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Outsourcing has come a long way in recent years. What was once seen purely as a cost-cutting tactic has evolved into a powerful strategic lever for business growth. Today, smart companies are no longer outsourcing just to save money — they’re doing it to gain access to specialised talent, scale operations quickly, and stay competitive in fast-changing markets.
In this new landscape, outsourcing is about more than filling roles — it’s about building high-performing, culturally aligned teams that drive real outcomes. Whether it’s accelerating product development, unlocking new capabilities, or overcoming local talent shortages, outsourcing has become an essential part of how modern businesses grow.
In our recent webinar, The secret to scalable growth: why Vietnam is outsourcing’s next big thing, Jason Ritterman, Managing Director at Away Digital Teams and Shannon Tresider, Head of Technology at Detector Inspector, unpacked the evolution of outsourcing and why Vietnam is fast becoming a top destination for offshore teams. If you’re looking to scale, access hard-to-find talent, or simply want to future-proof your business with a more agile operating model, this conversation is a must-watch. In this blog, we’ve pulled together the key takeaways from the webinar.
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Outdated models are holding businesses back
Jason highlighted early in the discussion, many companies still approach outsourcing with the wrong mindset. “We understand it will cover your cost arbitrage,” he said, “but if that’s the only lens you’re looking through, you’re missing the bigger picture.”
Traditional outsourcing models tend to be rigid and overly focused on price – often at the expense of quality, integration, and long-term value. When they fail, it’s usually due to misalignment: poor communication, unclear expectations, or teams that feel disconnected from the business.
Outsourcing 2.0, by contrast, is about building high-performing, embedded teams that are treated as an extension of your core business. “We are not a large, generic outsourcing firm,” Jason explained. “We headhunt specific talent for our clients. Our focus is on customised recruitment that truly differentiates us from competitors.”
Vietnam: the quiet achiever of the outsourcing world
So why Vietnam? With so many outsourcing destinations to choose from, it’s a valid question.
“We landed on Vietnam for a few key reasons,” Jason said. “It has a strong pool of technical talent, a highly educated workforce, excellent English proficiency, and a time zone that aligns well with Australian working hours.”
But there’s more to it than that. Vietnam also offers long-term stability, low attrition rates, and a cultural affinity that makes integration easier. “What clients are telling us is that it just works,” Jason added. “The level of talent and dedication is high, and the teams quickly feel like part of the business.”
Detector Inspector’s success story: scaling with intent
One of the most compelling parts of the webinar came from Shannon, who shared Detector Inspector’s journey with offshore hiring. What began as a cautious trial soon became a core part of their team structure.
“To start with, we dipped our toe in the water,” Shannon explained. “We wanted to see what it was like before going all in. But once we saw the value, we scaled quickly.”
That growth wasn’t just about filling roles – it was about accelerating their roadmap. “The driving force was really about getting more work done and delivering faster. We needed high-quality engineers and couldn’t find them locally – offshore was the answer.”
Integration was key to success. Detector Inspector adjusted daily rituals to suit time zones, invested in onboarding, and clearly defined what success looked like. “All of our staff are still with us three years later – which is a real testament to the model,” Shannon said. “And culturally, the fit was there from the start. We had a really beautiful collaboration.”
Measuring success the right way
One of the big discussion points in the Q&A was how to measure performance in an offshore model. As Jason pointed out, the shift to remote and hybrid work has changed everything.
“Companies have now adopted remote working,” he said. “So measuring by presence or activity doesn’t make sense anymore. We measure on outcome-based deliverables – that’s where the value is.”
He also cautioned against rushing into outsourcing without a plan. “Too many companies go off and hire overseas without considering how that team is going to operate. If you don’t allow for spin-up time and proper onboarding, you’re not going to get the value you’re hoping for.”
Exploring smarter, more flexible ways to grow your team?
Outsourcing 2.0 isn’t about quick fixes – it’s about building a smarter, more scalable way of working. And Vietnam, with its talent-rich market and strong cultural alignment, is proving to be the ideal partner for many forward-thinking businesses.
Keen to hear the full conversation? Watch the complete webinar recording to dive deeper into why Vietnam is outsourcing’s next big thing – and how you can build offshore teams that truly deliver.
