Outsourcing’s Dirty Secret: Do You Know Who’s Really Doing the Work?
When businesses first explore offshore outsourcing, one of the most valid concerns they consider is whether they really know who is performing the work. Trust, transparency, and accountability are not just buzzwords – they are essential concepts of any successful outsourcing partnership.
The Hidden Risks of Ad-Hoc Outsourcing
The risks of ignoring these concepts became starkly evident last year, when we heard of a case where a company thought they had hired a remote worker through an online platform, only to discover that the individual was actually a Korean hacker. This was not a fictional headline – it was a real risk borne from a lack of proper identity verification. Unfortunately, this type of incident is not as rare as it should be. When businesses bypass established offshore providers and instead use ad-hoc hiring sites, they open themselves up to risks not just to their finances, as we disclosed in our recent blog about offshore hiring risks and compliance, but to their security and reputation.
Ensuring Trust Through Rigorous Screening
At Yempo, we believe that rigorous screening is non-negotiable. Every candidate to our business goes through reference checks, identity verification, background screening, and must provide a police clearance. This isn’t about bureaucracy; it’s about giving our clients peace of mind that their offshore resources are exactly who they say they are.
The Importance of Ethical Practices & Transparency
Another risk we’ve seen play out is the absence of visibility into ethical practices. One of our clients previously engaged an offshore firm in Vietnam that operated on a fixed-output model. Our client wasn’t involved in the recruitment process, had no say in team selection, and no visibility into how staff were treated or compensated. One day, an offshore team member casually disclosed their salary – and the client was shocked. Despite paying premium service fees, the actual workers were receiving a fraction of that amount, with no benefits, no fair treatment, and certainly no ethical safeguards.
This lack of transparency isn’t just unethical – it undermines the entire value of the relationship. At Yempo, we involve our clients in the recruitment process. They interview and select their team members, just as they would at home. We operate on a full-cost-disclosure model, where clients know how much of their fees go to staff compensation, including benefits, government-mandated contributions, and Yempo’s fees.
Navigating AI in Offshore Partnerships
And now, we’re entering a new era of uncertainty with the rise of Artificial Intelligence. Could your offshore worker be quietly using AI tools to perform tasks you assumed were being done manually? Or worse – could the entire role be performed by AI without your knowledge?
That brings us back to the same foundational principles: Trust, transparency, and accountability.
Some may argue – if the work gets done, does it really matter how? The answer depends on the nature of the work, the expectations set, and what you’re paying for. If you’re hiring a content writer, financial analyst, or software engineer at human rates, and the work is being performed by AI without your awareness, that’s a breach of trust. You’re paying for a person’s expertise – not an AI output to run through a few prompts.
Yempo’s Approach to Responsible AI Usage
To navigate this, businesses need policies in place. At Yempo, we have a clear AI usage policy that encourages responsible experimentation within agreed guardrails. All client-facing staff must comply with the client’s AI policy first. If none exists, Yempo’s policy applies. In practice, this means we support AI as a productivity enhancer – not a replacement for human thought. In our admin team, staff use AI for brainstorming, refining language, or sourcing supporting material – but not for doing the work in full, unmonitored. And they reap the productivity gains by having more time for other tasks.
Because we’ve built a culture rooted in transparency, our staff feel safe to disclose how they use these tools. That’s critical. In companies where AI usage is feared or unspoken, employees may adopt it secretly – leading to serious issues with quality, ethics, or even legal compliance.
The outsourcing industry is evolving fast. But whether it’s about identity verification, fair compensation, or the use of emerging technologies, one question will always remain at the core: Do you really know who, or what, is doing your work?
If the answer is “no,” it might be time to rethink your outsourcing partner.
Partner with Yempo for Success
If your current outsourcing provider struggles to deliver loyal, qualified talent, it’s time to switch to Yempo. Our proven track record, client testimonials, and employee-focused approach make us the ideal partner for outsourcing to the Philippines.
Book a quick chat with Michelle today, to know more about our best practices in providing offshore accounting and IT staff from the Philippines – or shoot us an email at [email protected]. We are happy to answer your questions!
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