Every day, there’s a huge percentage of non-English speaking internet users online. While language barriers are not exactly an issue in the virtual world these days due to web translation services and applications, language barriers and culture might have an effect in the outsourcing business.

Outsourcing has turned into a business which rakes in billions every year due to its advantages. It allows small businesses to thrive by offering cost-effective solutions and quality work. However, if largely English-speaking company settles on outsourcing tasks with the help of a foreign company whose first language is not English—one begins to think whether the differences in language and culture will bring about issues.

For specific outsourcing assignments like customer service, writing and transcription tasks, familiarity in the language plays an important role since those jobs require the understanding and the effortless use and speaking of everyday terms.

Common Language Barrier Issues in Outsourcing

• Calls

Customer service requires personnel who are adept with the language and are able to articulate it fluently. If the call was attended by a representative who is not that familiar with the language or cannot speak it properly, then the customer will find it confusing and at worst, irritating to be accommodated by personnel who is not that well-versed in his native tongue.

• Emails

Virtual assistants and customer service personnel should be capable of taking quotes or feedback from clients. They must also be able to understand written instructions clearly and respond to customers with accuracy and intelligibility.

• Written content/copy

Copywriting entails the expertise of skilled individuals who not only have a flair for writing, but have mastered the language and can breeze through copy and written content like a pro. When it comes to copywriting and writing content for clients’ websites, one must understand the services, demographics and the objectives of his or her client’s business.

Thus in order to avoid confusion and issues with your outsourcing team, choose qualified individuals wisely. Select a company who has native-speaker fluency of the language. While the company does need to have the technical knowledge in order to handle company responsibilities, you will be obligated to talk to them about updates and unexpected matters. Keep away from misunderstandings due to language and cultural disparities.

Guarantee that your chosen outsourcing company is aware of those issues that can crop up and is more than ready to deal with them. With a dependable offshore company, language and culture will never be major issues.

Thankfully though, there are plenty of outsourcing companies with skilled teams and talents who are highly capable of managing clients’ tasks from administrative ones, creative matters, and even the more technical stuff. All you need to do is choose smartly and go for ones who are fluent in the language and share the same values as yours.

Offshoring some of your job responsibilities can be simple, affordable and will help you save time so you can attend to important business needs. However, always keep in mind that like all things in this world, you need to be wise about your selections and commit to the practice fully in order to have a successful team.