Seven Disadvantages of Outsourcing, Part 1

By Linda P. Morton

You should know the disadvantages of outsourcing before deciding to use online outsourcing services.

Although there's lots of Internet marketers proclaiming the advantages of outsourcing, not many share the disadvantages of outsourcing.

This two-part article series covers seven disadvantages of outsourcing. You need to consider all seven before assigning any job to an outsource service. Part 1 covers the first three of the seven disadvantages of outsourcing. The remaining four are covered in part 2.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing 1: You Don't Necessarily Save Time By Outsourcing

Outsourcing requires work to write your specifications, to post your job, to select the best bidders, and to determine the winning bid.

Outsourcing also requires time to determine benchmarks for the job, to select a reasonable final deadline, and to communicate with vendors on your short-list.

When the vendor completes your job, you still have more work to do. You have to check the work to assure that it is error-free and performs as specified. You also have to arrange to pay the vendor.

So outsourcing doesn't necessarily save you time. You're just spending your time on the outsourcing process instead of on doing the job yourself. Sometimes it's actually faster, and definitely cheaper to just do it yourself.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing 2: Language Differences Complicate Effective Communications

If your selected vendor doesn't speak English as a first language, you may find it difficult to communicate instructions, to answer questions, and to determine the progress of your job.

In addition, most outsource services forbid their vendors from communicating with you off site. Together the language difference and the limited access hamper communications.

Disadvantages of Outsourcing 3: Vendors May Not Give Your Job The Priority That You Expect

Because you don't have direct access to the outsource vendors, it's difficult to keep them working and making progress on your job. All you can do is leave a message on the outsource service site.

Your vendor may not check that site frequently, or may just not reply because no progress is being made. Either way you're kept waiting. Of course you can be working on other projects, but sometimes your other projects are tied to the job. So you can't move forward with the project until the outsource job is completed.

To read about the last four disadvantages of outsourcing, don't miss part 2.

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