| Off-shore business is grabbing grounds gradually and | | | | on a weekly basis. This way, there will be less errors |
| companies are in fact saving on the bottom line by | | | | and would have less hassles at the time of project |
| cutting costs. However there are few issues that are | | | | delivery. So it is prudent enough if you involve yourself |
| most often faced while getting services accomplished | | | | in the project and keep yourself abreast with the |
| from a service provider or agency which is across | | | | ongoing development. |
| shores. Here are some handy tips the areas which | | | | You might want to also list periodic updates in your |
| can be improved upon to overcome such difficulties. | | | | service agreement at the outset with the service |
| Communication Barriers | | | | provider. |
| Lack of communication can be said to be the major | | | | Issues with cultural differences |
| factor in bringing failure to some outsourcing projects. | | | | Cultural differences are sure to arise in case of |
| No doubt communication has become easy and can | | | | off-shore business. Thus it needs to be made certain |
| cost nearly nothing to interact seamlessly. However at | | | | that the contact points between you and the service |
| the end of the day one is still dependent on the | | | | provider is cleared out for smooth execution of any |
| individuals on the other end their communication | | | | project. It is preferable that you interact with the |
| capabilities. | | | | agency representatives well at the outset over the |
| While dealing with the service provider, the clients | | | | phone and emails to satisfy yourself that the |
| should make sure that the requirements provided to | | | | difference is not too wide. For e.g. handing over a |
| them are detailed and well understood. If not, the work | | | | Search Engine Optimization project to a Chinese |
| might not go as planned and at the time of the | | | | company may not be a good idea. There is such a big |
| website, you might have a long list of things to do even | | | | language gap that the only way that might help |
| beyond the timeline which was planned. | | | | interacting is through Sign Language! That unfortunately |
| A good way to overcome this difficulty is to have as | | | | is not an option if you are sitting a few thousand miles |
| many voice interactions with the account manager | | | | away.. |
| who is servicing your account. Communicating only | | | | Time differences and work ethics |
| over email can bring out communication gaps. | | | | Time differences between countries can be another |
| Moreover, the language might also be an issue while | | | | factor in creating problems at work. For instance, if you |
| communicating. Let us consider that you are sitting in | | | | are in Europe and your service provider is in India, there |
| the United States and your web solutions company is | | | | is a time difference of 3-5 hours. To tackle such |
| situated in India; there might be problem with | | | | problems, one has to adjust the timings accordingly |
| understanding due to the difference in accent. In that | | | | and turn the problem into a void one. For this, you need |
| case, it is advisable to go on a Live Chat which is | | | | to tell them your availability time during which they |
| always helpful. Even then if there is difficulties in making | | | | would easily be able to get in touch with you for |
| them understand, do a little research and send them | | | | sorting out problems or answering queries. If the time |
| samples of how you want your website to be. Make | | | | difference is more than 10 hours then ensure you have |
| little efforts today and you can get great results | | | | some kind of an overlap of atleast a few hours during |
| tomorrow! | | | | the day so that you can atleast interact. |
| Ill defined acceptance criteria | | | | Also, try and get a grasp of the work ethics of the |
| Although there are various expectations that you might | | | | company you intend working with beforehand. It is |
| have from the Web Solutions Company you are hiring | | | | important to see if they are forthcoming and |
| , but you might still be have doubts about the conditions | | | | pro-active. Companies or groups which are not are a |
| in the contract provided. Thus there are some factors | | | | big NO. |
| that you might ignore at the first place but create | | | | Working with an Organization or an individual? |
| problems when questioned. Certain things need to be | | | | Since outsourcing has become a lucrative opportunity |
| clearly mentioned in the contract before you signup. | | | | in the developing countries, a lot of freelancers and |
| - The objective for the payments and the acceptance | | | | fly-by-night operators have mushroomed. A lot of |
| norms of the payments should be plainly displayed so | | | | untrained and under qualified people could actually |
| that you do not have any problems while filling up the | | | | pose to be an organization. While you are outsourcing, |
| payment amount in the cheques. | | | | it most recommended to go ahead with a company |
| - The process for managing work regarding defects | | | | which has some proven credentials and verified |
| or Change Requests should be clarified. This should be | | | | references. If you are not sure about the credentials of |
| done so that the service providers do not throw | | | | an individual or a group of individuals, do not associate |
| tantrums if there arises some issues with the | | | | with them. You might end up throwing your money |
| execution of the project. | | | | away and trying to press charges against the person |
| - In case any target is missed by the service providers, | | | | but all in vain. Working with an organization on the |
| the party that will decide on the payment withholding | | | | other hand will be safer bet as a lot of your |
| needs to be defined frankly. This will assure that the | | | | due-diligence is automatically done. You are already |
| service providers will never make frequent errors and | | | | going to save money by working with an offshore |
| will be extra careful. | | | | provider, why get more greedy! Ask for some globally |
| Involvement of the customers is important | | | | authenticated quality certifications - An ISO 9001 -2000 |
| It is often seen that once the client explains the | | | | is an example. |
| requirements to the service provider, they develop the | | | | If you think you have tackled all these points diligently, |
| misconception that the work will be done. Ideally one | | | | some of the Advantages of Outsourcing your project |
| should not really pull out of the progress tracking of the | | | | can be seen by clicking the link. |
| project and be updated with what is happening atleast | | | | |