Page 8 - Logistics News - March_April 2023

O P I N ION

Forecasting growth:

When is the right time to

bring in a BPO partner?

By Tennille Bell, General Manager: Sales at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO)

Building and running a business is far from easy, which is why it makes
sense to bring a business process outsourcing (BPO) partner on board
sooner rather than later.

npredictable by nature, it can be tricky to Timing is everything
anticipate growth or predict the direction This raises the question: When is the best time to
Ua business will take in the future. For bring a BPO partner into the business? The answer
company founders, there are many factors to is as soon as possible. However, this isn’t always
consider when evaluating the prospective survival feasible, so the second best time to bring a BPO
and expansion of their business: the number of partner on board to outsource non-core business
product lines, distribution channels, workforce size functions is when the business needs to reduce
and key performance indicators (KPI) targets. These or lower its costs, mitigate or reduce risk, expand
need to be considered against the backdrop of the teams without the hassle of recruiting and training
overall business strategy as well as economic and internally, focus on strategy and critical business
technological means. matters or grow fast and increase productivity output.

BPO means business growth support At this point, it’s necessary to weigh up the
Business process outsourcing (BPO) does not mean benefits and costs of outsourcing with pros and cons
externalising portions of the business by handing over of continuing to insource the relevant processes by
control to a third-party provider, but rather bringing maintaining internal departments. To do this, it is
a capable partner into the business and trusting helpful to understand how and why BPO will have
them to provide the support necessary to increase a positive effect on the business in line with the
productivity, introduce new product lines and manage company’s specific goals.
the organisation’s workforce. This single BPO partner

becomes a pivotal part of the organisation and Shifting back to strategy
provides the flexibility required from a human capital Most people didn’t start a company so they could
management and labour perspective. They do this spend their days overseeing disciplinary hearings,
L O GI S T I CS NEWS burdens that come with business growth, which recruitment interviews. They started a business to
approving payrolls or conducting countless
by assuming all responsibility for the administrative
means that business leaders can take back their time
do what they love and to make money doing it. No
matter the size of the business, having a team of
and spend it on more productive pursuits, such as
people who can translate your goals into results can
exploring new revenue opportunities and focusing on
customer satisfaction.

6 M A RC H/A P R IL 2023 make all the difference. www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a