SME Outsourcing | IT, Web, Marketing and Back Office

Last updated: November 11, 2026

Outsourcing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) means handing work such as IT support, website management, digital marketing, back-office data entry, ERP support or process automation to a specialised partner instead of hiring for every role. For an SME the logic is simple: you get access to skills you would not hire full-time, pay only for what you use, and keep management time for customers and sales. This page explains typical SME problems, which work can be outsourced, the compliance topics involved, delivery and engagement models, how to start, example KPIs, pricing factors, where to begin, risks and a partner checklist.

Typical SME challenges

One person, many hats: the “IT person” also handles purchasing, the website and the printer, and nothing is documented.
Not enough work for a full-time specialist: you need a marketing specialist, a system administrator and an ERP expert, but each only a few days a month.
Dependency on one freelancer or acquaintance: when that person is unavailable, the business stops.
Compliance pressure: data protection, e-invoicing and security requirements keep growing, also for small companies.
Growth without overhead: new channels, new markets and new software arrive faster than you can hire.

Work SMEs can outsource

Area	Typical roles	Scope	Tools (examples)
IT support	Help desk and system administrators	User support, devices, Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace, backups	Remote support tools, M365, Google Workspace
Website management	Web developers, content editors	Updates, security patches, content, performance	WordPress, Shopify, CMS tools
Digital marketing	SEO, ads and social media specialists	Campaigns, content calendar, reporting	Google Ads, Meta Ads, GA4
Back office and data entry	Back-office specialists	Order entry, catalogue updates, document processing	ERP, spreadsheets, CRM
ERP and accounting software support	ERP consultants	User support, reports, small customisations	Common SME ERP systems
Process automation	RPA and integration developers	Automating repetitive tasks and integrations	RPA tools, APIs, low-code platforms
Customer service	Support agents	Phone, email, chat and WhatsApp handling	Helpdesk and CRM tools

Compliance topics relevant to SMEs

Topic	In short	Link to the outsourced service
Data protection (KVKK in Türkiye, GDPR in the EU/UK)	Personal data must be processed lawfully and securely	Processor agreement, access control, data minimisation
E-invoicing and e-archive (Türkiye)	Electronic invoices for companies within scope	Integration and operations support
Information security basics	Backups, passwords, updates, endpoint protection	Part of a managed IT support scope
Employment law	Outsourcing must not be disguised employment	Clear service scope; staff managed by the provider
Sector rules	Health, finance, food and others have specific rules	Scope aligned with your sector obligations

The team operates in Türkiye under the Turkish rules listed; the rules in your own country apply as well.

KOSGEB and other public support

Turkish SMEs may be able to use KOSGEB or other public programmes for certain software, digitalisation or consultancy costs. Eligibility depends on the programme and its current rules; check with the programme or your adviser before you plan on support. SMEs elsewhere should look at their own national or EU digitalisation programmes.

Delivery models: remote, on-site, hybrid

Model	How it works	When it suits an SME
Remote	Support and work delivered from our Istanbul office	Most digital work, IT help desk, marketing, back office
On-site	Specialists at your premises on agreed days	Hardware, networks, training
Hybrid	Remote daily, on-site when needed	Companies with an office and remote-capable work

Engagement models

Model	What it means	SME example
Managed service	A defined service with SLAs for a monthly fee	IT support for all employees
Part-time dedicated specialist	A named specialist for a set number of days	Marketing specialist two days a week
Staff augmentation	A specialist joins your team for a period	ERP expert during a software change
Project	A fixed scope delivered once	New website or an automation project

Process: how we start

Step	Content	Typical duration
Initial call	Your needs, current set-up, priorities	Same week
Assessment	Inventory of systems, accounts and pain points	A few days
Proposal	Scope, team, SLAs, contract	About 1 week
Onboarding	Access, documentation, contact points	Within 1–2 weeks
Quick wins	Backups, security basics, urgent fixes	First weeks
Regular operation	Monthly report and review meeting	Ongoing

Example SLAs and KPIs

Indicator	Explanation	Why it matters
First response time	Time until someone responds to a request	Employees are not left waiting
Resolution time	Time until the issue is solved	Downtime costs money
Backup success rate	Share of successful backups checked	Protects against data loss
Website uptime	Availability of your site	Lost visitors mean lost sales
Campaign reporting	Monthly results against agreed goals	Marketing spend is controlled
Error rate in data entry	Share of sampled records with errors	Clean data for invoices and stock

Pricing factors

Method	How it works	Fit for SMEs
Monthly package	Fixed fee for a defined scope	Predictable budget for IT support or website care
Per user or device	Fee per supported user or device	Growing teams
Hours or days per month	Agreed time budget for a specialist	Marketing, ERP support
Fixed project price	One price for a defined project	Websites, automations, migrations
Per unit	Per document, order or record	Back-office volumes

The price depends on the number of users and locations, required response times, on-site visits, languages and tools. We prepare an offer after a short assessment; no prices are listed here.

Where to start: a priority order for SMEs

Security and backups: make sure data and accounts are protected.
IT support: give employees one reliable contact point.
Website and online presence: keep the site secure, updated and fast.
Back office: remove repetitive data entry from key staff.
Marketing and automation: grow with measurable campaigns and automated workflows.

Employee, freelancer and outsourcing partner compared

Criterion	Employee	Freelancer / acquaintance	Outsourcing partner
Cost structure	Fixed salary and overhead	Low, irregular	Monthly fee, scalable
Skill range	One profile	One profile	Many specialists
Availability	Holidays, sick leave	Uncertain	Backup and replacement process
Documentation	Often missing	Rare	Part of the service
Scaling	Hiring needed	Limited	From 1 to 200+ people

Risks and safeguards

Risk	Safeguard
Losing access to your own systems	Admin accounts and passwords stay in your name; documented access list
Unclear scope and surprise bills	Written scope, monthly report, approval for extra work
Data protection breaches	Processor agreement, least-privilege access
Dependency on one person at the vendor	Team coverage and replacement process
Difficult exit	Exit and handover clause in the contract

Security, GDPR/KVKK, NDA and intellectual property

Your accounts, domains and licences stay registered to your company. We work with named accounts, document what we change, and hand over all documentation if the contract ends. Websites, code and content created for you belong to you.

Contract note for EU, UK, US and MENA buyers: 360 Soft works under a B2B service agreement with your company. The standard package includes an NDA signed before any data is shared, assignment of intellectual property in deliverables and source code to the client on payment, and a data processing agreement (DPA) under the GDPR with the EU Standard Contractual Clauses for transfers to Türkiye (the UK IDTA or Addendum for UK data). As a Turkish company we also comply with KVKK, the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law. Team members are employed by 360 Soft under Turkish labour law; you direct the work through agreed channels, not as their employer. This is general information, not legal advice; have your own counsel review the contract.

Partner selection checklist for SMEs

Is the scope written down, including what is not included?
Do admin accounts, domains and licences remain in your company’s name?
Are response times and a monthly report part of the contract?
Is there a backup person when your main contact is away?
Can the partner cover several areas (IT, web, marketing, back office) so you deal with one provider?
Is there a reasonable notice period and a handover plan?

Illustrative scenario

Illustrative scenario, not a client case: a 40-person wholesale company relies on one external acquaintance for IT, an outdated website and manual order entry. It moves to a monthly IT support package with backups and security basics, a website care plan, and a back-office specialist who enters orders into the ERP. After three months, a small automation project removes most manual re-typing between the web shop and the ERP. The owner receives one monthly report covering all services.

Frequently asked questions

Are we too small for outsourcing?

No. Outsourcing often suits small companies best, because you can buy a few days of a specialist instead of a full-time hire.

Can we outsource our entire IT support?

Yes. User support, devices, email, backups and security basics can be covered by a managed IT support service.

Can we use KOSGEB support for outsourcing services?

Some KOSGEB or public programmes may cover certain costs for eligible Turkish SMEs; check the current programme rules with the programme or your adviser.

How much will we pay per month?

It depends on users, scope and response times. We send an offer after a short assessment; we do not publish fixed prices.

How do we switch from our current IT provider?

We document your systems and accounts, agree a handover date with the current provider and take over step by step.

Do you help with e-invoice and e-archive integration?

Yes, we can support integration and operational questions for e-invoicing in Türkiye.

Is data protection compliance included?

We work under a processor agreement and apply security controls. Your own compliance obligations, such as policies and registrations, remain with you, though we can support them.

Do you provide on-site support?

Yes, on-site and hybrid support can be agreed where needed.

Is staff leasing the same as outsourcing?

No. In outsourcing we deliver a defined service and manage our staff; staff leasing places people under your direction and has different legal rules.

How long is the contract?

Terms are agreed per service; we use reasonable notice periods and a handover plan.

Can we also get digital marketing from the same provider?

Yes, digital marketing, website management and IT support can be combined with one provider.

What if we are not happy with the service?

We review the service monthly; if issues remain, the contract allows you to end it with a handover of all documentation.

Talk to us

Want one reliable partner for IT, web, marketing or back office? Tell us about your company and we will suggest where to start. Call or WhatsApp us on +90 850 335 10 87, email info@360-soft.com, message us directly on WhatsApp, or use the form on our contact page. 360 Soft Marketing Yazılım ve Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti., Nidakule Ataşehir Batı, Barbaros Mah. Begonya Sk. No:1 D:2, 34746 Ataşehir/İstanbul.

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