“The brain drain.” It sounds like some sort
of comic book villain’s evil superpower. And, in reality, that description isn’t far off; it’s the evil superpower of large cities.
The brain drain occurs when rural areas are sapped of their local talent. Individuals who live in non-metropolitan areas often need to leave their hometowns in order to find jobs they love. In the process, many give up a low cost of living and a high quality of life in order to work in polluted, densely populated metropolitan areas.
However, there is a way to combat the brain drain. It’s called rural sourcing. Today’s blog post will explain rural sourcing and the benefits associated with it.
What is rural sourcing?
Rural sourcing, also called domestic sourcing, is shifting work to North American locations where salaries and operating expenses are lower, providing high quality, proximal labor at a lower cost. Frequently cited as an alternative to offshore sourcing, rural sourcing is an efficient and cost-effective way to complete projects on time with both a minimum of error and communication delay.
The Benefits of Rural Sourcing
1. Low cost, high quality services
As the cost of living is lower in many of these non-metropolitan areas, companies can pay their technologists/consultants a lower rate. This is not to say that their work is of any less quality than that of metropolitan workers; it’s the same quality. The rate simply reflects the cost of living in the area.
2. Ease of Communication
With rural sourcing, there are no communication issues or language barriers – a common problem with offshore outsourcing. In most cases, English is the rural technologist’s primary language. Nothing is lost in translation.
3. ‘Overnight’ propositions for offshore teams can be done same-day
Need something done in a hurry? With India and China being in a different time zone than America, ‘overnight’ propositions may not be completed in a timely manner. With rural sourcing, this isn’t the case; everyone’s on the same time zone or close to it.
How does rural sourcing combat brain drain?
Providing work for talented technical individuals in non-metropolitan areas allows them to stay where they are. This is appealing for many people who cherish the high quality of life and low cost of living associated with being in a non-metropolitan area 619roofing.com. They don’t have to fight traffic or rent cramped apartments. Instead, they can enjoy a short commute, outdoor activities, and home ownership. The local technical talent stays local because there are local jobs.
Rural sourcing does much more than combat brain drain. It helps communities that would otherwise be struggling to stay afloat go to this site. As talented individuals stay in the community, eating at local restaurants and buying properties, the local economy flourishes. Rural sourcing combats brain drain while boosting the economies of non-metropolitan communities.
Conclusion:
Rural sourcing has many perks for both companies and their workers. On the one hand, it ensures that companies are quickly getting high quality technical services. On the other hand, it allows workers to live in areas with a high quality life where they stay close to family or friends. It’s a win-win for everyone. How often can you say that in corporate America?
What are your thoughts on rural sourcing? Have you worked for a company that does domestic sourcing? What were your experiences? Let us know about them below in the comments section or on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!
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Thanks to harwoobe for the use of their respective photographs.
