The Right Facility Services Provider Can Make a Huge Difference
When considering the move toward bringing in an outsourcing partner, the fact is that emotions can run high for in-house staff. Some might think they’re being replaced, or that an outsourcing company will bulldoze all of their carefully constructed operations procedures. Some in your organization may not even be able to articulate why they’re feeling unsettled about it, they just know it will be a change, and that’s enough to make them bristle.
We get it. And it’s crucial to find a partner that gets it and takes ownership. In a new outsourcing arrangement, experience is key to handling not just the everyday tasks, strategic initiatives, and workforce needs, but also the emotions that come along with it.
In addition to that major consideration, there are other top factors to consider when you’re assessing whether an outsourcing partner will be a good fit for you:
- Expertise in your specific industry or field, with a list of customers to prove it, and knowledge of the processes unique to your industry.
- Certifications and experience that go above and beyond the bare minimum; an outsourcing partner should have a strong emphasis on ongoing education and training.
- Well-articulated mission statement that puts customers first and establishes the outsourcing provider as a customer-centric company.
- Desire for collaboration, not replacing existing staff; “partnership” shouldn’t be a meaningless term in their marketing materials, but instead, a driving focus.
- Labor relations experience: an engaged, productive workforce doesn’t happen by accident, it’s the result of informed and proactive measures that significantly reduce the risk of labor problems.
- Alignment with existing leadership infrastructure; also, the ability to add to that leadership in meaningful ways that maximize the power of an organization’s knowledge base and strategic direction.
- Emergency preparedness protocols and response; An outsourcing partner should have a proactive mindset, rather than a shorter-term, reactive process that doesn’t anticipate changing needs.
Most of all, a partner should be exactly that: a partner. Collaboration and trust is an essential element for this, and an outsourcing provider should be able to detail the ways in which processes and procedures will be shared, not replaced.
At UG2, we see each customer engagement as an opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise, and also to maximize the resources already in place, so that customers can develop strategies that are proactive and meaningful.
Outsourcing facility services isn’t about bringing in more subcontractors and dealing with the potential headaches that come with that move. It’s about creating a partnership that brings both short-term benefits and long-term advantages in a way that advances efficiency, strategic thinking, workforce productivity, and mission-driven initiatives.