Outsourcing non-core 'housekeeping' activities will free up valuable time and allow you to focus on the core activities of growing your business, expanding your product or service lines, and providing the best possible service to your customers or clients.

Here are some routine processes that might be outsourced:

Accounts outsourcing

The rapid development of internet and web technology has enabled many accounting activities to be outsourced, and a physical presence is no longer necessary for many accounting activities.

Furthermore, a recent survey undertaken by MORI for the Confederation of British Industry has confirmed that accounting outsourcing is on the increase.

More than 50% of the study's respondents said that the pressure to outsource has increased over the past two years.

There can be considerable benefits in accounts outsourcing, which include reducing costs and freeing up valuable time to concentrate on running your business.

Payroll has been the traditional task to be outsourced. However, many companies, including major household names, are outsourcing large swathes of their accounting.

Please contact us to discuss your accounts outsourcing requirements.

Source: Off-shoring survey 2004, MORI Business

Human resources

It is possible to outsource your entire human resources department. There are specialist companies that will take over not only the payroll function, but also recruitment, training, and policy and procedural advice, as well as providing help with complying with the myriad government employment laws and regulations. In some cases, they can also provide fringe benefits such as insurance.

Marketing

Independent marketing firms have all the necessary expertise and materials for you to be able to outsource your entire marketing facility to them, thereby saving you the problem of creating your own internal infrastructure.

Information systems

Purchasing and maintaining information systems, hiring and evaluating IT staff, and training users can be time-consuming tasks that take your focus away from your core activities - and often require a level of knowledge and familiarity that you do not possess. By outsourcing your information systems administration to specialist firms you can be confident of obtaining the latest technology and suitably skilled personnel with less intrusion on your time.

Delivery

Depending on your products and situation, there are numerous options for outsourcing delivery. Couriers might be able to take on most of your delivery functions. Larger businesses might prefer to contract a major delivery firm rather than maintain their own fleet. Either way, you can hire the expertise to keep delivery problems and decisions off your desk.