Nowadays, in-house agencies, brands and creative teams are seeking new ways to stay ahead of the competition. One approach that has gained traction in recent years is the outsourcing of creative production. However, for many nothing conjures up more fear than the sheer mention of ‘outsourcing'.
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Why are people scared of outsourcing?
Outsourcing any work is a big deal and isn’t without risk. Perhaps your business has been burned before, but it is safe to say that outsourcing has come a long way since the early days when IT work was undertaken offshore and call centers were set up. The Bangalore call centers that Thomas Friedman visited in 2005 may have been the pioneers of early outsourcing, however the offshore market, and those that serve it, have changed.
Nowadays, more brands and in-house agencies (IHAs) are outsourcing. It’s likely a number of your closest competitors are outsourcing their creative production, although you might not be aware of it. In fact, according to findings from EKCS, in 2023, 33% of UK IHAs had outsourced creative production for two years or more.
The words ‘outsourcing’ can cause concern for team members, but outsourcing today isn’t all about reducing full-time staff costs. Communication with your team is key early on in the process. If you're thinking of outsourcing, don't keep it a secret. Have a discussion and a two-way conversation about how it could work.
Why you shouldn't be scared of outsourcing
Outsourcing enables brands and in-house agencies to tap into a pool of offshore talent and specialized skills that may not be readily available in-house. This often leads to cost savings, as outsourcing creative work can be more cost-effective than having an in-house team work on production tasks.
Creative production outsourcing is about enabling staff and your IHA to do more. Does your talented graduate graphic designer really want to resize print ads? Is your web developer excited at the start of each week to create multiple banners? These talented creatives could be working on ideas and other creative elements.
With creative production outsourcing, companies can allocate resources more efficiently, reducing overhead and improving the return on investment. Now, why be scared of that?
Want to learn more?
Join Robert Berkeley, CEO, and Michael Storey, Senior Creative Consultant of EKCS, in LA on November 17th. They will dive into the recurring challenges of overwork and burnout in creative teams and discuss innovative strategies to break the cycle and foster a more sustainable work environment. Find out more about the Creative Operations event. Save $100 on your ticket with the code EKCS100.
