it’s a better use of time to get a new person, rather than trying to prove my theory wrong.

With this in mind you need to invest the time at the beginning to ensure your reducing this risk in your recruitment.

Let’s say you’ve got a good person and they’re a good fit, I would like to see that person performing effectively by the end of their second week.

It may take months to fully integrate, based on the tasks, but 2 weeks is the time I would allow at the initial stage of integration.


Ok, that’s it


If you’d like to find out more about how outsourcing can work within your business you can call us anywhere within Australia on 1300 139 482.

This is David Judge from Affordable Staff showing Australian businesses how to achieve business efficiency through outsourcing.