Case study: engineering and infrastructure, Melbourne
Melbourne Engineering Consultancy Cuts Costs by 63% with Offshore Drafting, Engineering Support, and Finance
A Melbourne-based engineering and infrastructure consultancy improved delivery capacity, reduced hiring pressure, and freed up senior staff by building an offshore support team across drafting, engineering support, and finance.
Cost of a 12-person offshore team compared with local hires
- Cost savings vs local hires
- 63%
- Roles filled in 8 weeks
- 12
- Turnover in the first 180 days
- 0%
A Melbourne engineering consultancy cut costs by 63% compared with local hiring, filled 12 roles in eight weeks and recorded zero turnover in the first 180 days by building a Philippines-based team across drafting, engineering support and finance.
The firm delivers technical project support across drafting, engineering coordination, documentation and related financial workflows. Growing in a tight labour market, it couldn't hire locally fast enough to keep up with project demand.
It started with one offshore drafter, proved the model on live work, then scaled offshore engineering support to a 12-person team in four months.
The challenge: senior engineers buried in support work
Australian engineering firms face labour shortages, rising employment costs and faster project timelines. At this consultancy, senior engineers and leaders were spending too much time on work that mattered but didn't need their experience:
- Project documentation and drawing mark-ups
- Reporting
- Finance-related admin and follow-up
That time came out of design oversight, client management and commercial decisions. Local hiring was slow and expensive, and the cost of waiting kept growing.
Like many engineering leaders, the firm also had doubts. Engineering work can seem too technical, too context-heavy or too tied to Australian standards to support offshore, and the risk of quality issues or workflow disruption made the move feel uncertain.
The solution: one trial role, then a 12-person team
Instead of redesigning everything at once, the firm started small. In August 2024, it trialled one Philippines-based drafter through Staff X, in a focused, measurable role tied directly to live delivery.
The drafter turned around mark-ups faster than the local benchmark and worked effectively inside the firm's BIM environment. Because the first role worked, the business scaled quickly. By December 2024, the offshore team had grown to 12 people.
The offshore team took on
- Drafting and drawing mark-ups
- Engineering support
- Documentation
- Finance support
The Melbourne team kept
- Core technical leadership
- Design oversight
- Client relationships and project leadership
- Commercial decisions and growth planning
A team extension, not ad hoc outsourcing
The offshore team was set up as a real extension of the business, integrated into the firm's workflows, tools and operating rhythm. That added capacity without taking technical leadership away from the local team.
The results: 63% lower cost and faster delivery
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Roles filled | 12 in 8 weeks |
| Turnover in the first 180 days | 0% |
| Delivery speed | Faster, through a follow-the-sun workflow |
| Cost savings compared with local hires | 63% |
With the team working across time zones, a follow-the-sun model kept work moving between the Philippines and Melbourne. Most importantly, senior engineers and leaders got time back for client relationships, decision-making and growth planning.
Why the model worked
- It started with one focused, measurable role tied to live delivery
- The trial was proven inside the firm's real BIM environment before scaling
- The team was integrated into existing tools and workflows
- Technical leadership stayed with the Melbourne team
Is offshore engineering support right for your firm?
It tends to work best when:
- Senior engineers spend too much time on documentation, mark-ups and reporting
- Local hiring can't keep pace with project demand
- You can trial one role on live work before scaling
Read more about offshore CAD drafters and offshore staffing for engineering and construction firms.
See what an offshore engineering team could save your firm
If senior engineers are stuck on documentation, mark-ups and admin, start with one role. We'll help you choose where to begin and what it could save against local hiring.
Get Started With Confidence
When your platform is secure and your risk is managed, you can scale your marketing with total confidence. Offshore 24/7 secures that capital protection for you.
Michael C.
Web Dev
Karen P.
Real Estate VA
Ranilyn G.
Property Manager
Mary D.
Auditor & Accountant
What Our Clients Say About Us
Hundreds of Australian businesses have used Offshore 24/7 to hire offshore staff in the Philippines — from their first virtual assistant to full offshore departments. Here's what they say.
"Working with Offshore 24/7 has been a fantastic experience for us. We’ve brought five new team members on board through them, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Each of our new hires has shown a strong work ethic and fits in perfectly with our team. Ben and Jen, our go-to contacts, have been incredible throughout the entire process. They’re always just a call or email away and have been incredibly supportive and responsive. Their dedication really made the hiring process smooth and stress-free. If you’re looking for a reliable staffing partner, I strongly recommend Offshore 24/7. They’ve been a game-changer for us!"
Apartments Plus & The Property Business
"Working with Offshore 24/7 has been an outstanding experience for our company. Their professionalism and deep understanding of our needs led to the perfect placement of an exceptional staff member who has significantly contributed to our team's success. From the outset, Offshore 24/7 took the time to thoroughly understand our company culture and specific requirements. They provided a curated list of candidates, each of whom was not only highly qualified but also a great fit for our team. Their keen insight and attention to detail were evident throughout the recruitment process. Highly recommend the team at Offshore 24/7 when looking to place a staff member located overseas."
Aussie Property
"We were struggling to find a reliable lead generation partner until I discovered Offshore 247. Their team's expertise and dedication transformed our sales pipeline, within weeks, we saw a significant increase in qualified leads, resulting in substantial revenue growth, Offshore 247's professionalism, communication, and customized solutions exceeded my expectations, their ability to understand our unique needs and adapt their strategies accordingly has been invaluable, we highly recommend Offshore 247 to any business seeking efficient and effective lead generation solutions, their partnership has been a game-changer for our company."
My Business Plus
Get in Touch
Ready to scale your team?
Fill out the form and our team will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your virtual assistant needs. Let's find the perfect fit for your business.
Fast Response
We'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Tailored Matching
We hand-pick candidates for your specific needs.
