Implementing and Maintaining Culture in an Offshore Team
Office culture is an integral part of your company identity.
And it can have far-reaching effects on your team’s morale and productivity. Learn how to increase offshore efficiency by maintaining culture. Technology changes the way we work. Advances in technology and the internet make it possible to talk to people on the other side of the world – without ever meeting face to face. While this may be exciting from a social aspect, it poses some professional challenges. How do you work with people you don’t know? How do you manage a team you’ve never met with in person? A lack of established culture may affect offshore efficiency. However, implementing culture may be difficult from the other side of the world. The advancement of technology may make certain aspects of working worlds easier. But it also provides some unique situations as well. Find out how technology changes the way we work and interact with co-workers. Also, learn what to do when you’re faced with the unique challenges these changes bring. Your offshore team may never set foot in your main office. But here are a few techniques to keep your unique culture alive from thousands of miles away.
How Technology Has Changes the Way We Work
Technology allows us to stay connected all the time. Time and distance aren’t factors anymore. But advances in technology do more than keeping us socially connected. It also changes the way the team works. Offshore efficiency improves with the ability to work in the workplace. But it also brings new challenges. Take a look at the biggest changes technology brings to the workplace:
#1 – Keeping Connected
You already know that social media platforms help you stay connected socially. Find out what loved ones are up to with a tap of a button. But these same advancements also keep you connected at work. Decades ago you used to have to call or have face-to-face meetings. Nowadays you can initiate a chat or shoot a co-worker an email. The response time can be nearly instantaneous. Communication happens frequently and more efficiently. This can have a downside, though. It may keep you in front of work when you really need a break. And what do most people do on their breaks? Usually, they pull out their phones and keep going.
#2 – Collaboration
As mentioned before, you used to have to schedule real face time to collaborate. Working with others was oftentimes consuming and slow. Imagine having to wait to see someone face to face. Or trying to reach them on a landline. Things have come a long way since then. Now you can collaborate remotely. And that helps with offshore efficiency for the entire team. You can also choose between real-time and non-real-time interaction. If you want to contact someone immediately, you can chat or video conference. On the other hand, you can also create recorded messages. These types of interactions are great because you aren’t constrained by time zones.
#3 – Keeps Businesses Organised
Technology also helps businesses keep organised. You can use special tools to keep everyone on track. Project management tools can do things like:
- Delegate
- Build
- Assess
- Review
The managers can supervise activities with ease. And it can help increase offshore efficiency for remote teammates.
#4 – Boosts Productivity
Productivity is a hot topic in most offices. But businesses nowadays can rely on productivity software to help. Managers can track project progress and keep deadlines on track. Additionally, they can offer immediate reinforcement or coaching as needed. Employees can also do certain tasks faster and with more precision. And that can increase the performance level of the team as a whole.
#5 – Keeps Businesses Secure
How does technology help to keep businesses secure? End-to-end hardware and software-based data encryption. This tech only allows authorised parties to read and retrieve data. Some offices also embrace fingerprint and facial recognition features. These features give the office an added level of security in the office and protect sensitive information from malicious hacking attempts.
#6 – Cost Reduction
The ultimate goal of every business is profitability. Innovative tech helps to keep operating costs low and improve profits. Reductions come from installing SaaS tools in the office. These tools automate chore tasks and companies no longer need people to do it for them. In addition, these automated tasks give more accurate results than their human counterparts. And this can decrease overall costs and increase profitability.
#7 – Customisable Business Options
Each business has different needs and tech innovations recognise that. Offices have their own way of doing things. And many software tools cater to that with customisable options.
#8 – Improved Efficiency
Time management can be a hot-button issue in the modern workplace. Poor time management can cause a myriad of problems. And missed deadlines can lead to unhappy clients. Fortunately, technology makes time management issues easier to handle. These tools help optimise daily routines. They can also help employees focus readily on the tasks at hand. Time management tools add offshore efficiency, too. With less time and effort spent on routine daily tasks, they’re free to spend time on developing new ideas.
#9 – Remote Workplaces
Lastly, one of the most obvious changes is the ability to work remotely. Teleconferencing and co-working space change the landscape of the traditional office. You can work from anywhere in the world now. Cloud and mobile technology enable instant access for anyone with an internet connection. This means that the notion of “the workplace” interconnects. The workplace doesn’t necessarily mean one physical location anymore. Some of the technologies that hinge together remote workplaces include:
- Instant internet connections
- Portability
- Virtual conferencing
- Improved IM systems
This is especially important for teams offshore. Efficiency depends on the click of a mouse now and not a physical location.
How to Implement and Maintain Culture in an Offshore Team
Creating and maintaining culture is important to keep your offshore team engaged. You want them passionate about what they do. And to do that, you need to make sure that they feel like they are part of a team, but still have their own family and personal life balance. Try these ideas to keep your team motivated and office culture alive:
#1 – Build Good Foundations
The first step is the initial one: the relationship. Building a good relationship takes time. But make sure you start off on the right foot. Outline business objectives and clear goals. Doing so helps promote accountability for the project. It can also enable them to align their work ethic and goals with yours.
#2 – Give Them Regular Feedback
There’s nothing worse than silence. Have you ever been in a room where everyone is talking to everyone else? But you’re the only one that isn’t engaged? Engagement is very important. You want your offshore team engaged and focused. And transparent, honest communication is the way to do it. Check in with your team regularly. Give regular feedback and allow them to do the same. Frustration is a two-way street. And it can happen on either side when there’s a lack of communication.
#3 – Foster a Unified Culture
Next, create a culture of belonging. It’s not Us vs. Them. You’re all working towards the same goal. So it’s important to make sure everyone is on board. You want people to align behind the same vision and goals. Don’t let time zones and borders create divides. Ensure that every person on the team feels included and appreciated. One way you can do this is to celebrate special occasions and birthdays. Even if it’s an offshore team member, don’t hesitate to get a video message or e-birthday card out.
#4 – Respect Everyone’s Work Culture
You may have your own work culture that your offshore team needs to integrate into. But take the time to understand your offshore team’s culture, too. Their business ethics and communication style may be different than yours. However, taking the time to understand your entire team can pave the way to instilling your own culture.
#5 – Celebrate Small Victories
Recognising achievements is essential if you want to keep your team motivated. The proverbial pat on the back doesn’t simply recognise a job well done. It can also help when performance reviews roll around. Celebrating victories also helps to create a positive work environment. And employees are more likely to be productive if they work in a place that’s pleasant. Even if it’s a remote workplace.
#6 – Have Fun with the Team
Does distance keep you from socials and weekly lunches? You can still share the fun with your offshore team. Share photos of presentations, parties, and work lunches with the rest of your team.
Great Things Happen with Team Alignment
Technology paves the way for greater strides in the workplace. Increased efficiency, productivity, and security are just a few. Instant communication makes it easier to stay connected like never before. But advancements in technology also comes with some challenges. Working remotely, your team’s offshore efficiency may benefit from technology. And it can also leave them feeling disconnected. Meet these challenges by instilling and maintaining a unified and shared workplace culture. The business world of today is a global stage. Let that reflect in your team’s interactions. Create an environment of learning and sharing. Inclusion and celebrations can keep far away teams motivated. They can also connect the teams closer to home. Lastly, maintaining culture means alignment. Make sure your entire team is on board with your vision and goals. Check in often and offer feedback to maintain that connection and alignment.
Get in touch today to book a confidential call with our co-founders Kim Lombardi and John Rodgers.
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Book a free consultation!The 7 Solutions that an Engineering or Construction Outsourcer Should Provide
Outsourcers are more than outside help.
They’re part of your team. Find out what to look for if you outsource construction or engineering work. Sometimes you just need more people for a project; Maybe your company is growing faster than you can handle right now. Or maybe you need more specialists than you currently have on staff. Everyone needs a little help sometimes. That holds true whether you’re an individual or a large corporation. One of the great things about outsourcing is its customisability. The remote team can provide as little or as much help as you need. There are many cases where you’d need construction or engineering outsourcing solutions. And companies do it for different reasons. Find out when’s the right time to consider outsourcing and what you should expect. Also, learn about the role of a client services supervisor and why you need one. So the next time you need to outsource construction projects, you know what to anticipate.
The Seven Solutions
Outsourcing solutions used to focus on back office and administrative support at best. Over time, it expanded to other administrative duties like accounting and human resources. Outsourcing solutions have come a long way since then. Nowadays, you can expect highly technical and specialised solutions for your company. Take a look at a few solutions to expect:
1. Planners & Schedulers
How do you get a finished product to market? You need a qualified person to oversee everything that goes into production. Whether it’s one person or a team, you need someone to trust to make sure the process goes smoothly and efficiently. Planners and schedulers in this segment of outsourcing wear a variety of hats. They may schedule and plan for materials to go to manufacturing. They can also be overseeing the production process and handling any challenges that arise.
Businesses need to develop and implement new products all the time. It helps them keep a competitive edge, and the right outsourced team can get you there. These engineers and technicians have a variety of skills, including:- Preparing weekly/monthly supply chain schedules
- Assess and manage inventory targets
- Coordinate with production manager to schedule and rotate materials as needed
2. Detailers
The little touches matter with any engineering project. That’s where a detailer comes in. These professionals read and interpret blueprints, in addition to analysing reports. Their goal is to make sure that the designs meet all required functional and performance specifications.
An engineering outsourcing professional specialises in detailing will also complete the following tasks:
- Interpret angles, dimensions, and measurements, in addition to determining how much material is needed for a design.
- Complete offshore work, such as jackets and platforms.
- Have the ability to edit and create parts drawings.
Simply put, they have their eye on the little things that are easy to miss when creating a design.
3. Quantity Surveyors /Estimators
Estimators perform several duties, including:
- Helping you to prepare tenders. An estimator will look at issues such as the number of hours the job will take to complete and pricing for supplies.
- Preparation of packages for any procurement inquiries that you make.
- Remeasuring of any quantities you specify to ensure they’re accurate.
- Cost impact assessments related to any changes to live jobs.
These professionals ensure you don’t make mistakes with the fine details related to the materials you use and the time it takes to complete a job.
4. Revit Architects
Managing a project in Revit can become complex, especially when you have several engineers involved. Each will likely submit their own designs, as well as making changes to existing models. A Revit Architect helps to keep all of this information in order. They’ll collaborate with your in-house team to ensure the project meets all Building Information Modelling (BIM) best practices. Your architect may also be able to contribute their own 3D visualisations.
5. Drafter
Your drafter helps you to make your designs “shop-ready”. They convert your detail drawings into pieces that are ready to present to clients. Plus, they review all final drawings so they can create material take-offs (MTOs). Other roles that they can cover include searching out quotes for the services and materials you’ll need for a project. They also liaise with vendors on your behalf, as well as reviewing your tender documentation
6. QA Engineers
These professionals conduct all of the quality assurance work required for your materials. They’ll compile certificates and registers, in addition to maintaining your company records. That’s so important because compliance is a major issue in construction and engineering. A QA Engineer ensures that nothing falls through the cracks in that area of the project. They’ll also help with the interpretation of engineered drawings. This means they can provide valuable input about construction methods, materials, and the quality standards that you need to meet.
7. Modellers
Your modeller plays a key role in turning initial designs into manufacturing-ready drawings. Their particular expertise lies in creating 3D models for modular building units, such as those used in high and mid-rise residential projects. They’ll also work directly with your Product Engineer to develop manufacturing documents. Furthermore, they’ll conduct technical analyses of your drawings to validate:
- Structural issues
- Plumbing
- Electrical systems
- Mechanical issues
When to Consider Outsourcing Solutions
There are a variety of reasons to use engineering outsourcing. When is the right time for you? Take a look at some signs it is time to look at engineering outsourcing solutions:
1. Potential Issues Meeting Project Deadlines
You may have an array of specialists at your disposal in-house. But sometimes a project comes along that may be a little too much to handle on your own. This is where engineering outsourcing can come in. Outsourcing solutions can give you the extra manpower to meet deadlines on time. The right provider has access to experienced specialists. These professionals know the industry and understand the possible challenges.For example, imagine that you have a construction project. You’re on a tight deadline. Outsource construction specialists may help move the project along faster.
2. Lack of Expertise
No one really has experts at everything on their team;It’s impractical. So what do you do when you get a project that needs a little more expertise than you have? It’s time to look into outsource construction specialists. The right remote team can help complete your project dream team. Imagine covering all your engineering and construction bases to complete your working ecosystem. Think of it as boosting your team’s capabilities, not hiring outside help.
3. Cost Concerns
At the end of the day, you worry about your bottom line. You’re in the business to make money and hiring numerous in-house employees can cut into that bottom line. Outsourcing solutions can give you the help you need at a fraction of the cost. And this cost-effective solution can help propel your business forward.
Client Services Supervisor
Does your potential outsourcing solution have a client services supervisor? These supervisors are an indispensable member of your outsourcing team and besides bridging you with your offshore team members, they can wear many hats too! They can take care of logistics between your in-house and remote team. Also handling other aspects like payroll, human resources, and operations. The ideal client services supervisor is your outsourcing concierge. They make sure that the remote team integrates seamlessly into your project. These supervisors dedicate all their time and energy to you. They give you the freedom to focus on other things knowing that you have their support as and when you need it.
Pros and Cons
Outsourcing may not be for everyone. But their customisable solutions work with most proactive business owners’ needs. Some of the positive aspects of outsourcing include:
- Lower overhead costs
- Fast(er) turnaround time
- Increased focus
- Access to trained specialists in the engineering and construction fields across the international pool
- Effective resource management
Some may still have some concerns about hiring an outsourcing service. You may have reservations in areas such as:
- Lack of control
- Trust issues
- Concerns about quality
Choosing the right provider can minimise or even eliminate these concerns. Address these concerns in your initial conversations with your outsourcing provider. Together you can work out a solution to address your concerns.
The Takeaway
People choose to outsource construction and engineering tasks for a variety of reasons. Some projects may require more specialists than you have currently on-hand. Other times, the scope of a project may be too big for the in-house team. Using engineering outsourcing solutions can even out the workload and provide a boost to the existing team. Sometimes people turn to outsource construction solutions for one simple reason: profit. It may be too expensive to expand an in-house team. But outsourcing talent can give you the help you need without the high overhead costs. When you decide to hire an outsourcing provider, there are a few solutions to expect. And this is our take – You should have a client services supervisor or dedicated manager to bridge the gap between your onsite and offshore teams, allowing them to work cohesively. You should also expect a multitude of specialised solutions for engineering and construction. Cybalink Solutions, who specialise in the engineering and construction outsourcing gives you the option of hiring the professionals you need in one place.
Get in touch today to book a confidential call with our co-founders Kim Lombardi and John Rodgers.
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