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In-house Hiring vs Outsourcing A Smarter Way to Manage Digital & IT Services in China
When a foreign company starts or expands operations in China, one of the first questions is often:
Should we hire full-time staff, or outsource digital and IT services?
At first glance, hiring an in-house designer or IT engineer may seem like the safest option. They work on-site, report directly to you, and appear fully integrated into your organization.
However, in practice, full-time hiring in China often brings hidden costs, management complexity, and operational risks, especially for foreign-invested companies.
The Hidden Cost of Full-time Hiring
1. Recruitment & Retention Challenges
Finding qualified and reliable talent is time-consuming.
Assessing real technical ability, ensuring cultural fit, and retaining staff long-term can be difficult—particularly in design and IT roles where turnover is high.
2. Fixed Costs & Low Utilization
A full-time employee must be paid regardless of workload.
In reality, many companies do not require 8 hours of design or IT work every day, yet still carry the full salary, benefits, and management cost.
3. Management & Dependency Risks
Who manages the technical work quality?
What happens during sick leave, holidays, or resignation?
How do you ensure continuity and documentation?
For IT roles in particular, knowledge loss when a staff member leaves can be a serious risk.
4. Tools, Software & Infrastructure
Full-time staff require licensed software, hardware, security tools, and ongoing upgrades—adding further cost and complexity.
Outsourcing with howvi: A Practical Alternative
howvi provides outsourced Digital, Web, and Managed IT services specifically designed for foreign companies operating in China.
We operate from Chengdu and Guangzhou, and support clients nationwide through a combination of remote services and on-site support when required.
Our Outsourced Services
1. Graphic Design & Digital Design Outsourcing
Instead of hiring an in-house designer, you gain access to a stable design team that can support:
Website visuals & UI design
Product and marketing graphics
Online and offline corporate materials
Long-term, flexible design support without employee turnover risk
You get continuity, consistency, and scalability, without managing individuals.
2. Website Development & Web Solutions
We support foreign companies with:
Corporate website development
Landing pages and campaign pages
Ongoing website maintenance and updates
Secure hosting and performance optimization
Outsourcing allows you to scale development work based on real business needs—without long-term staffing commitments.
3. Managed IT Services (MSP)
Hiring a full-time IT engineer in China is often expensive and inefficient for non-tech companies.
With howvi Managed IT, we can manage part or all of your IT environment:
Servers, networks, computers, WiFi, printers
User support (remote-first, with on-site when needed)
IT maintenance, troubleshooting, and system stability
Support for offices and factories
Our model provides fast response, reduced risk, and predictable operations, without the burden of internal IT management.
Why Foreign Companies Choose Outsourcing
Lower and more predictable costs
No recruitment or turnover risk
Access to broader technical expertise
Flexible service scope (scale up or down anytime)
Clear service responsibility and documentation
Outsourcing allows your local China team to focus on core business, while specialists handle digital and IT operations.
Serving Foreign Companies Across China
howvi supports foreign-invested enterprises from Chengdu, Guangzhou, and across China nationwide.
Whether you are setting up a new office, managing an existing operation, or optimizing digital and IT workflows, we aim to be a long-term, reliable partner rather than just a vendor.
Talk to Us
If you are evaluating alternatives to full-time hiring for design, web, or IT roles in China, we would be happy to understand your situation and discuss a suitable solution. Just add wechat for a free consultation today! wechat id: howvi6
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