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Business leaders and outsourcing

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What do business leaders know about outsourcing?

The world’s top business leaders use outsourcing to cut costs, lift quality, and grow faster than their rivals.

  • Outsourcing once served only big firms. Now it helps companies of any size.
  • Leaders like Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, and Steve Jobs have all backed the idea.
  • Nike runs a full outsourcing model and leads its whole market.

The story of business leaders and outsourcing runs deep. What do the world’s titans of business share? In short, they all outsource. Of course, the large and wealthy tend to hold an edge in life. In addition, they get access to better tools, better people, and better advice. As a result, they pull even further ahead.

In fact, titans of world business have outsourced from the very start. At first, only huge firms could reach these services. For example, global brands used offshore teams long before small firms could. Still, that has now changed for good.

Business leaders are leading the way with outsourcing

Today, access to outsourcing is open to almost everyone. New technology and a wave of service providers made this shift happen. Because of this, even a college student in Mississippi can hire a virtual assistant in Bangalore. You can learn how virtual assistants help businesses of every size.

So follow the leaders. Do not get stuck in the past. Outsourcing has helped build many of the world’s best firms. Make sure you do not miss out. It offers a strong boost to almost any business. In addition, it is a win for both sides. If you are new to the model, see how outsourcing can help a business grow. Here are some business leaders and their take on outsourcing.

Elon Musk

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Elon Musk’s opinion on outsourcing

Tesla founder Elon Musk says vertical integration cuts costs and lifts quality. He joins engineering and production under one roof.

In the tradition of Henry Ford, Musk built Tesla’s Gigafactory. Meanwhile, he sees it as a cheaper and easier way to reach high quality. Still, he calls China a great place to make his electric cars. In fact, he has said much of his making will happen there.

Read the full story here.

goldman sachs

Goldman Sachs’ approach to outsourcing

Goldman Sachs sends much of its tech work to Bangalore, India. Its offshore hiring has grown over the years.

For example, the bank now runs a large offshore base in India. There, more than 5,000 professionals handle mostly tech work. Meanwhile, other banks have followed suit. They too want to cut costs and tap skilled talent. You can see more examples of offshoring companies that took this path.

Read the full story here.

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Nike’s approach to outsourcing

Nike leads the world footwear market. It uses a 100% outsourcing model to make its shoes. As a result, it stands three times as big as its nearest rival.

Nike owns no factories of its own. Still, this choice helped it reach the top spot. Meanwhile, others now copy the model and are catching up fast. For a wider view, explore why the Philippines is a top outsourcing destination.

Read the full story here.

barack obama
President Barack Obama delivers an address to the nation on the U.S. Counterterrorism strategy to combat ISIL, in the Cross Hall of the White House, Sept. 10, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s opinion on outsourcing

Barack Obama believes some outsourced jobs will not come back. So he says Americans need to retrain for future work.

The former U.S. president called these roles “jobs of the past.” He urged workers to train for the “jobs of the future.” In his view, this is the way to fight U.S. unemployment.

Read the full story here.

SKY, News Corp & Rupert Murdoch’s opinion on outsourcing

SKY Group signed a huge outsourcing deal with Indian firm FirstSource. Reports called it one of the biggest deals in outsourcing history.

In fact, the Rupert Murdoch-owned SKY Group placed $13.1 billion worth of contracts with FirstSource. As part of the deal, FirstSource took on about 1,300 SKY Group staff. Clearly, this shows how far large firms will go to outsource. To compare models, read about the flexibility of offshore staffing.

Read the full story here.

Apple Logp

Apple & Steve Jobs’ opinion on outsourcing

Steve Jobs leaned on China’s fast supply chain to build the iPhone. That choice did wonders for Apple’s profits.

For example, the former Apple CEO sent iPhone making to Chinese factories. He wanted their quick and flexible supply chain. Still, he felt America was too strong to lose jobs from outsourcing to low-cost sites.

Read the full story here.

Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett’s opinion on outsourcing

Warren Buffett is a master at making hard ideas simple. So his case for outsourcing is short and clear. In his words: “…It’s in society’s best interests to have the most output produced with the least inputs.”

Read the full story here.

Famous outsourcing quotations

We have built a comprehensive list of all the most famous and poignant outsourcing quotes, from some of the world’s top experts. For example, see what Stephen Covey, Peter Drucker, and Lee Kuan Yew have to say.

Do you want an actual outsourcing quote?

Just fill in this two-minute form, and we’ll get you three outsourcing quotes, from verified outsourcing suppliers. Then see how outsourcing can transform your business.

FAQ: Business leaders and outsourcing

Why do business leaders rely on outsourcing?

First, leaders outsource to save money and reach skilled talent fast. It also lets them focus on core work. As a result, they can grow with less risk and lower fixed costs.

Which famous companies outsource the most?

Nike, Apple, and Goldman Sachs are well-known examples. For instance, Nike outsources all of its shoe making. Apple builds its iPhones through partners in China.

Can small businesses outsource like big firms?

Yes, they can. In fact, access is now open to firms of any size. For example, a solo founder can hire a virtual assistant abroad for a low monthly cost.

What is the main benefit of outsourcing for leaders?

The main benefit is more output for less input. In short, teams get more done without heavy overhead. This then frees leaders to plan and scale.

How do I get outsourcing quotes?

First, start with a short online form. You then receive quotes from checked suppliers. From there, you can compare prices and pick the best fit.

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Outsource Accelerator is the trusted source of independent information, advisory and expert implementation of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

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Outsource Accelerator offers the world’s leading aggregator marketplace for outsourcing. It specifically provides the conduit between world-leading outsourcing suppliers and the businesses – clients – across the globe.

The Outsource Accelerator website has over 5,000 articles, 450+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 4,700+ BPO companies… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about – and engage with – outsourcing.

About Derek Gallimore

Derek Gallimore has been in business for 20 years, outsourcing for over eight years, and has been living in Manila (the heart of global outsourcing) since 2014. Derek is the founder and CEO of Outsource Accelerator, and is regarded as a leading expert on all things outsourcing.

“Excellent service for outsourcing advice and expertise for my business.”

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