Many U.S. companies hire skilled and qualified professionals from different parts of the world to work for them remotely. 

Cost reduction is the primary reason for outsourcing jobs overseas. Companies can hire personnel who are as experienced as local workers but at a fraction of the cost. 

This blog lists the five common job positions that American businesses outsource. It also discusses the advantages and reasons for outsourcing these roles beyond reducing operating expenses. To make this outsourcing, many companies partner with a Global PEO like INS Global to help them start their business wiithout a company incorporation.

Continue reading to find out.

1. Information Technology (IT) Support Specialists

IT support (or tech support) specialists help customers or clients with hardware, software, or network issues. They evaluate and troubleshoot these technology issues to resolve them properly and quickly. Their assistance includes product safety checks, program installations, compliance monitoring, security, network tracking, and computer system fault detection. 

Why American companies hire third-party IT support specialists: 

• Accessible new technologies. Outsourced IT teams use cloud-based technologies to incorporate all applications and simplify workflow. The latest tools improve employee productivity and customer service quality. 
• Scalable workforce. When a company outsources IT solutions, it can easily adjust the third-party team’s size. During busy periods, the outsourcing provider increases the number of agents to meet high demand. On the other hand, it can temporarily reduce the team size during a business slowdown to lower operating costs. 
• Available remote workers. Many tech support agents are open to a work-from-home (WFH) setup. This allows them to resolve customer or client concerns faster than their on-site counterparts. The WFH arrangement has become popular since the pandemic. 

2. Customer Support Representatives (CSRs) 

CSRs help customers by answering questions about a company’s products and services, addressing their issues, and providing other helpful information. Mostly working in call centers, these professionals communicate with consumers through voice calls and chat messages. 

Why American companies hire third-party CSRs:

• Heightened consumer experience. Third-party customer support agents are trained to provide excellent and consistent service throughout the buyer journey. They go beyond the expected level of customer satisfaction. 
• Improved customer support systems. Third-party agents use the latest technologies to take customer service to greater heights. The platforms they depend on manage and monitor customer interactions across different channels such as phone calls, social media posts, live chat, and email. 
• Stronger consumer loyalty. Consumer retention is necessary to maintain a steady cash flow because it translates to repeat sales. Keeping a loyal and healthy customer base is more effective and profitable than attracting new buyers. A third-party CSR team is proficient in upselling and cross-selling to existing customers. 

3. Content Writers

Content writers develop and write timely, informative, relevant, and engaging articles to help promote a company’s image, products, and services. They write on various subjects and generate the most interesting visual or written content possible, from press releases and infographics to case studies and white papers.

Why American companies hire third-party content writers:

• More content in a shorter period. Companies publish more articles and other resources when outsourcing writing tasks. These independent professionals produce well-researched and comprehensive content faster and more efficiently than in-house writers. 
• Varied expertise and knowledge. Content writers are knowledgeable in different topics and areas. Many are well-informed on general subject matters, making them versatile and functional. 
• More visible online presence. Content writers create articles and resources that are reader- and search-engine friendly. They help a company’s online marketing and sales efforts. Improving a website’s visibility in internet search programs is their top priority. 

4. Bookkeepers/Accountants

Bookkeepers record a company’s financial transactions, make journal entries, monitor the cash flow, and produce regular reports. Accountants use these reports to analyze the company’s financial standing, provide financial advice or recommendations, and ensure compliance with government regulations and industry standards. 

Why American companies hire third-party bookkeepers/accountants:

• High confidentiality level. Third-party financial teams can keep a company’s records secure and private. In-house accountants or bookkeepers tend to leave the business after some time, and information leakage is a potential risk. In contrast, established service providers implement non-disclosure policies.
• Minimized or zero fraud. Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and other offshoring providers monitor their third-party staff regularly. This prevents fraud or malpractice, including “cooking” the books and making up account expenses. Such financial offenses are the main challenges in bookkeeping and accounting.  
• Scarce domestic supply. American companies hire third-party professionals directly or through BPO providers because of the current shortage of accountants and bookkeepers in the local job market. 

5. Virtual Assistants (VAs)

VAs help business owners, executives, managers, and entrepreneurs with daily administrative work. This includes filing documents, writing emails, taking meeting notes, and scheduling appointments. Experienced VAs can perform higher-value tasks such as generating business presentations, writing short-form articles, and tracking social media accounts. 

Why American companies hire third-party virtual assistants:

• More time on high-value duties. Third-party VAs allow senior professionals to focus more on high-value and income-generating activities. Basic and repetitive tasks are assigned to VAs so that in-house professionals can spend more time and effort on marketing, product or service launches, and similar functions. 
• Raised work quality. VAs provide high-quality service, knowing that their reputation and work tenure with current employers are on the line. Reliability and efficiency are traits they value. 
• Flexible arrangement. Many VAs are open to different work schedules, including part-time shifts or flexible hours. You can hire them on a per-project basis. Some VAs charge per work hour, while others charge based on task volume. 

Conclusion  

Outsourcing job roles overseas enables American companies to receive expert help and access the latest technologies. The business practice also allows companies to pay more attention to their core competencies while benefiting from affordable, first-rate services. 

But offshoring jobs might be a challenge without adequate planning and execution. American companies must also consider the possible risks such as losing some degree of management control over service providers and unexpected additional service costs. 

American businesses must work with offshoring companies instead of accomplishing tasks independently. Service providers can help them outsource jobs properly. 

Rene Mallari is a B2B content writer for Unity Communications, an Arizona-based Inc. 5000 company specializing in outsourcing and offshoring services.