As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches, businesses are gearing up for a surge in sales and customer activity. But with increased demand comes the challenge of staffing up to meet expectations. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of hiring and managing temporary staff during this hectic time? Fear not, because the solution might be closer than you think.
While the holiday season is the most profitable time of year for several businesses, it’s also one of the most challenging, and part of it is due to staffing. With demand for products soaring even higher during the holiday season, your current staff might find it difficult to keep up. Not to mention, your staff would also need time off during the holidays to spend time with their family and friends, or to simply take their minds off work. Hiring additional manpower could address your business’s peak season staffing needs, but this could be unsustainable in the long term.
It’s important to think of ways on how your business can address the peak season as early as now, especially since this year’s holidays are expected to bring in more demand from customers. Did you know that, according to Salesforce, online sales alone are expected to grow by $1.19 trillion worldwide this year?
One way to meet this increasing demand is to outsource temporary staffing for peak seasons. Through this, your business will be supported by additional manpower during the peak season, leaving you free to focus on your core expertise, including overseeing and maintaining operations. One great thing with this seasonal workforce management solution is that your outsourced staff will only stay with you for as long as you need, and you can tap onto them whenever.
Why Outsource?
This holiday season, give your business the gift of cost savings and efficiency through outsourced staffing solutions for peak seasons, and here’s how your business can benefit from this.
It’s cost-effective and time-saving.
Hiring additional manpower might be your immediate thought in addressing your staffing challenges during the peak season, but this also means investing in hiring and training, not to mention providing them with competitive compensation packages and benefits.
Outsourced seasonal staffing, on the other hand, does away with the need for these costs. Not to mention, it will also save you time: instead of going through a rigorous and lengthy hiring process, you can simply integrate your outsourced staff without interrupting your operations. Through this, you can focus on the things that matter the most to your business.
The solutions are flexible and scalable.
Out of all the retail staffing solutions, having an outsourced staff allows you to adjust your workforce accordingly. Anticipating an influx of customers on Black Friday? Add more hands on deck with your outsourced staff. Expecting a bit of a lull weeks before Christmas? Adjust the number of your outsourced staff accordingly. The demand for your products or services might fluctuate, especially during this season, but you can count on your outsourced staff to scale their team based on your needs.
Outsourced staff have highly specialized skills.
Customer support, bookkeeping, data entry, and accounting are just some of the skills that an outsourced staff can offer. You can count on them to be highly skilled in their respective fields, which would come in handy in helping out your business during the peak season. Their expertise will help your business avoid any complaints or issues, as you’re assured that your outsourced staff are more than capable of getting things done for you.
Some Outsourcing Strategies for Year-end Sales
Now is a good time to explore the opportunities and benefits that come with augmenting your workforce with an outsourced staff, rather than wait for the holiday season to come in full swing. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when looking for an outsourcing partner for your holiday staffing needs.
Plan early and carefully
As with any investments, partnering with an outsourced staff will require careful thought and consideration. Start by assessing the needs of your business, while also keeping in mind your experiences with previous peak seasons. You’ll need to confirm first that your business will indeed require additional manpower for the holiday season, and you’ll want to confirm the need as early as possible. This way, you can determine if enlisting an outsourced holiday staff is indeed needed for your business.
Find the right outsourcing partner
Your business can only succeed in getting through the peak season without much of a challenge when you pick the right partner for your staffing needs. Apart from having the specialized skills, your outsourced staff should also understand the needs and requirements unique to your business, and are able to scale their services as needed. Having a reputable partner with a track record of delivering outstanding services to other clients is, of course, a factor that you need to consider.
Communicate and set clear expectations
After choosing the right outsourcing partner, it’s equally important to set your expectations to your holiday staff. Be clear about your expectations when it comes to their work and tasks, and make sure to communicate them in an effective manner. This way, your outsourced staff will have a better idea of how they can help your business achieve your goals through their specialized skills.
Manage and monitor their performance
Your outsourced staff will serve as an extension of your in-house staff; as such, you’ll need to monitor their performance to ensure that they’re meeting your expectations. Fortunately, there are several digital tools that you can utilize whenever you need to touch base with your outsourced staff, such as meeting schedulers, instant messaging systems, and video chat software.
Utilize outsourced staff this holiday season
The holidays are almost always a challenging time for businesses, especially when it comes to balancing demand with their employee headcount. Rather than hiring additional people, which could be costlier in the long run, augmenting your workforce with an outsourced staff is a more cost-efficient and scalable option to keep up with the demand this holiday season. This gives you the freedom to focus on effectively managing your business.
Maximize the benefits of an outsourced staff by working with a partner with a proven track record of helping out businesses with a team of highly specialized professionals. Contact us to learn how our holiday staffing solutions can benefit your business and help you reach your year-end sales targets.
