Understanding Outsourcing
Why outsource? Why Patra? These are two of the best questions we're asked. Below we've mapped some of the concerns we hear and how we can help overcome the challenges of outsourcing.
Questions about Outsourcing
Status Quo:
We’ve always been able to complete our back office production in-house.
Why Patra: While that may be true now, we know that the pressure is always on from both your clients and carriers to provide more service for the same cost. Our scalable services and solutions allow agencies to comfortably grow while providing the highest quality of service to your clients. We extend your staff’s ability to produce more in a shorter time and at a lower cost.
Complexity:
We have too many systems that are specific to our brokerage. It’s not feasible to outsource.
Why Patra: Patra personnel access your systems directly using remote-access tools just like one of your remote employees. We work real-time with your staff or during the night on the same systems for seamless execution of your back-office production.
Management Challenges:
I don't want to be seen as the "bad guy," laying off workers for a cheaper overseas workforce.
Why Patra: Most Patra clients haven’t downsized as a result of our solutions. They’ve grown. With more time to focus on building and nurturing client relationships, Patra has proven to be a growth strategy. The goal isn’t to cut staff; it’s to redeploy them to higher value roles.
Efficiency:
A day’s work is a day’s work. How can you say you can help me get my work done more efficiently or quicker than I could, or than other remote staffing firms?
Why Patra: We won’t say that our specialists work faster or harder than your staff. The Patra difference is in our focus. Our staff is focused on specific functions. Before-and-after analysis with our clients has shown that this focused production is more efficient due to less interruptions. And unlike other outsourcing firms, our 24-hour schedule means faster production, which increases your efficiency.
Questions about Risk
Time:
My business needs to provide timely paperwork to my clients. I can’t be waiting on a vendor to get me what I need. I need the ability to get overflow work done during my peak periods while meeting the same deadlines.
Why Patra: Patra’s insurance specialists work 24-hours a day at our international service centers, giving you the speed you need while delivering consistently accurate production. Our “specialist model” allows us to allocate a team of specific resources when you need them – meaning you pay for the time we spend on your production, not idle time. When you need extended resources, you won’t pay a premium.
This flexibility allows Patra to provide the same fast service for your documents, regardless of your workload.
Cost:
We can’t afford to outsource.
Why Patra: You probably can’t afford NOT to outsource. Our clients have lowered their labor costs by up to 60% without losing productivity. With a potential cost savings of 1-2% of total gross revenue, Patra is the choice that saves.
Control:
My client relationships are sacred. I need to know what’s going on at every moment.
Why Patra: Patra’s web-based workflow management system is unique to the industry. We work directly within your existing IT framework, following the security controls you set up. And with Patra's exclusive dashboard you have visibility to everything we are working on for you, giving you real-time control over the process 24-hours a day.
Risk:
One mistake can have huge repercussions for my business and my clients, I can't take that risk.
Why Patra: Patra's accuracy is so respected by clients that our two most popular services are Checking Policies and the issuing Certificates of Insurance. Catching errors early is the most effective way to reduce your business risk.
The Outsourcing Marketplace
Location:
I’ve heard some things about working with India that make me nervous. And isn’t China the hot new spot for outsourcing.
Why Patra: Despite all the hype, India remains the preferred destination for Business Process Outsourcing. China is growing as an outsource partner, but remains largely a manufacturing destination rather than business service hub.
As a result of decades of British rule, English is commonly taught and spoken in India.
India is a stable base of operations with a strong central government with close ties to the US. American business practices and culture are well understood and adhered to in India. For years, there has been a strong flow of immigrants to and from India, reducing the culture gap. With easy travel between countries, it’s common for Indians to travel to and from the United States, thereby reducing the culture gap even more.
Pricing:
By outsourcing, I know I’ll save a lot off my top line; but is there a big difference in savings between Patra and other remote staffing firms? Won't I be getting the same work for the same price in the end?
Why Patra: Patra's proven solutions can provide substantial savings over keeping your production in-house, and our pricing makes Patra at least 20% less expensive than other outsourcing firms.
Our specialist model saves you on its own with the increased efficiency and accuracy you’ll get from an expert performing your work.
That said, a decision this important to your business shouldn’t be based simply on hourly rate. The real savings comes in the peace of mind, efficiency and trust you’ll have when you choose Patra.
Specialist Model:
I’m not sure if it’s better to have a team doing my work or a dedicated staff person.
Why Patra: With Patra you’ll have both. A dedicated account manager based in the U.S. that is intimate with your systems and business will be responsible for reporting to you on a regular basis and addressing any challenges.
Additionally, your account manager will manage teams of insurance specialists trained on the specific services you’ve contracted with Patra. That way, there will always be someone available to work on your account, and you don’t run the risk that your dedicated staff person is out sick or on vacation.
We believe our specialist model best addresses our client's needs. All of your work is high-priority. Patra's model allows us to work on your service needs in parallel whereas a staff person can only perform one function at a time.
Experience:
I need a partner that understands the Insurance landscape, my business and my client’s needs.
Why Patra: Patra was founded by professionals that saw a need to address the rising labor costs and inefficiencies of production. Since then, we’ve been focused on hiring only the best. From our leadership team to our staff in India, Insurance is a way of life.
Our implementation team has more than 30 years of insurance industry and operations experience. They have performed every function in a brokerage and can relate to your business challenges.
Our operations leaders are both industry experts and accomplished entrepreneurs that know that your business relies on the relationships you've built with your clients through trust and excellence.
