5 Tools and Techniques to Manage Your Outsourcing Partner’s Projects

It’s not easy to start a business. I know because I have done it. No matter what your business does it will require financial investment, hard work, time and a little luck.
The real work begins when you go “international”. I have worked with outsourcers as an employee and as an employer. I have also brought others to my copywriting business.
Danielle, Global Response’s Brand Care Specialist, said that managing multiple vendors and collaborators can be difficult, especially when there are linguistic, cultural and political barriers. She shared 5 strategies and tools that can be used to better coordinate your outsourcing teams.
1. Take into consideration the differences and find common ground
There will be disagreements between customers and employees from different nationalities when they work together. The trick is to not allow differences to get in the way of your success.
Flexibility is key. Before making any decisions, consider the feelings and opinions your partners. Listen to your partners and be open to suggestions.
Communication is key. Interact with international clients, stakeholders, vendors, and other parties to get to know them better.
You’ll also need to adapt to cultural differences and customs. Remember, Rome is a Roman city! This was something I believed all the time while I was working in France. This is a reference to Parisians, and not Romans.
2. Time is relative!
International business deals are influenced by time zones. If you are a PM who travels light, you will have to adjust to a new language, culture, and most importantly, a completely new concept of time.
Before scheduling meetings, consider the country’s geographic location and timeframe. It will be difficult to transfer employees or recruit new employees to other countries, but it is possible. It takes planning: The time shift and hectic schedules can make it difficult to do normal tasks.
If staff have to travel abroad for work, then they will need to hire willing candidates who are open to travelling and who are easy-going.
3. Ensure Everyone is on the Same Page
Danielle’s third tip was that if there are many people working on the same file, it can lead to a lot confusion. This issue is often raised by collaboration tools.
If your enterprise is spread across the globe, the problem becomes tenfold. To ensure better coordination, ensure there is one authoritative file. This will prevent any untoward changes or overwriting.
Every member of the team should have access to the same file, no matter where they are located, so they always have the most recent version.
Template resources are also available. You can also use templates resources.
Danielle also mentioned that remote workers might feel uncomfortable adapting to their new manager or company, especially if they have been associated with a client for a while.
Templates are a great tool because they simplify the job as well as the process of involving the outsourcing partner in project work.
4. Reliable Software is your best friend
It won’t surprise me to tell you that I love tech that makes it easier to do your job better.
Although outsourcing can bring about many differences in your global team, they all work together towards the same goal, no matter what it may be for this particular project.
The only difference is in the work methods.
Give your teams simple, reliable software solutions. This allows for quick, reliable performance and also allows you to give.