There’s no doubt that outsourcing is here to stay. Companies large and small are sending out their non-essential tasks so they can focus on their core business. With the explosive advent of the Internet – and lately the mobile web – the world is becoming smaller by the minute. Geography is less and less of an issue, and the global worker is emerging as a force to be reckoned with.

Two main destinations for the outsourcing needs of the world have emerged in the last decade: Eastern Europe and South-East Asia. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, and knowing which one to choose could save you a lot of headache along the way.

Outsourcing to Asia

The outsourcing industry in India alone is incredibly vast and growing. Add countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and there is virtually no business need that these professionals can’t absorb. The young population in these countries definitely helps too – workers are averaging at 25 years old. Hundreds of Universities across the land are delivering new waves of eager technicians every year.

Asia is definitely the tiger in the outsourcing ‘jungle’. As such, it can be unpredictable at times. Choosing the right people for the job out of a pool of millions is no walk in the park, and the risks abound at every step. The best way to go about it is to start small, and aim to create relationships with established outsourcing companies. Another thing to think about when considering Asia for your outsourcing needs is the time difference, which can become pretty burdensome for long-term projects. If your team and the outsourcing team can only communicate asynchronously, consider moving that deadline further away.

Eastern Europe as a growing player in the outsourcing industry

Eastern European countries have come a long way during the past two decades. After struggling for twenty years through a difficult transition period out of the communist age, these countries are now willing and able to prove themselves in the global economy. Their inclusion in the European Union has also helped to bring economical and political stability. Although corruption is still high, small businesses are steadily growing. One remnant of communist times are the strong educational institutions, which translates into a generation of well prepared young technicians.

This is the background of the Eastern European outsourcing landscape today, and the opportunities for taking in outsourced work abound. Compared to the vastness of Asia, Eastern Europe has far smaller numbers, but what it lacks in quantity, it definitely makes up for it with quality. Eastern European workers are more experienced and enjoy better training, while the companies they work for are more stable for working within European Union borders. For Western-European countries especially, near-shoring to Eastern Europe is definitely something to consider, given the cultural similarities, as well as the very small time differences. Many Western-European companies also take advantage of the close proximity of the Eastern European work force to bring professionals in for quick on-site projects.

There is definitely no one-size-fits-all answer when considering where to outsource to, but hopefully now you can make a more informed decision. Don’t let the negatives outweigh the positives though, you may be amazed at how many resources outsourcing can save for you.