Today’s ever-changing marketplace may be the difference between becoming a flourishing business or having to shut your doors if you’re not lean and agile. This is where outsourcing and freelancing with a company like Upwork come into play. Both options enable businesses to discover the staff they need to establish an excellent team that can produce high-quality results at a low cost.
However, before choosing to work with an outsourcing company or a freelancer company like Upwork, it is critical to be well-informed about the benefits and drawbacks of doing so. Making an informed selection is always preferable to making a spur-of-the-moment decision and going in without any knowledge.
What is Upwork and How Does It Work?
Upwork is a worldwide freelancing platform where businesses and self-employed individuals collaborate remotely. Clients may use Upwork’s platform to interview, hire, and collaborate with freelancers and agencies. Upwork currently has more than nine million registered freelancers and four million registered clients, making it the world’s largest freelance marketplace.
But, what are freelancers and how are they different from remote workers from an outsourcing company? What does freelancing work entail?
What are Freelancers?
Freelancing is a self-employed business that pays an extra for each project and generally for a short period of time. A freelancer is distinct from an outsourcing firm since he or she is not employed by a business but rather runs his or her own one-man company and may work on several projects at the same time for numerous clients.
Freelancers perform the duties outlined in their contracts and are paid for the time spent and effort put into completing the client’s required jobs. They might charge a fixed rate, per hour, per day, or even on a per-project basis for their services.
Individual freelancers provide a wide range of services, but the majority of them generally offer the following:
- Editing
- Copywriting
- Proofreading
- Marketing
- Journalism
- Video editing and production
- Consulting
- Web development
- Computer programming
- Language translations
Temporary employees are individuals who are ready to be hired as long as their clients need their services, so it is quite typical for them to be engaged on a temporary basis.
Freelancers may work with a variety of clients and organizations in conjunction to complete projects. Since they are responsible for a number of contracted jobs, sometimes the quality of their output could be subpar to that of the client’s specifications.
Because freelancers are free to work on multiple projects at the same time, this raises concerns about data security for organizations that share their proprietary information or sensitive data. If a freelancer is not cautious, this might be misused, mishandled, or unintentionally released.
So, is this really the best solution for your company? Is this what your growing and evolving business needs?
Cons of Working With Upwork
While hiring a freelancer is not always an easy process, it does come with its own set of challenges. While there are several advantages to employing contract personnel, there are also certain drawbacks.
- Lack of Supervision
Because most freelancing is done remotely, there’s really no way to tell if two of those ten hours were spent working hard or scouring Instagram and watching YouTube videos. This isn’t to imply that all, or even the majority of, freelancers do this, but without supervision, immediate motivation is frequently neglected in favor of leisure.
- Work Quality That Is Unpredictable
Because hiring freelancers has the benefit of speed, few entrepreneurs undergo a thorough selection process to check for competence. This may result in a freelancer’s resume and portfolio being quickly skimmed through by the person in charge of hiring and onboarding them, given the amount of time spent checking to see if a potential full-time hire is a good fit.
- Lower Investment in the Company
Freelancers have to pay their bills just like you, so thinking that they’re your only client is similar to believing the waitress is simply working her shift tonight.
All freelancers have several projects on the go, so their loyalty to your company is most likely lower than a full-time employee who sports company t-shirts, stickers, and other gaudy swag. While this isn’t always a “make or break,” it’s something to think about depending on the task you’re hiring them for.
- A Lack of Ability to Instruct a Freelancer
Every business is unique. You are certainly aware that there are nuances to your firm that can only be understood by working there. Not having the capacity to properly educate and onboard a freelancer might be costly, since they may be missing out on critical information that comes easily to a full-time employee. Of course, creating robust and scalable systems is the answer to this, but that’s a different topic for another article.
Freelancers can be a great help for businesses, particularly those in the startup or low-budget stages. However, like with any other company decision, you should research it thoroughly and critically before diving headfirst into the freelance sector.
Now, why should you work with an outsourcing company? Are they trustworthy?
What is Outsourcing and How Does It Work?
The term “outsourcing” refers to subcontracting a task, and it implies hiring an external firm to undertake that work. This form of agreement differs from hiring an independent contractor since it does not involve outsourcing certain projects or tasks for which you may need expertise.
For the outsourcing service’s part, they provide their own resources and personnel for a set length of time to help their clients accomplish specific objectives or tasks.
Depending on the sector they serve, outsourcing firms provide a variety of services. They essentially fill any position. These include non-fundamental roles that provide support to the central infrastructure of the company or help in the day-to-day operations.
To name a few, here are some of the most common functions and activities that are outsourced:
- Business processes
- Manufacturing
- Information Technology
- Distribution
- Research and Development (R&D)
Why do businesses outsource work? Following basic economic principles, the scarcity of local experts and professionals is complemented by rising pay, making it tough for some organizations to staff and retain skilled in-house workers.
Another advantage is that outsourcing may be used as a profitable and strategic approach to boosting team performance while increasing company profit margins. To put it another way, it’s a cost-effective technique that allows firms to save money while maintaining product quality.
This allows firms to employ less costly third-party outsourcing providers. Simply stated, the amount of effort and quality generated in one location or nation varies from another. As a result, businesses continuously outsource their operations to distant nations since the benefits usually outweigh any potential drawbacks.
Advantages of Outsourcing
Outsourcing is beneficial to organizations since it can save them a significant amount of money on labor. When a firm hires the help of third-party experts to accomplish certain activities that are better performed with outside expertise, it is known as outsourcing.
Outsourcing allows companies to strategically plan their time and efficiently utilize their resources to focus on the company’s most important areas, resulting in increased growth and development. So, by outsourcing non-core activities and processes, companies may enhance their efficiency and productivity. Because it is their domain of expertise, professionals with experience and specialized skills in non-core functions may be better-equipped and more successful at performing the task than an in-house team.
Honestly, when you have a group of experts concentrate solely on your project, it becomes even more personal to them and customers appreciate a hands-on approach from an outsourcing firm. They understand that throughout the process, they’ll be speaking with the people working on the project. They can also form great professional relationships along the way. Most people appreciate receiving support and maintenance from the same people who were responsible for development.
When you engage a direct outsourcing company, it’s the beginning of a long-term connection. These are firms that rely on their reputation and the testimonials of grateful clients to succeed. They can’t afford to ignore your negative comments or reviews.
You’re not part of the thousands of enterprises out there. You are a valued customer, and you may be a potential recommendation for future business. Will a firm with thousands of employees and more clients care about your complaints or concerns as much as it would if it had just one?
Outsourcing with GlobalityNet
At GlobalityNet, we help you take your business to the next level with quality, foreign remote workers with great English. From Customer Service Outsourcing to Supply Chain Outsourcing and more – we’re the secret sauce for your remote hiring and outsourcing needs! But, why should you choose GlobalityNet?
We will always aim for win-win outcomes at GlobalityNet. This means partnering with stakeholders and customers and working side-by-side with them in achieving our objectives. We are also quick on our feet to adapt to changing situations. We act with purpose and with a sense of urgency. No matter your industry, we can handle your outsourcing needs.
Want to learn more about the outsourcing process and how we can help your business? Contact us today for a free consultation.
