How Outsourcing Can Help Companies to Prepare for AI and Automation

Posted: 03/24/2018 - 01:34
Outsourcing can aid us become more aware and adapt to new technology practices.

With the increased use of technology around the globe, the world is more connected than ever before. The capabilities of technology are improving quickly, so more and more employees are working with increasingly advanced technologies. This new reliance on the technology of tomorrow is also causing many jobs to become automated, with the rate of automated jobs created being equal to or higher than job losses by 2030 in ten front runner countries. Technology is changing what we’re working with and organisations will need to quickly learn how to operate this technology in order to truly thrive. 

The increased use of technology in the workplace—including artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotic process automation—is expanding the likelihood of a future where workers are operating software that they currently don’t have the skills for, risking them being left in low paid and insecure work. 

While companies need to conduct careful evaluation as to whether they should introduce AI and machine learning, this article explains why outsourcing and nearshoring should be the first consideration for organisations lacking expertise in these new technologies. 

In light of this, how can outsourcing and nearshoring help companies to adapt to the changing job requirements? 

The Outsourcing Solution to AI 

Companies are now adopting technology, but aren’t sure how to apply it to their organisation to reap the business benefits. For AI specifically, according to a report by McKinsey and Company, approximately 49% of activities that require human interaction and management—ranging from processing data to communicating with stakeholders—will be difficult to automate by 2030. 

While this need for human interaction may lead to the initial neglect of automation, companies may still choose to automate some tasks to increase efficiency and keep up with competition. If this is the case, businesses will need to train internal employees in AI management, or outsource trained staff. 

While companies developing smart city software and infrastructure will already have an in-depth knowledge of AI and machine learning as they progress, the majority of organisations looking to implement AI will not. Engaging with an outsourcing company that already has these technical skillsets can help companies to efficiently implement automation to improve their business processes. 

Outsourcing engineers who specialise in AI and machine learning is a great way to ensure that the organisation can utilise a diverse range of technological expertise. 

Tailored Outsourcing 

Outsourcing and nearshoring can provide a diverse range of competencies where technical skillsets are needed, all in accordance with a company’s specific needs. 

Through evaluating current staff and then assessing their current skills in comparison to the specific skills needed for the technology they are seeking to implement, the organisation can decide on the amount of outsourced experts that are needed. By nearshoring a team of individuals, the competence of the organisation’s team can be boosted, while still allowing the organisation to have full project control. 

Alternatively, if a company has a project that requires a larger number of engineers, outsourcing a full software team allows the outsourced team to work exclusively on the assignment as an extension of the in-house team. This not only extends the team’s capacity with specific knowledge and skills, but also speeds up the development process. 

If an agile team is outsourced or nearshored, outsourced engineers and developers can introduce regular verification and adaptation stages to test an organisation’s product or solution in the real world. This way, if anticipating future product demand, organisations can still increase their production while also easily keeping an eye on their projects. The team will use agile frameworks and work with outsourced technical experts to carefully analyse the project’s aims and design a solution that will deliver the organisation’s vision. This will all take effect alongside a continuous delivery of business value in the process. 

New technology is continuously being introduced to the world — from AI and machine learning to cryptocurrency and autonomous vehicles. If an organisation decides to begin using one of these technologies, outsourced teams can help to bring the essential skills to that company and project. 

By working closely with company executives, the organisation’s vision for their technology is maintained throughout the project. Training internal teams can be costly and time consuming, so outsourcing and nearshoring offers an easy, affordable and reliable solution in the era of rapid technology development.

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About The Author

Jaroslaw Czaja's picture

Jarosław Czaja is Founder and CEO of Future Processing, a high-quality Polish software development outsourcer. As an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalist, Jaroslaw is responsible for the day-to-day running of the company, as well as its growth strategy.