Offshore Outsourcing: Freelance the Past, Virtual Employees the Future:

The internet has enabled the freelance sector to growgenerator for non-stop electricity supply…etc. We
exponentially in recent years. Freelance work over thealso provide your employee with a telephone which will
internet has mainly grown in fields such as softwarehave a local telephone number from your country, (a
development, website design, advertising, proofreading,US/UK/Aus ..etc telephone number) thus making it
law, accounts and copy editing.  The work consists ofvery easy for you to call and speak with your
short term projects that can generally be completedemployee. This in addition to instant messengers, email,
within a few weeks or months. The vast majority ofSkype and video conferencing makes it possible for
freelance work done over the internet in these sectorsyou to communicate, work with and collaborate with
is offshore outsourced to freelancers and freelanceyour employee. With sufficient technology employees
companies based in India.can work remotely for you from anywhere in the
The offshore outsourcing of freelance work to remoteworld; working physically from the same office is no
freelancers in countries such as India is undoubtedly alonger necessary. creates an office environment
profitable practice.  Companies and individuals canwhereby your employee can work directly for you
have their projects completed by freelancers fromdespite your employee not working directly from your
India, for a fraction of what the cost would be in theoffice. When freelancing or working with a freelancer
USA or UK. Furthermore, there is no compromise onthe same level of infrastructure and facilities cannot be
the quality of work, for the freelancers have the samematched or assured.
qualifications and skills as their equivalents in the USA.When freelancing although one can outsource in a
For these reasons it is not surprising that companiesvast number of office fields there is certain limitations.
alone from the West have increased their freelanceFor instance, one could not hire a call center agent
outsourcing by 22% over the internet in the past threefreelancer or a nuclear physicist freelancer. Unlike with
years.freelancing, with there is no type of office employee
Although, a very productive strategy the limitations ofyou cannot hire.  The reason for this is because firstly
freelancing are clearly evident. For companies oritself recruits the employees and so locating/providing
individuals that have on-going work they need toany type of office employee is of no difficultly.
outsource, using the freelance “route” would notSecondly your employees work from our office
be appropriate.  This is where and its Virtualwhere they are provided with all office facilities they
Employees take over from the freelancer as the newneed to work, e.g. a telephone with local US number
future of the offshore outsourcing industry.from a call center agent. Thirdly, because the business
enables employers from around the world to employmodel is to provide full time employees a lot more
their very own full time dedicated employee from India.employees in a lot more office fields are willing to
The advantage with this model is that you can reducework as Virtual Employees, (as opposed to
your costs significantly and unlike freelancing,freelancers) because of the job security.  Hence,
continuously outsource your work. As a result, thewhilst hiring a freelancer to work as a call center agent
Virtual Employee will serve a new offshoreis logistically unfeasible, has the infrastructure to make
outsourcing market, one which will not eradicate butthis possible. Furthermore, where a nuclear physicist
certainly reduce the dependency on the freelancer.would not work as a freelancer because of lack of
How Does it all Work?:job security, with such an employee can be provided.
is a US company and is the crucial third party thatEmployer-Virtual Employee working relationship:
makes it possible for employers not only to outsourceThe business model is that your employee works for
but to also actually employ their very own employeeyou and with you just like an employee who works
from India. From start to finish is present to make itfrom your office. The only difference of course is that
possible for you to employ your own employee.your Virtual Employee works for you remotely as
To begin with, the recruitment department activelyopposed to physically from the same office as you.
searches and then shortlists several candidates for theThus your Virtual Employee will take instructions from
position you seek to fill. We then submit to you theyou, report/submit their work to you and interact
shortlisted candidates resumes and you can thencollaborate with you. simply manages your employee
interview/employ any of the candidates. can provideon your behalf. We pay your employee, provide all
you with an employee in any office field, fromoffice space and equipment, monitor them whilst they
programming, law and accounts to data entry, adminwork, provide any technical assistance if required and
assistants and call center agents.ensure they have everything necessary to work. is
The infrastructure and facilities a Virtual Employee willfurthermore a source of support for both employer
have at his/her disposal will be far superior to thoseand employee; on call and present at all times to
available to freelancers working from home. This isensure the whole outsourcing process runs smoothly.
because once you select a Virtual Employee to startWhen freelancing, one does not have the same level
working for you; your employee will work for you fromand interaction/collaboration with a freelancer. This is
our office. will provide your employee with fastbecause freelancers work for clients on a short term
broadband internet connection, a new PC, TFT monitorbasis and often work for several clients at once.
screens, fax, scanners and any software required,Furthermore freelancers may not have all the office
(including Microsoft office 2007)..etc. Furthermore ourequipment and office infrastructure, (e.g. fast
office is maintained to international standards with A/C,broadband internet connection) necessary to interact
large work stations for the employees, our ownand collaborate effectively with a client virtually.