The Benefits of HR Outsourcing for SaaS Companies

The world may be in a perpetual state of flux, but within the business arena, some surefire constants remain unchanged. Investment in the future with the people powering your company’s success will always represent a wise use of resources. However, while some things never change, on occasion, our approach to these steady constants must…

Within the ever-changing business landscape, new challenges come hand in hand with fresh opportunities, and vice versa. One such challenge comes in the form of the rapid growth of the SaaS industry, fuelled by the increasing popularity of lightweight and versatile cloud-based applications. This fast growth has resulted in an urgent, and ever-increasing, need for experienced, vetted employees with skills suited to specific, specialized roles. Additionally, brand new roles are emerging all the time as the SaaS industry evolves and expands.

The Benefits of HR Outsourcing

Rapid evolution can be a challenge for any company to keep pace with. So, what is the solution to overcoming these challenges? How does one keep on top of growing a business, whilst also investing long hours into managing talent? One solution comes in the form of HR outsourcing services – working closely with trusted, expert partners who can help to lighten the load. While a company can recruit as normal, an outsourced HR team can take care of the time-consuming necessities such as running payroll and producing work contracts, right through to specialized tasks such as the procurement of work visas. The list of benefits is considerable.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the core benefits of HR outsourcing…

HR Outsourcing Supports Access to Remote Talent

The global events of the past two years have precipitated a great deal of change when it comes to employment structures. The impact of the pandemic caused a spike in remote work – a trend that is showing no sign of retreating – with one study predicting that by 2025, 22 % of Americans will be working remotely. Not only is remote work beneficial to many companies with regard to cost-savings on rent and boosted productivity, it is also becoming increasingly favored by employees. The benefits reported by employees include lower levels of stress, better work-life balance, greater flexibility, and a saving of time and money that would have been spent on the daily work commute.

For SaaS companies, the surge in remote work presents some welcome opportunities. The hiring process no longer needs to prioritize close proximity to an office, and the pool of remote talent will only get larger – especially as the popularity of remote work is only set to rise.

However, this blessing comes with its own set of complications. With remote work comes more complex paperwork, security risks and regulations, and this becomes especially hard when juggling employees in multiple remote locations, where different employment and compliance regulations may well apply.

Becoming familiar and complying with various local labor laws can become a costly and cumbersome in-house process, necessitating additional HR administrative staff, not to mention the burden of keeping up to date with ever-changing regulations.

Global HR management requires a specialized set of skills and knowledge, and as a result, for a company to confidently embrace the benefits of a globally distributed team, it’s imperative that dependable access to this level of experience is available.

HR outsourcing removes the headache from this undertaking, allowing businesses to lean on outsourced HR experts, who have the systems in place to hire and pay employees on behalf of the company. For example, the solutions offered by outsourced HR agencies can include a global PEO (Professional Employment Organisation), an EOR (Employer of Record), and a Global Payroll service. A PEO provides solutions for companies by being the legal entity that employs a team member in a specific country. Then, an EOR is a third-party organization that assists a company by hiring and paying an employee on its behalf. Finally, a Global Payroll service ensures that teams are always accurately and compliantly paid. Together these services enable businesses to tap into global talent with confidence, free from complicated learning curves and the concern of non-compliance.

Save on Time and Costs

Time is arguably one of the most precious resources in business. Wasting time on tasks where one is not too familiar with the job at hand, is not only a waste of this resource but, when mistakes are inevitably made, will also ultimately amount to even more time being wasted. When outsourcing HR, businesses can sidestep these pitfalls, letting an experienced pair of hands take the reigns.

Letting HR experts handle the intricacies of global employee management is hugely beneficial in freeing up more time for a company to focus on different aspects of their human resource management, such as recruitment, internal role transitions, training, and onboarding.

As mentioned, a global PEO (Professional Employment Organization) provides an excellent solution for hiring overseas, and importantly, without the cost and time involved in creating one’s own legal entity in that country. The saving is not a small one – with a legal entity costing up to $20,000 to establish in most countries. With this being just the start-up cost, a company must also keep in mind the ongoing costs of this longstanding and significant commitment. Partnering with PEO can save up to 60% of the cost, making it the smart choice for any business looking to expand its workforce abroad.

Hire Immediately for a Specific Job or Duration

The growth of the SaaS industry over the past 20 years has been exponential, so it is little wonder that the job roles within the industry are not as neatly carved out as within other industries. Also, after a SaaS company gets established, the growth can be sudden and rapid, causing an immediate need for more specialized staff.

As companies evolve, they may also be adopting new technologies to streamline remote work, which can also play a role in shifting job requirements. Occasionally, roles may arise for a specific task and only for a limited time.

So when speed and agility are of the essence, meeting the challenge of these somewhat erratic recruitment needs can be precarious – but not one that needs to be undertaken alone.

Once the company has recruited the candidate, the services of an expert PEO in being the legal employer are invaluable in eradicating possible delays caused by navigating complex remote employment procedures. So while a company can still source the candidates and make the important decisions on who to hire, a partnership with a PEO ensures all the heavy lifting is skillfully handled.

Minimize the Risk for Your Company

Hiring staff compliantly in the global sphere is a complex undertaking. There are a number of ongoing tasks to manage, but more importantly, the regulations guiding these tasks will be different for each country where employees are located. Compliance is paramount, and the different areas requiring compliance are rather broad. But to be more specific, the main focal points for compliance would be the compensation and benefits package for the employee, tax requirements, social contributions, and workers’ compensation insurance.

Being compliant requires careful research and surveillance, as regulations can change on a fairly regular basis. Not staying up to date with current labor compliance laws can lead to damaging consequences. Not only can non-compliance result in costly fines or lawsuits, but it can also damage the company’s reputation and lead to lower employee retention.

Using a PEO instead of attempting to tackle the challenge alone ensures full compliance, as PEO experts who are well-acquainted with the local regulations take over all employment-related tasks. So while the company can maintain a normal relationship with the employee, it has HR specialists (who have an established legal presence in that specific country) managing the employment process from end to end, on behalf of the company.

HR Outsourcing Provides Solutions

Suppose you are a business that is focused on investing in the best people, the smart way. In that case, outsourcing HR provides the solution for all of the expensive, time-consuming, and stressful duties associated with people management. But also, these tasks are impossible to avoid, and the larger the company grows, the more complicated and laborious the commitment will become.

The benefits of HR outsourcing concerning remote employment via a PEO and EOR, and simplifying processes with a Global Payroll Solution are plentiful, but perhaps the most pertinent is that a company won’t get impeded by the HR issues that can come with expansion and casting the recruitment net abroad. The barriers to hiring top-tier employees from abroad will no longer be an issue. Also notable is that the growth plans of company leadership won’t be delayed by HR issues that take their focus off running the company. Instead, the company can maintain focus on achieving progress, knowing that complex employment regulations are safely taken care of and can scale alongside their operation.

Do you want to find out more about how HR outsourcing supports global opportunities? Read on to discover: How to unlock the key advantages of global human resource management

5 Tips For Hiring In A Recession

A recession looms on the horizon. Sadly this is more than the standard whisperings of pessimists. Instead, it’s an ever-increasing certainty – with a 98.1% chance of a global recession predicted by experts. Hiring strategy and HR outsourcing trends are adapting to meet this challenge – and in this article, we’ll explore how you can harness the most helpful opportunities to the advantage of your own SaaS operation.

Recession, as we all know, heralds a time of austerity, where cutting back on costs wherever possible is the nature of the game. This cost-cutting affects all facets of life and business, from consumers reducing their spending, to companies cutting on staff, salaries, and production. It’s a period that causes a great deal of worry across the board.

However, it is also important to remember that, periodically, recessions are inevitable – even normal. And for a business, a little forward planning goes a long way in staying afloat in a period of economic downturn.

With hiring freezes, staff cuts, and voluntary resignations, a recession can in fact bring about certain opportunities despite the challenges. With a realistic business forecast and recruitment strategy in place, companies have the ability to adapt to make the most out of a difficult situation.

Our top five tips for hiring during a recession:

1. Reassess Company Needs 🧐

Hiring freezes and cuts are common in periods of instability, but can frequently have a negative effect, with staff becoming overburdened with the heavy workload that is left for them to manage. The result is low morale and resignations – not ideal for any company invested in retaining its top talent.

Historical data from the 2008 recession gives a glimpse into how SaaS companies perform during a recession, with most growth rates slowing and dropping from 40% to 10% and no company being entirely immune to the impact. But with all the statistics and information gathered from past events, companies are better equipped to be proactive and forward plan.

Planning ahead will also ensure careful decisions can be made based on a rational plan, rather than as part of a more flustered reaction. Taking charge of the situation early on will enable a company to manage staffing requirements more efficiently. This could mean hiring more staff or hiring a more specialized team member who can cover multiple roles.

Whether the plan is to downscale, expand or focus harder on specific business aspects such as sales and marketing, planning ahead means you will always have the right people (and the right number of people) in place to do the job.

2. Hire Remotely 🌎

World events of the past few years have resulted in a notable shift in the employment landscape, with remote working becoming increasingly popular for both companies and employees. For SaaS companies, this trend is beneficial on multiple levels.

With a wider talent pool of remote workers, SaaS companies can more easily source candidates with specific, specialized skill sets, better suited to the SaaS jobs roles that are frequently being developed as companies evolve and grow. And the current HR outsourcing trends make hiring remotely far easier than ever before, with the option to partner with a global PEO (Professional Employment Organization) – providing a valuable and effective solution for companies looking to hire remotely, by legally employing the remote worker on behalf of the company in the international territory. So while the SaaS company can recruit the right person for the job, the PEO handles all of the legal requirements that come hand-in-hand with a remote workforce.

Not only that, but hiring remote workers is proving to be a more financially viable option – saving on office rental costs as well as the cost of poor productivity. One study has reported a massive $600 billion being lost annually because of workplace distractions. In contrast, remote workers usually bill only for hours worked.

Also, according to numerous studies, remote workers are found to be far more efficient, with some companies reporting 35-40% increased productivity with their teleworkers.

In essence, this means that by employing remote workers, you are not only able to access a far larger selection of talent, but you are also minimizing overhead expenses and reducing the risk of paying large amounts for non-productive hours.

3. Seize the Opportunities 🤩

It may be somewhat surprising to learn that times of economic downturn can in fact bring about opportunity. When most are focusing on rigorous belt-tightening, and many prominent companies announcing major layoffs, it is important to maintain a broad perspective of the situation.

It is a known fact that recessions result in layoffs and hiring freezes, but that also means that the competition for top talent slows down. There is also a growing trend of voluntary resignations during periods of uncertainty. This is largely due to another cost-reducing method of cutting down on compensation and benefits, sending many great employees off in search of brighter opportunities with better job security and remuneration.

The result is that the talent pool is far larger than usual, making it an excellent time to recruit top-tier employees that were previously tied up in other jobs.

4. Be Flexible 🧘🏻‍♀️

It is especially important during a recession that salaries remain competitive. This may require that salaries are reduced to keep in line with market trends, and in this case, certain flexibilities can be introduced to attract new talent and to ensure that current team members within the company stay satisfied.

With one study reporting around 60% of respondents showing a preference for benefits over a pay increase, benefits packages present an excellent opportunity in maintaining staff happiness levels.

There are a number of flexibilities that can be introduced. Some of them do not present an extra cost for the company but do make the job all the more appealing – such as a work-from-home option, or flexible working hours. Other benefits which come highly sought after include health insurance, pension scheme contributions, child care assistance, added skills training, gym memberships, and additional time off and holiday.

In short, an attractive benefits package can work wonders in attracting and retaining top employees. All it requires is some good planning and flexibility.

5. Be Ready to Go Global

Unprecedented events can also bring about new challenges involving the need to hire remote teams or relocate certain employees overseas. This is where outsourced HR experts are extremely valuable. Not only do they assist in navigating the challenges of ensuring the hire is done in a compliant manner, but they also assist with all of the employment-related administration.

What this means for companies is that remote roles can be filled more efficiently, while also saving on the expenses, time, and difficulties of doing the remote recruitment in-house.

A global HR outsourcing company streamlines the process, by providing the assistance of a PEO, which allows companies to hire staff from anywhere in the world – without establishing their own legal entities in those countries. Additionally, they can offer a Global Payroll service, which allows employees to be paid compliantly with regard to all tax and legal requirements.

An important aspect to consider – using a global HR outsourcing company means employees are just that – employees, not contractors. This means that they are entitled to all the benefits the job entails, which also goes a long way in attracting the best candidates.

Hiring During a Recession can Be Effective When Approached Correctly

It is important to analyze the bigger picture and, wherever possible, to reframe challenges as opportunities. On average, recessions have lasted around 10 months – which is no doubt tough for most businesses – but in the greater scheme of things is a relatively short storm to weather.

Forward planning is essential for effective hiring during periods of economic decline, and while competitors are making cutbacks and taking cover, a smart business can take advantage of the situation and implement measures to meet short and long-term recruitment goals.

Since trends are not just retrospective, and future trends can be predicted based on proper analysis of historical events, changes, and choices, HR outsourcing trends can also be the subject of a little “crystal ball gazing” in order to plan and execute strategies for surviving a downturn.

In conclusion, while storm clouds may be gathering, business leaders are not alone in navigating the impending challenges, and can always count on the assistance of experienced outsourced HR professionals, adept in managing and advising on recruitment in challenging times.

Agile HRO is an international human resource outsourcing company that provides businesses with a way to quickly hire and expand teams by offering a global PEO, EOR, mobility and payroll solution. Recruit the best remote candidate for your company, and let Agile handle the rest.

Ready to expand your workforce globally? Read on to find out more about: How to unlock the key advantages of global human resource management

How to unlock the key advantages of global human resource management

Expanding a business internationally can represent a key step in a corporate growth strategy. Global expansion provides a significant opportunity to tap into new markets and customer bases, providing a solid strategy for increasing revenue potential. This has been proven by the world’s largest companies – who have all cemented their pathways to success by going global.

Any business hoping to see success when scaling globally knows the value of a well-distributed team. Getting the correct balance – the right people, in the right place, at the right time – isn’t always an easy task.

Previously, international human resource management may have represented a significant barrier to global growth. Recruiting and organizing teams abroad comes with a huge amount of complexity, associated admin and compliance requirements.

However, today there are experts on hand to assist in navigating these formidable challenges. Global outsourced human resource management streamlines the end-to-end process of a global workforce – making it a valuable and efficient option for any business focused on expansion.

With the growing trend of remote work, an increased need for specialized skills and the desire for international expansion, global human resource management literally puts the world at one’s fingertips. Broad new avenues of opportunity can open up, and most importantly, without the significant overheads, risk, or administrative burden.

Outsourced global human resource management assumes responsibility for daunting local administrative and compliance issues, while simultaneously allowing companies to enjoy a normal “day-to-day” working relationship with the employee.

The advantages of global human management are numerous – and in this article, we’ll take a look at how to utilize the fullest potential by unlocking the key offerings.

The Best of Both Worlds 🌎

Using the services of an outsourced human resource agency is a win-win situation. The company is able to make the key decisions, such as who the best candidate to hire for the role is, and can then hand over all the complex administrative burdens. An outsourced agency can assist with all formal employment tasks, such as employee onboarding, payroll, work contracts, tax and insurance registrations and much more.

The expertise of outsourced HR teams is also invaluable, and can bring a great deal of illumination and helpful advice in terms of local knowledge of labor and compliance laws. Attempting to master this in-house would be extremely time-consuming and costly. Part of the service provided by a global human resources agency is the ability to partner with an EOR (Employer of Record) – a third-party organization that hires and pays an employee on behalf of another company. An EOR also takes responsibility for all official employment tasks, greatly minimizing compliance risk and overheads for the company.

Another solution provided by a global human resource management agency comes in the form of a PEO (Professional Employment Organization) – which allows companies to hire talent from anywhere in the world without establishing their own legal entity.

Due to the fact that the process of setting up a legal entity can take up to six months and that the mere cost of startup is around $20, 000 (and this is not taking into account the ongoing charges), the expense and effort involved in attempting to do it alone can be stifling. And this is not to mention the strain it puts on the internal legal and HR team, who will have to attempt the complex navigation of foreign legalities.

Partnering with an EOR or PEO is by far the more efficient route for businesses, where internal resources can rather be free to focus on other elements of expansion and business growth.

Global Movement and Expansion Made Easy 🚀

With an increased number of companies focusing on global expansion, the notion of international relocation is also fast becoming an attractive option for employees. Many see it as a chance to further develop their skills, advance in their careers, and enjoy a better quality of life for themselves and their families. One study even found that 3 in 5 workers are willing to relocate for work – and the interest in relocation keeps growing.

For a company, there are also many advantages of relocating staff abroad when expanding globally. It means a company can be confident that skilled and trained people are doing the work, also avoiding the hiring and training costs of starting afresh in unfamiliar territory. In addition, a relocated employee will be familiar with the company vision, business model, and practices, meaning a continuity in service across borders.

However, global mobility can present several challenges for companies. There are a number of complex procedures to follow and applications to make. Visas, work permits, and all immigration-related paperwork must be sorted prior to any move abroad. Locally, bank accounts need to be opened, tax and insurance contributions applied for, and living arrangements, such as accommodation, must be secured.

Poorly handled relocation can not only have a detrimental effect on company reputation, but can also lead to decreased work morale and productivity, and resignations of valuable staff.

This is where a Global Mobility Specialist can provide support and minimize risk – making the process for companies harmonious and simplified. A Global Mobility Specialist is essentially someone who manages all processes relating to a smooth transfer of an employee overseas. The tasks included in this role are:

Co-ordinating the everyday administration as laid out in the Global Mobility program
Organizing all permits required for relocation, such as visas and work permits
Managing tax registrations and all necessary certifications
Building communities across teams that are relocated globally, and
Collecting and processing global compensation data

Good management of the relocation will also go a long way in ensuring the transition for employees is far easier and less stressful. And Global Mobility Specialists are not just adept at handling permanent relocations, but can also assist in temporary moves – for example, if there is a short-term contract that needs fulfilling. Or even, an extended business trip.

The support offered by a Global Mobility Service also extends beyond administrative tasks, assisting the relocated employee and any joining family with local support such as the organizing of housing, transportation, insurance, and even schooling.

Tapping Into New Markets 😎

International markets undeniably provide a wealth of opportunity, with global expansion also being a reliable catalyst for faster business growth. This makes going global a strategic move for many businesses. Expansion is an effective means to get a product and service in front of a completely new audience. It also provides an opportunity to tap into an unsaturated market before the competition arrives.

Putting down roots in a new location will also increase brand exposure – and with this comes enhanced company visibility for potential foreign investors. Furthermore, global expansion will widen recruitment options, giving access to a previously undiscovered local talent pool.

However, while global expansion can be the best thing for a business, it is not without its potential pitfalls, and might not represent the best path for every business, meaning a good amount of research prior to taking the plunge is essential. Aspects to consider, and seek advice on, include:

Market conditions – are they currently favorable for revenue growth?
Familiarity with the product or service – how will it be received and understood in the new market?
Legal issues – what is required to compliantly run a business in that location?
Operational setup, liabilities, and costs (including entry and exit costs) – how viable is it to expand and what are the risks involved?

A Global Expansion Advisory can offer this advice by providing access to a network of experts and trusted advisors. These advisors can provide invaluable financial and legal information, assisting companies to make informed decisions prior to and during the expansion. Also, and most conveniently, a Global Expansion Advisory can help with the incorporation of the new company abroad. It is just part of any good strategy to ensure a move abroad is supported by knowledge and information – and a Global Expansion Advisory will do just that.

Streamlining With a Global Payroll Solution 💰

Once a business has taken the steps to hire remote talent, relocate teams, or expand globally, running a payroll becomes significantly more tricky to manage. The challenges in running a global payroll include working with different currencies, time zones, tax and compliance requirements, leave calculations, plus managing remote/virtual work hours.

The list of considerations of different countries is also long, with varying public holidays, and regulations on what constitutes paid time off, in terms of maternity/paternity benefits, illness cover, and family responsibility leave.

Keeping track of all of these variations can quickly become complicated, but is also essential in avoiding mismanagement. A poorly managed payroll can not only result in penalties and legal fees, but also unhappy employees and a higher staff turnover rate. Also, one cannot ignore the risk of reputational damage to the company.

A Global Payroll system is another benefit offered by a global human resource management team. It provides a centralized, integrated space, where all payments, insurance, tax, statutory contributions and leave can be managed. The advantage of this system is that it provides a detailed overview, reducing the risk of error – and also improving the accuracy of the analytics reporting for better overall cost management and planning.

The cost and time-saving in using a Global Payroll Solution is also significant. The need for hiring additional accountants to manage the payroll is redundant, and the risk of overloading the current HR team is no longer an issue. The company can rather focus its resources more efficiently, while the global payroll is skillfully taken care of.

Solutions That Enable Businesses to Focus on Growth 📈

Ultimately, the main focus of a business should be on financial gain and growth. There are most certainly multiple moving parts to negotiate in the running of each organization, but good management is also the ability to know when outsourcing is the smarter option. Handing over complicated systems to those skilled specifically in those fields is the best option for maintaining focus on the core priorities of the business.

Partnering with an outsourced global human resource agency means global expansion, remote and relocated employees and a seamless payroll system are not only a possibility, but entirely achievable – and without any of the stress and error a business can encounter by going it alone.

Do you want to stay up-to-date with important global human resource management insights and trends?

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