The Mistakes to Avoid When Outsourcing Your Services Abroad

Outsourcing services abroad has become common practice for companies seeking to reduce costs, accelerate growth, or access rare expertise. But beware this strategic choice can quickly turn into a headache if certain mistakes aren’t anticipated.

Poor communication, cultural gaps, vague contracts, or unreliable partners… the pitfalls are many. And according to a Deloitte study (2024), nearly 45% of outsourcing projects partially fail due to a lack of preparation or follow-up.

So how can you avoid the most common mistakes? What warning signs should you look for before signing? This article gives you the keys to successful outsourcing, with practical advice, concrete data, and real-life examples.

Why Avoiding These Mistakes Matters

Because a mistake in outsourcing can cost far more than just time it can damage your reputation, your clients, and even your profitability.
Outsourcing isn’t just about delegating a task it’s about entrusting part of your business to an external partner.

According to Gartner (2025), companies that poorly plan their outsourcing spend up to 30% more than expected in the first year.

Avoiding common mistakes means gaining in efficiency, peace of mind, and performance.

Mistake #1: Choosing a Provider Based Only on Price

This is the most common mistake. Many companies select their provider simply because they offer the lowest price, without assessing service quality.
The result? Poor deliverables, project delays, and chaotic communication.

✅ The right approach is to compare value for money, not just price. Check:

• Client references and case studies
• Certifications (ISO, GDPR, etc.)
• Quality of communication and project monitoring

Example: A French company that outsourced its customer support to India had to bring it back in-house after six months due to a 25% error rate.

💡 Tip: Choose a partner who understands your culture, your market, and your quality standards.

Mistake #2: Neglecting Cross-Cultural Communication

Working with a foreign team means dealing with cultural, linguistic, and time zone differences. Ignoring these factors opens the door to misunderstandings.

According to a Harvard Business Review (2023) study, 60% of tensions in international teams stem from poor communication or lack of cultural understanding.

✅ To avoid this:

• Clarify communication channels and frequency
• Assign a bilingual project manager
• Schedule regular meetings at compatible hours
• Train teams in cross-cultural awareness

Example: A Belgian company working with a call center in Madagascar improved performance by 35% after implementing weekly video meetings.

Mistake #3: Failing to Set Clear and Measurable Goals

Outsourcing without defined KPIs is like sailing blind. Your partner must know exactly what you expect, when, and by what quality standards.

Useful indicators include:

• Productivity rate
• On-time delivery
• Customer satisfaction
• Error or rework rate
• Return on investment

According to PwC (2024), projects with clear, measurable goals from the start have a 40% higher success rate than others.

💡 Advice: Define these objectives in the contract and use a shared dashboard for monitoring.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Legal and Data Security Issues

This is often overlooked, especially by SMEs. Outsourcing abroad involves sharing sensitive information (customer data, internal documents, server access…).

✅ Make sure your provider:

• Complies with GDPR (if you work with Europe)
• Signs a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
• Uses secure servers and a backup protocol
• Has a clear incident management policy

Example: In 2022, a UK e-commerce company lost 12,000 customer records due to a provider that wasn’t GDPR-compliant.

Never sign anything without at least a quick legal audit.

Mistake #5: Skipping the Test Phase

Before handing over an entire service, test the collaboration for a short period (e.g., 1–3 months).
This allows you to assess quality, responsiveness, and team compatibility with minimal risk.

A pilot phase helps refine processes, clarify expectations, and build trust.
Some companies outsource just 10% of their workload first, then scale up if all goes well.

According to Deloitte’s Outsourcing Report 2025, companies that test before fully outsourcing reduce partnership failures by 45%.

Mistake #6: Underestimating Project Supervision and Monitoring

Outsourcing doesn’t mean disengaging. A common mistake is to “set and forget.”
Even a great partner needs regular monitoring to maintain quality and performance.

✅ Best practices:

• Assign a dedicated contact person on your side
• Hold weekly follow-up meetings
• Track results with precise KPIs
• Quickly correct any performance gaps

McKinsey (2024) found that companies actively managing their outsourcing gain 20% more operational efficiency.

Mistake #7: Overlooking Cultural Compatibility and Shared Values

A partner may be technically skilled but fail to fit your company culture.
Differences in pace, work ethic, or priorities can hinder collaboration.

Before signing, ensure that your values align transparency, punctuality, service quality, flexibility.
Prefer providers who have already worked with clients from your country.

Example: French companies outsourcing to Mauritius or Morocco often enjoy strong cultural and linguistic affinity, making collaboration smoother.

Outsourcing services abroad can be a tremendous opportunity if you avoid classic pitfalls.
Don’t choose a provider at random: assess reliability, clarify expectations, secure data, and stay involved.

When well managed, outsourcing becomes a lever for growth and innovation.
Platforms like Breedj or Talenteum Africa already support many European businesses in building reliable, ethical, and high-performing partnerships worldwide.

👉 To outsource without stress, choose a partner who truly understands your needs, values, and vision.

FAQ – Everything You Need to Know Before Outsourcing Abroad

👉 Contact us to discuss your project and avoid the pitfalls of international outsourcing, or explore our tech platform at: www.breedj.com