Leave it to the experts – the value of outsourcing
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 6th September 2023
Outsourcing is big business. From its emergence in the 1970s, when companies began to look for ways to shift peripheral processes away from their core business,[i] its success as an operational strategy has flourished. Seven out of ten British businesses now outsource to third parties.[ii] Globally, 45% of companies have expanded their outsourcing plans since the pandemic, especially in areas where they need specific skillsets at short notice.[iii]
Reasons for outsourcing vary. It can be a money-saving measure for some businesses; a way to improve operational efficiency for others.[iv] Whatever the reason, outsourcing can be an effective strategy, particularly for dental practices. Numerous aspects of a practice can be outsourced, from accounting to human resources; marketing to equipment maintenance. If expert knowledge and skills are required, there is very likely an outsourcing solution available.
What’s in it for your practice?
The advantages of outsourcing are manifold for dental practices. Specialist third-party companies will almost certainly have negotiated preferential rates within their own supplier network which could result in savings for your practice. If your outsourcing arrangement involves paying a monthly amount for maintenance support, this can make your own budgeting more predictable: being able to factor in regular outgoing costs eliminates the risk of sudden and unexpected repair charges.
Flexibility can be another benefit of outsourcing. If your practice experiences peaks or dips in demand for certain services, your third-party company should be able to scale their provision up or down in response to your requirements. Hiring equipment rather than purchasing outright should reap similarly fluid rewards, having specialist machinery upgraded when newer models become available, for instance. Outsourcing to a company with expert knowledge in their field means you are likely to have access to better grade equipment than if you negotiated terms with a manufacturer yourself.
What to consider
If you have made the decision to outsource an area of your practice to a third-party company, the next logical step is to carry out research into the area. Careful consideration of your priorities is crucial when it comes to finding a company offering a service that is fit for your needs. Full and up-to-date compliance with relevant health and safety requirements is critical, as ultimate accountability in this area lies with the practice owner.[v] Cost, of course, is a vital factor. As is value – what is the company offering in terms of expertise, availability, equipment provision and technical support compared to its competitors?
You will effectively be a client of the company you outsource to. They should, therefore, offer a level of customer service that meets your practice’s needs and expectations. This can be measured by their understanding of your requirements as well their reliability, speed of response and transparency. Searching for objective reviews from past clients on independent feedback sites is an excellent way to gauge the quality of service a company offers and their good standing within their industry. Word of mouth can be a useful indicator, too: asking colleagues or associates from other dental practices if they would recommend any companies they have worked with may be surprisingly fruitful.
Operational back-up
The provision and maintenance of equipment essential to the operation of your dental practice can be ideal for outsourcing. For example, the air compressor that powers the handpieces fundamental to a dentist’s work plays an indispensable role in the surgery. If the air compressor shuts down, so does the practice. This necessitates rescheduling appointments, which means inconvenience for patients, additional work for your team and, ultimately, lost revenue for your practice. Outsourcing dental air supply units and maintenance to a dedicated, specialist company protects against this risk.
The Air to the Chair package from Dental Air is just £5 per chair, per week. For this, Dental Air will supply, install and support ultra-quiet, easy-to-use units that provide 100% medical grade, oil-free and bacteria-free air. Next-day delivery and installation is included, along with 24hr breakdown support and all necessary certification.
Regardless of the size, location or speciality of your practice, one thing is certain: your team are busy with demands on their time from many directions. Outsourcing an operational area of your practice can generate considerable benefits for you – not least freeing up your valuable time as the support and expertise in the outsourced area is provided by someone else. This allows you to focus on other areas, ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the practice and develop plans for the future.
For more information, please visit www.dentalair.com
[i] Corbett M F. Economist.com. The outsourcing revolution why it makes sense and how to do it right. 2004. Available at: https://www.economist.com/media/globalexecutive/outsourcing_revolution_e_02.pdf Accessed March 28, 2023.
[ii] Sooprayen R. YouGov.com article. Economy & Business. October 24, 2019. Available at: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/economy/articles-reports/2019/10/24/seven-ten-british-businesses-outsource-third-parti. Accessed March 28, 2023.
[iii] Carter R. The Ultimate List of Outsourcing Statistics (2023). FindStack.com article. Updated March 17, 2023. https://findstack.com/resources/outsourcing-statistics/. Accessed March 28, 2023.
[iv] Sooprayen R. YouGov.com article. Which services are businesses most likely to outsource? YouGov analysis of how small, medium, and large firms use external suppliers. PDF document created October 2019. Available at: https://commercial.yougov.com/rs/464-VHH-988/images/UK-Outsourcing.pdf?mkt_tok=NDY0LVZISC05ODgAAAGDLQMLDem27kBL0ph1ns5wUA534pLPfZaQ8OktMnVXWBuTUk5C4U2vCMvyL83chovzcUM4xxk2kWe_o0WkneACEq0gLFUHWG14dCZX9-zg#:~:text=However%2C%20the%20data%20shows%20that,to%2012%25%20of%20large%20businesses. Accessed March 28, 2023.
[v] General Dental Council. Standards for the Dental Team document. Standard 6.3.1. Available at:
