Work is becoming increasingly borderless, and with that change comes exciting opportunities to reimagine how we structure our teams and operations. A common misconception is that outsourcing only works for large enterprises. In reality, businesses of any size can benefit from mindfulness outsourcing strategies and has a growing ecosystem of providers equipped to support small and mid-market companies.

As CEO of DOXA Talent, I have seen firsthand how companies are finding innovative ways to leverage global talent. Along the way, I've also identified 10 specialized roles that are surprisingly suitable for outsourcing. For insights into what makes them powerful in an offshore employment context and tips for successful implementation long distance partnerships work, read.

Related: 3 signs that outsourcing a business function will be more efficient than keeping it in-house

1. Exclusive onboarding specialists

These professionals handle the complex process of bringing new franchises into your system. As skilled specialists, they can manage documentation, coordinate training and track compliance remotely while ensuring consistent onboarding across countries.

2. Legal research assistants

The substantive legal work usually stays in-house, but these research assistants can handle case law research, document review, and preliminary drafts. This strategic separation allows your legal team to focus on high-value analysis and client interactions.

3. Computer Aided Designers (CAD)

Technical design work has become increasingly applicable to remote teams. With modern collaboration tools, CADs can work seamlessly with your engineers across borders, but still maintain your company's exact specifications.

4. AI engineers

Despite the complexity of AI, this highly technical work can be effectively managed through remote teams. of global talent pool for AI engineers is broad, often more accessible through outsourcing, and brings different perspectives for development.

5. Network operations center (NOC) technicians.

24/7 network monitoring and management can be handled extremely well by teams working in different time zones. This approach provides around-the-clock coverage without requiring night shifts at your local office.

Related: 7 Things You Should Outsource Right Away to Grow Your Business

6. Contract administrators

Contract management, including review, processing and maintenance, can be handled efficiently by professionals anywhere in the world. With the right expertise and the right systems in place, these specialists ensure contract consistency throughout the organization.

7. Executive assistants

These professionals can manage calendars, communications and complex projects regardless of their time zone. The key is finding experienced individuals with whom you have good chemistry and establishing clear processes for seamless collaboration.

8. Purchasing managers

With digital procurement systems, purchasing professionals can effectively manage vendor relations and supply chain operations globally. Modern tools enable them to negotiate contracts and oversee operations from anywhere in the world.

9. Medical billing specialists

Healthcare organizations are increasingly finding that billing operations can be managed remotely. With the right training and compliance measures, these specialists can efficiently handle claims processing and revenue cycle management.

10. Business development representatives

Outbound calls and analyst work can be effectively handled by remote teams. When focusing on lead generation and initial customer contact, these professionals can use technology to build strong prospect relationships across markets.

Make strategic outsourcing decisions

Now, whether you're looking to hire for one of the above roles or another, be strategic about what you want to outsource. The demands of physical proximity and the complexity of the job should influence your decision-making. I recommend starting by focusing on repeatable tasks with clear workflows. The more standardization at work, the easier it will be to transition to a remote team member, which, especially in the beginning, builds confidence in your outsourcing strategy.

In fact, first consider hiring an offshore resource that can help you create standard operating procedures (SOPs). This initial investment will allow you to document and standardize work effectively before increasing your investment. In my experience, if you can't clearly define and document a task, it probably isn't ready for outsourcing yet.

Related: What not to do when outsourcing

Choose your partner carefully

The offshoring industry is booming, with many companies entering the market and chasing the momentum like it's a gold rush – so don't be swayed by the lowest price or promises of faster implementation. I always remember that I am building an extension of my team that represents my company. Take the time to validate each potential offshore partners through customer reviews, BBB/Glassdoor ratings and direct reference checks.

A quality outsourcing partner should be transparent about operations, security measures and employee practices. When evaluating potential partners, look for a current employer of record that owns and monitors all hardware with robust cybersecurity practices (preferably SOC2 compliant). Make sure they demonstrate strong customer and employee satisfaction. I myself avoid long-term contracts – if I'm gaining value, I'll just stay.

Finally, keep in mind that outsourcing can create more opportunities for workers on the ground as well. At DOXA, we discovered that our international expansion actually increased the need for more managers, supervisors and trainers in-house. The additional margin provided investment capital to retain and grow large employees locally.

In other words, when done right, outsourcing is profitable. Companies gain access to worldwide talent while professionals, both global and local, get opportunities to build meaningful careers with forward-thinking organizations.