In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, the way we work is also shifting. From ongoing tech developments to evolving workplace setups, we’ve all seen (and experienced) all these changes in the past couple of years. Among these is the rise of remote staffing solutions.
Remote work has become an integral part of the modern workforce, with remote jobs now making up more than 15% of the total opportunities in the US. But just how prevalent is it, exactly? Let’s run the numbers:
- Around 16% of companies worldwide are now operating fully remotely — no physical office at all!
- 62% of ALL employees have tried working remotely (aka telecommuting), at least occasionally.
- Lastly, a staggering 98% of workers would prefer to have the option to work remotely for the entirety of their careers.
Basically, what these numbers are telling us is that remote work is here and it’s here to stay. This trend is only going to continue to grow, as more and more companies are realizing the benefits of remote work, such as increased productivity, reduced costs, and a happier and more engaged workforce.
But what exactly is remote staffing, and how does it work? In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of this rapidly growing trend and help you understand how it can benefit your business. Whether you’re a small startup, a growing business looking to scale, or a large corporation, remote staffing can help you find the remote talent you need without breaking a bank.
So, let’s dive in and discover the world of remote staffing together!
What is remote staffing?
Remote staffing (also sometimes called virtual staffing or telecommuting) in today’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry refers to the practice of hiring employees who work remotely, rather than in a traditional office setting. This can include employees who work from home, from a co-working space, or from a different location entirely — say, in a different country, like the Philippines.
The practice of remote staffing is becoming increasingly popular in the BPO industry, as it allows companies to access a global pool of talent, reduce overhead costs, and improve employee productivity and satisfaction.
How does remote staffing work?
First, let’s talk about the tasks that can be delegated to remote staff. Practically anything that an employee can complete, even when they’re not at the office in-person. If a task can be done using a computer and the output can be sent through a collaboration tool, then yes, it can be covered by remote staffing. Examples of tasks that can be performed remotely in the BPO industry include customer service, data entry, telemarketing, and technical support.
For example, a company based in the United States might hire a remote customer service representative in the Philippines to handle customer inquiries via phone and email. Another example is a business that hires a virtual assistant to perform data entry and administrative tasks from home.
Remote staffing allows BPO companies to tap into a diverse and global workforce, enables them to expand their service offerings, and allows them to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. Speaking of which, we now move on to the benefits of hiring remote staff.
What type of roles can be filled through remote staffing?
The type of roles that can be filled through a remote staffing service varies across industries and business, but here are some of the in-demand remote staffing jobs that have grown over the past few years:
- Administrative and support roles, such as data entry, research, and record-keeping
- Customer support roles, such as providing assistance to customers or clients through phone, email, and chat
- Graphic design roles, such as creating visual content for a variety of mediums, such as websites, advertisements, and packaging
- Digital marketing roles, such as promoting products or services through digital channels such as social media, email, and SEO
- Finance and accounting roles, such as bookkeeping, managing, and reporting on the financial transactions of a company
- Web development roles, such as creating and maintaining websites, web applications, and other software programs
- Content creation and writing roles, such as developing written materials for websites, brochures, and marketing campaigns
- IT and tech support roles, such as troubleshooting technical issues and providing IT support to remote employees
- Sales and business development roles, such as managing client relationships and generating new business leads
- Project management roles, such as planning, organizing, and overseeing remote teams
If you’re considering hiring a remote employee for a role that is not in the list above, don’t worry! Feel free to ask the team at KDCI Outsourcing and we’d be happy to discuss your remote staffing needs. In the meantime, let’s discuss the key things you need to look for when building your remote team.
What skills and qualifications are necessary for remote staffing?
While the skill set differs to match every job description, there are certain requirements that you also need to look out for when getting new hires for remote positions. Generally speaking, for remote employees to succeed in a remote setup, they should have these eight skills and qualifications:
1. Strong communication skills
To bridge the physical distance, clear communication is key. Remote employees need to be able to communicate effectively with their team members and managers through a variety of channels, such as email, instant messaging, and video conferencing.
2. Self-motivation and discipline
Remote employees need to be able to work independently and stay focused on their tasks without the supervision of a manager. Since it’s more challenging to monitor remote talent, it’s important to find driven individuals who can work with minimal supervision.
3. Good time-management skills
Another key consideration for remote hiring is the individual’s ability to manage time. Remote employees need to be able to manage their time effectively, juggling multiple tasks and deadlines, even if and especially since they cannot report to a physical office space.
4. Tech skills
Remote employees need to be proficient in the tools and technologies that are used for remote work, such as video conferencing software, collaboration platforms, and project management tools. Using such tools and resources is non-negotiable to ensure a smooth workflow.
5. Strong written and verbal language
Remote work requires a lot of written communication, so strong written and verbal language skills are important for success. This also ties up with the need for clear communication in a remote work setup.
6. Strong organizational skills
Remote work can be disorganized, so it is important for remote employees to have strong organizational skills to keep track of their work and their schedule. The added challenges of a remote workforce is an opportunity to find people who can clearly handle complex tasks.
7. Positive attitude and adaptability
Remote work can be isolating and stressful, so remote employees need to have a positive attitude and be able to adapt to change easily. You also need to find the right cultural fit, so the team can still connect in spite of the physical distance.
8. Strong Internet connection
The last one is a practical requirement: strong connection. Remote work requires a good internet connection to be able to work effectively and participate in video calls and meetings. Thankfully, this is among the requirements that a remote staffing agency checks for you when you hire remote workers through them.
Now that we have covered what remote staffing is as well as the basics of how remote hiring works, let’s talk about what’s in it for your business when you hire remote staff.
What are the biggest advantages of remote staffing?
Remote staffing solutions have pushed the boundaries of saving on operational costs while keeping a higher level of productivity no matter where remote employees conduct their work. Below is a list of advantages and benefits of remote staffing every business owner must know:
- Cost savings
Remote staffing can significantly reduce labor costs for businesses as they can hire employees from lower-cost regions. By hiring remote employees in countries where the cost of living is lower, businesses can save on salaries and benefits while still attracting highly skilled and experienced workers. This can result in significant cost savings for the business.
- Access to a global talent pool
Remote staffing allows businesses to hire the best talent from around the world, regardless of location. This means that businesses can tap into a wider pool of potential employees, allowing them to find the most qualified and experienced candidates for the job through offshore staffing agencies worldwide.
- Increased flexibility
Remote teams can work from anywhere and can often work outside of traditional office hours, which can increase productivity and improve work-life balance for employees. This flexible availability can be beneficial for both the business and the employees, as it allows for more flexibility in scheduling and can lead to increased job satisfaction.
- Reduced overhead
With remote staffing, businesses can save on overhead costs such as office space, utilities, and equipment. This can be especially beneficial for small businesses or startups that may not have the resources to invest in a physical office space as they get new members on board.
- Improved scalability
Remote teams can be easily scaled up or down to meet the changing needs of the business. This allows businesses to quickly respond to changes in demand and can be beneficial for businesses that experience seasonal fluctuations.
- Improved Better communication and collaboration
With advancements in technology, remote teams can communicate, stay in touch, and collaborate efficiently and effectively, regardless of location. This can be done through various tools such as video conferencing, project management software, and instant messaging. This can lead to improved productivity and better teamwork among remote employees.
What are the common challenges in remote staffing?
While the shift to remote staffing unlocks access to a global talent pool and significantly cuts operational costs, it introduces a unique set of management and logistical challenges, too. Organizations must proactively address these issues to ensure a productive remote team.
To help set your expectations, here are the three most common challenges businesses face in remote staffing:
1. Maintaining team culture and connection
Building and sustaining a strong team culture becomes significantly harder when interactions are mostly digital. Remote workers can easily feel isolated or disconnected from company goals and their colleagues (which subsequently affects retention rates). This challenge requires creative solutions for virtual social engagement and intentional efforts to promote a sense of belonging and psychological safety.
2. Security and IT infrastructure concerns
Managing a geographically dispersed team increases the security risk for businesses. Companies must ensure that every remote employee adheres to strict data protection standards and that sensitive company information is secure across various home networks. Establishing a reliable, standardized IT infrastructure for all remote employees is a crucial, ongoing task.
3. Legal, tax, and labor compliance
Hiring staff in different regions means navigating a maze of international labor laws, tax regulations, and benefits requirements. Ensuring compliance can be complex and expensive. As an employer, you must carefully track where employees are working to avoid legal penalties and properly handle payroll deductions and tax filing in multiple regions.
While these challenges are inevitable, the ongoing rise of remote work setups also led to industry best practices that industries now adopt as they explore remote staffing solutions. With the right systems in place and the right remote staffing agency by your side, the pros of remote staffing still outweigh its cons.
How does remote staffing can you ensure quality work when using remote staffing?
Quality assurance for remote staffing companies typically involves a combination of processes and tools to ensure that the work produced by remote staff meets the desired level of quality. These may include:
- Setting clear expectations and guidelines through service level agreements (SLAs) for the work to be performed.
- Providing training and resources to remote staff to help them understand and meet those expectations.
- Managing remote staff and monitoring their work through tools such as time tracking and project management software.
- Using quality control techniques such as peer review, testing, and inspection to ensure that the work meets the desired level of quality.
- Regularly communicating with remote staff to provide feedback and guidance on their work.
- Establishing a clear process for addressing and resolving any issues that may arise with the work produced by remote staff.
Overall, remote staffing agencies may also implement systematic procedures to evaluate and measure the quality of the work, and to identify and correct problems, in order to meet customer requirements and improve overall performance.
Let KDCI help you build your remote team in the Philippines.
With over ten years of experience helping businesses of all sizes build the best remote, offshore team, KDCI Outsourcing has cemented itself as one of the leading service providers of staffing solutions in the Philippines. We’ve worked with dozens of top global brands, including but not limited to Apple, Canon, and Dell.
That said, you can trust our global expertise in outsourcing some of your non-core business functions, allowing you to focus on what matters most for your business.
If you’re interested in working with Filipino professionals known for their world-class work ethics, superior English proficiency, and a strong affinity with Western culture, then partner with us! We can help you get your offshoring journey off to a smooth start.
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