Building Depth and Resilience with a Hybrid Workforce
In today's fast-paced and unpredictable business environment, the depth of your team can make or break your company's ability to withstand challenges. For many New Zealand businesses, however, scaling to a point where multiple team members can cover each other's roles is a significant hurdle. The unique constraints of New Zealand's market often leave companies stretched thin, making it difficult to build a workforce with the resilience needed to navigate unexpected disruptions. This is where the strategic advantage of a hybrid onshore/offshore workforce comes into play, offering flexibility and cost-effectiveness that not only bolster your team's capacity but also position your business for sustainable growth.
New Zealand's small market size directly impacts the scale of its businesses. With only 3.7% of local companies employing more than 20 staff, the reality is that what we often refer to as "medium-sized businesses" are actually quite small, typically having just 6-20 employees. These modest headcounts present a series of operational challenges. For example, a typical medium-sized business may have just one employee dedicated to critical functions like accounts or finance. This makes it incredibly difficult to plan for contingencies such as staff illness, unexpected leave, or sudden increases in workload. When a key employee is unavailable, business managers often find themselves scrambling to cover the gap while keeping day-to-day operations afloat.
The lack of depth in these teams doesn't just lead to operational headaches like covering leave or managing illness. It also means that businesses may lack the flexibility needed to seize new opportunities as they arise. A sudden influx of orders or a new business partnership could be as much of a strain as it is a boon if your team isn't equipped to handle the additional workload. The risk is clear: without adequate backup, your business could struggle to maintain service levels or, worse, miss out on growth opportunities entirely.
This is where the integration of remote employees can be a game-changer. By adding remote team members to key roles—such as accounts or sales support—you can create a buffer that ensures business continuity. For instance, if your local accounts employee is away, a remote team member can step in to handle essential tasks, keeping the business running smoothly. Similarly, adding remote support to your sales team ensures that even if your local sales staff are otherwise engaged, customers' inquiries are still handled promptly, preserving your reputation for reliability and responsiveness.
Moreover, this approach isn't just about plugging gaps; it's about proactively building a more resilient and agile workforce. Remote employees offer a cost-effective way to extend your team's capabilities without the overhead associated with hiring additional full-time local staff. This flexibility allows you to scale your operations in line with demand, providing both the depth and resilience needed to thrive in today's competitive market.
The limited scale of many medium-sized Kiwi firms can hinder their ability to build a robust and resilient workforce. However, by strategically leveraging remote employees, you can overcome these limitations, ensuring your business is well-equipped to handle both everyday operations and unforeseen challenges. Avant People can help you design and execute a strategy to seamlessly integrate remote workers into your team, ensuring your business remains resilient and poised for growth.