Should You Outsource or Automate Tasks?

Wondering what would work best – outsourcing or automating a business task? But, have you considered whether one can replace the other? In essence, is outsourcing a task similar or the same thing as automating a task? Keep reading to learn more.

So, What is Outsourcing?

Outsourcing is simply the act of using the services of freelancers or external employees to handle a business task. For instance, if you need to develop a business site, instead of hiring a website developer on a full-time basis, you are better off finding a freelancing web developer with a click of the button.

Subsequently, the freelancer will develop your website from his own location or office; and you don’t even have to see face to face. So, when the project is completed, you don’t have a need for the web developer again; you simply call off the contract and won’t have to continue paying salary in the case of hiring the developer in-house.

What about Automation?

In a nutshell, automation is the use of technology to get things done. Even when a software program or application is developed to get a task executed, you may still need humans to give commands to the application before it can get the task or work accomplished.

So, Should You Outsource or Automate?

From the definition or explanation of each term, one cannot completely replace the other. In fact, while you can outsource virtually all tasks, there are some tasks you can’t automate yet perhaps in the future, most of the tasks would be automated. But, the current reality is that you can’t just automate all tasks.

The Way Forward?

You should simply identify the tasks that you need to outsource in order free up time and save more to be re-invested in growing your business. Typical examples of tasks you can outsource include marketing, call center, information technology, data entry, legal works, online marketing, most administrative duties, especially the ones that are repetitive in nature. But first, you need to sit back and analyze your business needs before deciding on what to outsource and what to keep back in-house.

In similar manner, you should hire an IT expert to help you automate some tasks (the ones that can be automated). This also offers time-saving advantage, as well as cost saving. But, you even need to adopt outsourcing to hire the IT expert who will do the automation for you, which in turn helps you save big compared to hiring the IT pro on a full time basis.

Finally, make sure you assess the pros and cons of any business tool carefully. This will help you achieve the desired outcome you have in mind for choosing each business tool – whether outsourcing or automation.

Daven Michaels is a New York Times Best Selling Author and CEO of premiere global outsourcing company, 123Employee. The company employs hundreds of young bright individuals on three continents. His International event, Beyond Marketing Live! Inspires entrepreneurs build & grow their business with revolutionary new theories and systems allowing them to design the business and personal lifestyle of their dreams.