Once you have your offshoring strategy in place, make sure you address cultural and communication barriers, as well as security risks. This will help you in overcoming common technology offshoring challenges.
Key takeaways:
- Technology offshoring has many perks, but language and cultural barriers require careful consideration.
- You can overcome common offshoring challenges such as cultural differences, language and communication barriers, and data security.
- There are also strategies to evaluate success, including measuring performance, supporting ongoing improvement, and staying flexible and adaptable.
Technology offshoring has emerged as a compelling strategy for companies to optimize costs, access specialized skills, and drive innovation. Navigating and overcoming common technology offshoring challenges requires a strategic approach and a keen understanding of the nuances involved, however. Only then can you see the kind of business growth you’re looking for.
Part one of this two-part series discussed how to successfully prepare for technology offshoring and the initial steps to take to make it happen. This second part will walk through how to address issues including cultural barriers, communication, security, and performance evaluation.
Quick tips for overcoming common technology offshoring challenges
Cultural differences, communication barriers, time zone disparities, and intellectual property protection concerns are just a few of the many hurdles that can hinder the seamless implementation of an offshoring strategy. Beyond the initial allure of cost reduction, achieving sustainable success hinges on an organization’s ability to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of their offshoring initiatives.
Let’s dive into a few key areas to focus on.
1. Cultural differences
No matter which company you decide to partner with for your technology offshoring needs, there will be cultural barriers to contend with. Identify these from the start, whether it’s an approach to working hours, cultural norms, expectations, or communication styles. You may need to address multiple areas. Develop cross-cultural competency by ensuring both teams understand one another. Establish a culture of mutual respect and inclusion, and encourage everyone to celebrate cultural diversity.
2. Language and communication barriers
It’s very possible that your business process outsourcing (BPO) partner may speak a primary language other than English. Address these barriers by creating a plan for successful communication. Provide training to both teams about how to overcome challenges and how to use available tech tools for translation purposes. Establish clear communication protocols, and try out different tools to find the right support for the team. Teach the team about emotional intelligence and why it’s important in work relationships.
3. Data security
One big challenge with offshoring is data security. You never want sensitive company information or customer data to be at risk. First, identify your business’s specific risks. Which types of data will be shared with your offshoring team? Which data needs protecting? Create clear policies and procedures the teams must follow. Consider how to incorporate technology solutions to enhance security. Carefully evaluate how you must comply with legal and regulatory requirements in both countries.
The bottom line is that you need to focus on overcoming common technology offshoring challenges before they become problems, and you can do this by staying proactive instead of reactive. Next you’ll need to know how to determine success and whether your strategies are working.
Strategies for evaluating offshoring success
The best offshoring strategy still requires continuous review and adjustment. A data-driven approach helps you measure success so you can ensure your team is constantly improving. Follow these strategies to maintain an effective offshoring relationship:
1. Continuously measure performance
Create a list of metrics that will help you assess ongoing performance. Establish your offshoring key performance indicators (KPIs) – metrics like cost efficiency, customer retention, productivity, turnover rate, and response times – and a plan for monitoring and analysis. Continue to analyze all the data you collect so you can use it to make improvements. Celebrate small and large successes with the remote team, and encourage them to learn from any hiccups.
2. Support ongoing improvement
Promoting ongoing improvement within an offshoring team requires proactive communication, regular performance evaluations, and a focus on learning and development. Encouraging open feedback from team members, addressing challenges head-on, and fostering a collaborative culture all facilitate continuous growth. Always strive to identify areas for improvement, and invest in professional development and training opportunities for the team.
3. Stay flexible and adaptable
Remain flexible in your evaluation approach. Adjust your evaluation strategy as your business needs evolve to ensure it remains aligned with changing goals. The ability to adapt to industry trends and support continuous learning and growth ensures that your strategy remains a relevant and effective tool for assessing success in an ever-changing business environment. Regularly review and fine-tune your approach to capture the most meaningful insights and drive continuous improvement in your offshoring endeavors.
These three strategies aren’t complicated, but they make a huge impact on your offshoring team’s success. If you have questions or need help getting yours set up, there are experts who can help.
Take your offshoring approach a step further with DOXA
Building a high-performing offshoring team requires more than a strategy. You need to address cultural and language barriers and ensure data security for the best relationship possible. It’s also important to evaluate team performance, support improvement and growth, and stay flexible for whatever comes next. Planning, communication, and cultural awareness are the cornerstones of successful technology offshoring.
Learn more about how to build a strong offshoring approach by teaming up with DOXA. We give you the tools you need to create a foundational team that will drive business success. Set up a call now to get started.
