Outsourcing already has a negative image today. This is because a number of companies tried to get rid of their duties by handing over projects to third-parties, who in-turn handed them over to low-cost freelancers in order to save costs. While this worked for a while, traditional way of outsourcing has become a dubious way of doing business.
Thankfully, sense is gradually prevailing and companies are now looking at partnering with consultancies and agencies which have in-house employees and teams that work on your project without outsourcing to freelancers elsewhere. Even if you are a small company looking at getting some coding or designing done, you probably shouldn’t hire freelancers.
While there are a number of great freelancers out there, it is difficult to judge the quality of every run-off-the-mill freelancer you might end up chatting with on online marketplaces. It is also difficult to assess their qualifications and experience. It is always better to hire professional agencies that have a team of professionals to do the outsourced job.
In this article, let us take a look at some of the reasons why it might be a bad idea to outsource to a freelancer:
1. Freelancers are not accountable
One of the first things that you must realize is, freelancers are not as accountable as a professional agency is. A professional agency knows how to get things done and they always follow certain protocols to maintain standards and quality. A freelancer is on his or her own, and that makes it difficult to hold them accountable. When something goes wrong, you will be left wondering how you could bring the person to task. In case of an agency, this is not the case.
2. Lack of access to infrastructure
A freelancer probably works from home and does not have access to expensive software, hardware and other infrastructural facilities that is required to complete certain projects. A professional agency not only has the entire infrastructure in place but they also regularly update them. This makes it easier for projects to be completed in time without compromising on quality.
3. Lack of access to team solutions
A freelancer is usually a loner. If he works as a team, he probably outsources it to a third party and then gives you the finished project. This means there is a lack of team-focused execution of projects. This leads to a situation where the freelancer does everything without any input from others. There is absolutely no room for criticism or feedback from peers, except from his own clients.
4. Lack of access to varied experiences
A freelancer usually chooses projects based on his or her own interests. This means, they do not have a versatile knowledge or experience. A professional agency on the other hand, chooses a number of projects regardless of their personal interests. This is where the advantage of a team comes in. A team works together and even if one person is not quite good at a certain programming language, the other members of the team will be able to take care of it.
In other words
At the end of the day, it is better to opt for a full-fledged consultancy instead of a freelancer, who may or may not have the skills and access to knowledge and infrastructure. Moreover, a professional consultancy or agency will help you with many other services than just one area in which the freelancer may specialize in. It is always a good idea to know how to get things done from a full-fledged company before hiring a freelancer, who often comes with certain risks which may not be palatable.
