Right-shoring: global minds, local impacts

Fernando Henrique Silva at CI&T explains the right-shoring advantage

 

Economic volatility and recent supply chain disruptions have forced companies to rethink their strategies around resilience and cost-effectiveness. Right now, nearly three-quarters of FTSE 100 companies view supply chain threats as their principal risks, highlighting the need for a shift in traditional business models. 

 

For many, the answer is "right-shoring" — a relatively new concept that involves relocating business processes and components to the most suitable location to maximise profits and lower costs, all whilst preserving the quality of services. This also includes placing and hiring people in the best locations to drive innovation and creativity to better serve the business. Right-shoring offers a range of advantages, including increased cost savings, innovation, and competitive edge.

 

At CI&T, we see that building teams across regions allows us to tap into a broader array of skills, perspectives, and experiences that elevate creativity and problem-solving. But these benefits are only achievable if we approach right-shoring in a way that safeguards our company culture and alignment.

 

So, the question becomes: how can we successfully right-shore to build a thriving global workforce without losing our cultural identity?

 

A changing global workforce

First, we must acknowledge the transformations within the workforce itself. The pandemic redefined what we thought possible for remote work, and advancements in digital tools have made global collaboration more feasible than ever. An expanding pool of talent in countries like Brazil and Colombia means companies now have greater access to skills across the globe. And it all adds up to right-shoring seeing a boost in popularity. 

 

With many industries facing acute skills shortages at home, ManpowerGroup reports that three-quarters (75%) of employers are struggling to fill vacancies. Right-shoring provides a path to skilled professionals beyond domestic markets. This is likely why another 75% of businesses see flexibility in work locations as a competitive advantage, and essential to their talent strategies. 

 

Right-shoring allows businesses not only to fill these vacancies but also to place talent strategically where it’s both accessible and cost-effective. For example, a UK-based start-up in need of AI experts may struggle to compete locally for high-demand, high-cost specialists, especially against larger firms. By establishing a right-shored remote team in tech-centric cities like Lisbon, the start-up can access skilled talent at a more sustainable cost, while also strengthening its presence in those markets.

 

This approach allows companies to build a global workforce that balances quality and efficiency without compromising operational goals. One of right-shoring’s great strengths is its ability to bring diverse perspectives together. By blending regional teams from various backgrounds, we create an environment where innovation can flourish. At CI&T, our own right-shoring approach combines our Brazilian heritage with insights from our global partners — and the key to doing this successfully is maintaining a cohesive culture.

 

Collaboration and strong management

While right-shoring offers many advantages, realising these benefits requires strong management, discipline, and a collaborative mindset to maintain a shared sense of purpose across borders.

 

We have recently seen significant increases in global collaboration, powered by the 75% of our employees who now incorporate AI into their daily work. This has led to noticeable changes. In marketing, for example, content production is now 62.5% faster, and costs for tasks like translation, image generation, and video production have dropped by up to 95%. This synergy of technology and collaboration demonstrates how diverse perspectives can drive meaningful change and operational improvement.

 

The key challenge in right-shoring is maintaining a unified company culture across time zones. A strong cultural framework is key, supporting the hiring process and helping to instil shared values. Establishing cultural norms, values, and communication guidelines — both domestically and in right-shored locations — fosters cohesion, while training on communication styles, business etiquette, and regional sensitivities strengthens alignment.

 

Some companies have adopted “passport programmes” to bridge regional gaps, allowing employees to travel to international offices and experience local cultures firsthand. These initiatives foster strong interpersonal connections and reinforce a shared identity across locations, benefiting both employees and the broader organisation.

 

Not without its challenges

Despite right-shoring’s many benefits, the practice comes with challenges that need to be addressed. Maintaining secure data practices across regions is a top priority — especially when working with AI. At CI&T, we employ measures such as masking personally identifiable information (PII) to ensure secure cross-border collaboration.

 

Time zone differences, while presenting some logistical challenges, can be effectively managed through strategic team sourcing. By selecting high-quality teams with some overlap in working hours, we ensure not only seamless collaboration but also the opportunity for team members to connect for 3 to 4 hours each day. This overlap fosters a strong team culture and enhances responsiveness and business continuity, creating a ’handover’ system that brings us closer to operating 24 hours a day.

 

Undoubtedly, right-shoring is a powerful solution for businesses aiming to build resilience and grow in a changing world. But it goes beyond cost savings, enabling us all to gain a strategic edge over our competitors while building an innovative, culturally cohesive workforce. 

 

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Fernando Henrique Silva is SVP Digital Solutions, EMEA at CI&T. CI&T FLOW is an enterprise-ready AI platform that integrates AI agents with human workflows, to boost productivity, quality, and speed

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and ArtemisDiana