We hear it all the time. Managed service providers (MSPs) fight the constant battle to find MSP tech talent and then lose them to vendors or other large companies with deeper pockets. When you are facing a talent crunch, and know you need headcount, the pressure to fill open technical roles can often lead to rushed hiring decisions. You end up bringing aboard people who aren’t culture or skill fit and create disruption in your team rather than adding value to the team.
Having an open mind about looking for global workforce brings several advantages, including access to a larger tech talent pool, a more diverse workforce, business continuity and cost savings. In this blog, we will explore these details and how it is an opportunity for your MSP.
Benefits of Having a Global Workforce For Your MSP
Your MSP can unlock a list of benefits by just filling up the talent crunch by hiring a global workforce. These are the three advantages you need to know:
Advantage 1: Access to a Larger Talent Pool
By opening the door to a global workforce, your MSP can access the tech skill necessary to keep pace with an incredibly fast-moving technology landscape while also moving outside the limitations of the availability of local talent and high costs driven by competition in the market. Since most businesses worked out the kinks in their remote workplace processes in 2020, now is the perfect time to think about casting a wider net.
Taking advantage of the broader global workforce market does come with a cautionary note: Be sure your new tech talent understands your MSP business model and your unique approach to customer service. Your new talent should have clear communication skills if you opt for a global approach, as well as experience with managing an international clientele. Be sure to consider the costs for any necessary training in business skills or education about the managed services business model in their career development plan or look for experienced staffing partners who can guide you through those challenges.
Advantage 2: A New Approach to Business Continuity
No matter how prepared your MSP is for tech failures or natural disasters, having team members in another region or country can provide an additional layer of business continuity for both your MSP and your clients. Not only can team members who are overseas or in vastly different time zones provide reliable “off hours” support, but they can also provide crucial support in case of natural or business disasters such as a hurricane or office fire.
They also support a better work-life balance for in-house talent who can be overwhelmed with after-hours support or tight project deadlines that push work into night hours. Having a member of your MSP team who can seamlessly pick up where your day shift engineers, or support desk leaves off can provide better customer service as well as improve productivity.
Advantage 3: Diversity as a Differentiator
Looking beyond your local community, region or even country can be one way to add diversity to your business. The reasons that might appeal to your MSP can vary, but research shows that diverse groups clearly outperform homogeneous ones. A “Great Place to Work” study even suggests that having a more diverse and inclusive workforce helps companies survive, and even thrive, during recessions.
By adding more diversity—gender, racial and ethnic—leaders can avoid “groupthink,” a psychological phenomenon where teams value harmony and conformity over critical analysis. As with other industries, the battle to attract a diverse workforce has long been a hurdle for the tech channel, so having access to a global workforce can provide a new path to bring unique perspectives, varied educational backgrounds and fresh experiences to your MSP.
Other questions to consider if you decide to expand your workforce globally (or just stretch the limits of your US-based remote team):
- How will you handle professional development and ongoing training with a remote workforce that may not be on the same shift?
- What is the onboarding plan for remote team members? Do you have a plan in place for ongoing engagement activities?
- How will you adjust/plan for shifts and staffing across different time zones?
- Are you considering outsourcing staffing for your MSP to take advantage of the broader global talent pool?
Talk to us today to know more about the benefits of hiring a global workforce for your MSP.
