Homesourcing is a term that describes the hiring of people who work from their home instead of in an office or other business place. It is an alternative to outsourcing, which involves engaging another company that provides workers to perform a task or project (see also Small office/home office).

Homesourcing refers to hiring employees or engaging independent contractors. Homesourced workers are sometimes required to come to an office for training from time-to-time.

In the USA some of the major companies that have employed homesourcing personnel include Office Depot, JetBlue Airways and UnitedHealth Group. The companies benefit because homesourcing can reduce the stress on facilities, telephone systems and computer systems, which can reduce expenses for these organizations.

Positions that are frequently homesourced include lead generation, sales, accounting and customer service.

Advantages of homesourcing

• Worker preference – homesourced workers often need to work from home or strongly prefer to work from home. They appreciate this opportunity, and therefore are loyal.

• Reduced costs for the employer as homesourced workers often provide their own telephone equipment and computer systems.

• Using homesourced workers that are local to the area where they are calling precludes the prejudice that is sometimes created from regional accents, mannerisms and rates of speech.

• Possible tax advantages for the worker using part of their home for business purposes.

External links

• Outsourcing out, homesourcing in
• Working at home pays off for firms
• Georgia State University Homesourcing Research Site

References

• The World Is Flat