IN069 - Outsourcing: The Issues to Consider

Careful and planned use of outsourcing – the delegation of specific business functions to a third party – can present opportunities in terms of increased efficiency for companies and individuals wishing to operate from a number of locations internationally.

The outsourcing of the administrative, organisational and IT functions often involves delegation to a professional firm, able to provide the initial compliance and maintenance facilities for new enterprises.

Dixcart Outsourcing for Business provides a range of services to support international companies.

Why Outsource?

Outsourcing enables a business to concentrate on its specific areas of expertise. A company sets certain objectives in terms of what it wishes to achieve and these objectives can often be enhanced or, at minimum, realised more rapidly with the outsourcing of certain tasks.

Expansion into a new market overseas can often be achieved more rapidly and efficiently through the appropriate use of a firm already resident in a particular location, and able to supply many of the administrative and IT services. Such an approach can leave an incoming business free to fully concentrate on marketing and the development of the commercial activity.

The Most Frequently Outsourced Services

• IT


Internet Solutions
Dixcart can provide internet services, including:
1. Domain registration
2. Email hosting and handling
3. Website development and hosting.

Server Hosting
Dixcart’s Internet Service Provider subsidiaries, in a variety of jurisdictions, provide server and web hosting facilities to the world-wide web from a secure environment.


• Office Solutions


Virtual Offices
Dixcart virtual office packages include; use of a prestigious address, dedicated phone numbers with personalised call handling, professional message handling and mail and fax forwarding services.

Serviced Offices
Dixcart provides serviced office facilities for business in a range of locations. These can be used on a regular pre-arranged basis for meetings and when clients are travelling or on a permanent basis with secretarial and reception staff being made available. Serviced offices operated by Dixcart are available in Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Madeira and the United Kingdom.

• Accounting and Adminisrtrative Support


The use of outsourcing to provide some, or indeed all of the accounting and administrative services can often be efficient in terms of avoiding the necessity to invest in complex systems and the recruitment of staff. Dixcart is well equipped to supply a comprehensive range of such services.

Accountancy support can include business planning, budget preparation and advice, and the sourcing and obtaining of grants and loans. Depending on circumstances, management accounts can be outsourced as well as assistance being provided with grant and loan applications.

Day to day accounting support, company secretarial services and the payroll function are also available from Dixcart Outsourcing.

Credit control and debt collection are additional aspects of a business which are vital but often very time-consuming. It can be worthwhile and cost effective to consider specialists to carry out these activities.

A final key area of accounting support is that of taxation. Dixcart expertise extends across VAT and corporate taxation issues to personal taxation matters including investments and planning for the future.


• Legal


The use of lawyers with international experience can often minimise risks in certain key areas. The types of legal services frequently outsourced include contracts, legal aspects of overseas trading, advice to expatriates and employment and immigration law.


• Human Resources


Recruitment
Particularly when operating in a foreign country it can prove very difficult to access a supply of suitably qualified personnel to fill appropriate job vacancies. Dixcart is experienced at researching staff opportunities in particular locations and recruiting staff where appropriate.

Legal Services
Advice on employment and immigration law is extremely relevant for companies setting up operations overseas. Legal assistance is also important in drawing up staff contracts and developing appropriate terms and conditions of employment. Other areas where legal advice may well be required relate to disputes, redundancies and dismissals.

Purchase of a Residence/Selection of a School
Dixcart can also assist employees to help find accommodation and propose appropriate schools for the children of those re-locating. Such a service can considerably reduce anxiety levels when individuals are moving to a different country and can avoid significant human resources costs.

Outsourcing Services Offered by Dixcart

All of the outsourcing services considered in this Information Note can be supplied by Dixcart.

With offices in seven locations, Dixcart provides a range of outsourcing services in a number of international commercial centres. The availability of professional services, from a group that has been providing international advice for over thirty years, offers reassurance and security to clients.

Further Information

Outsourcing when applied prudently and with a considered choice of outsourcing service supplier, can enhance a firm’s efficiency and/or growth rate. If you would like additional information on Dixcart Outsourcing, please speak to your normal Dixcart contact or Laurence Binge at our Esher office.