Success Story

 

Mention the word "outsourcing" and people think of domestic jobs heading to foreign shores. For Goodwill Industries, however, outsourcing means providing affordable, quality labor for American companies while providing good jobs for Americans who want to work.

Case in point - Orbograph, a leading provider of recognition solutions for the banking industry, needed personnel to perform outsourced work using APEX®, a secure and effective Internet-based solution for performing critical image recognition, data entry and data repair functions for banks.

Goodwill Industries Inc., Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, had people ready and willing to accept the work.

"Instead of bringing people to work, we could bring work to people," says Marc Moschetto, Orbograph Director of Marketing and Communications. "We knew we could offer something unique and wanted to team up with an organization that is dedicated to helping people find employment, learn new job skills or join/rejoin the workforce. Goodwill is a natural fit."

Today, four members of Goodwill's "Welfare-to-Work" program perform data completion tasks for Orbograph customers. "It's a true 'win-win' situation," Moschetto adds. "Businesses using APEX are able to recognize substantial cost savings by outsourcing the work. Goodwill can offer a unique tool for helping individuals learn new job skills and earn a good wage. And, Orbograph can extend a very positive U.S.-based alternative to offshore outsourcing."

"With nothing more than personal computers and an Internet connection, we're now able to create unprecedented work opportunities right here in the communities we serve," says Linda Kizzier, Goodwill's Director of Employment and Training. "APEX is ideal for learning work skills needed to succeed in the real world."

In fact, two of the four Goodwill keyers have progressed to the advanced level, which means their accuracy and read rate have exceeded expectations. Michaela Blackmon, one of Goodwill's keyers, says, "Orbograph has made me independent so I can support my family. I have improved my speed and advanced to better pay." Lisa Williams, another Goodwill keyer, says, "Working on the Orbograph project put me back in the workforce, increased my typing skills, and made me more detail oriented."

On working with Goodwill, Moshetto says, "The relationship with Goodwill is excellent and we hope to have an opportunity to grow and expand the program. The Omaha team is wonderful - knowledgeable, dedicated and open to new ideas - and they recognize how APEX can be used within their community."

Perhaps Orbograph General Manager Ori Sarid sums it up best. "Today's economy is a global economy; there's no escaping that fact. But making (outsourcing) beneficial for all parties requires striking a balance. Conduct business internationally while tending to responsibilities at home."

Source: Working! Winter 2005