EKCS

EKCS is a global independent provider of quality design & marketing production services across different platforms of print, digital and video.

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How Allocating Time Wisely Boosts Creativity in In-House Agencies

Did you know that your in-house agency team can only be as creative as you give them time to be? It was Albert Einstein who said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” But these days, it’s all too easy to feel that there is little time to have fun and even less time to be creative!

Could in-house production be getting in the way of creativity? 

Today’s in-house agencies have become factories. Not only is the production volume an issue, but in-house agencies are often abused by departments wanting “free service.” Not to mention that not all projects are equal. Some have questionable impact or value but still consume creative bandwidth. It can be a case of who shouts the loudest or a battle of job titles.

In March 2024, EKCS surveyed creatives and leaders to explore how in-house agencies are experiencing overwork and burnout. Topping the list of main factors contributing to overwork was tight deadlines, cited by 27% of respondents.

Many challenges, including relentless demands (24%) and skills gaps/resources (16%) hinder creative output when working in-house. But the key challenge is time, or lack thereof.  Brands and in-house agencies are all trying to deliver exceptional experiences for customers, but 44% of in-house practitioners say the lack of time to be creative is a key internal barrier to marketing. That’s why IHAs and brands outsource their creative production to an offshore partner.

Can a work environment ever be creative?

Well, by freeing up time for creatives to do what they do best—be creative, a creative work environment is a real possibility. Creatives need to allocate enough time and energy for their work, but also for their rest and personal life.

Hybrid working options 

When British actor and Monty Python and Fawlty Towers star John Cleese spoke at Ogilvy Consulting’s Nudgestock event in London in 2021, he said that the ‘greatest killer of creativity is interruption.’ His session on ‘How to Become More Creative‘ spoke about the challenges of open-plan offices and the lack of space and time creatives have. Open offices are prone to distractions, which increase stress and decrease productivity. There is sometimes a built-in expectation that employees are always available for impromptu meetings and discussions.

In-house agency leaders can encourage the use of private workspaces when creatives need to focus. If you don’t have private workspaces where your team can go to focus or decompress, use signals like ‘do not disturb’ signs when needed, or schedule ‘no meeting hours’ to enable creatives to focus on elements of their job such as ideation.

Moreover, if creatives have hybrid working options, collaboration and teamwork can take place in the studio, while deep-thinking work, including writing and illustration, can take place remotely.

Tips for allocating time  

Try setting a time limit, a word limit, or one goal for your creative task. Try the pomodoro technique, as having constraints can ignite your creativity by forcing you to think outside the box.

Outsource production  

Would outsourcing creative production free up your team? Many creative leaders worry about the effect of outsourcing on staff. It’s not about trying to reduce headcount. Remember, creative production outsourcing is about enabling your staff to do more. Chances are they are consumed by production and, as a result, miss out on bigger creative projects. Creative production outsourcing can save time and enable your skilled in-house people to focus on their strengths: ideation, creativity, and design. What can be outsourced to free up time for the in-house team?

Set boundaries

Nowadays, teams are often in different locations and might work outside of traditional hours. However, the blurring of work and personal time is a source of job stress. One study has found that it is not just answering emails that increases employees’ anxiety; it is the expectation that they are available outside of work hours. To combat this, set guidelines and follow them.

Creativity within in-house agencies hinges on the allocation of time. By embracing strategies that prioritize focused work, such as setting task limits, outsourcing production, and establishing boundaries, it empowers teams to be more creative.

Every team member needs the opportunity to unleash their full creative potential without the constraints of overwork and burnout. Ultimately, it’s not just about managing time, but about managing energy and inspiration, allowing intelligence to have its fun.

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Making creative work better with outsourcing

Imagine if you could make creative work better, not just with more creative hands on deck, but with a whole new universe of creative possibilities. Yet, outsourcing creative production isn’t just delegation; it’s a key to unlocking that next level of innovation.

New levels of creativity

You probably have a highly skilled and creative team, but they don’t have time for everything. Outsourcing lets you tap into a diverse talent pool with specialized skills that might not be available in-house. Whether it’s artwork, video editing, banner resizing, or transcreation, external outsourcing partners can help you save time.

Cost efficiency and flexibility

With creative production outsourcing, you pay only for the services you need. This flexibility enables creative teams to scale operations based on project demands without compromising quality.

Focus on creativity

Does your talented graduate graphic designer want to resize print ads? Is your web developer excited each morning to create multiple banners? These talented creatives could be working on ideation and other creative elements.  By outsourcing routine creative tasks, you free up your in-house team to focus on strategic initiatives and creative. Teams can dedicate more time to ideation, creative work, and strategic planning, driving the business forward.

More time

Who wouldn’t jump at the chance for more time to focus on the big ideas? Those creative campaigns? By outsourcing creative production, you can do that. All while still hitting deadlines and staying ahead of the competition.

The perfect match

No one wants to be working until midnight alone to meet those constant deadlines. If you’re looking for a production partner, download our free whitepaper. It covers what to look for in a production partner. And as that old saying goes, “It might be the start of a beautiful relationship…”

Isn’t it time to make creative work better?  Outsourcing creative production is about empowering your in-house team to focus on what they do best—being creative—while streamlining production and boosting efficiency.

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Making creative work better with a better brief

A creative brief is like a secret weapon—bringing clarity to chaos and getting everyone on the same page. It’s the roadmap to creative success, ensuring your team delivers a high-quality campaign that meets every project objective. Done right, it saves time and money. The most common reason for a project failing in production is the lack of a clear creative brief. So, what makes a brief truly effective?

Clarity and precision

Clarity is king when it comes to creative success. A good brief is clear and precise, leaving no room for ambiguity. It should detail the project’s objectives, target audience, key messages, and deliverables. This clarity helps creative teams understand the project’s scope and requirements, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and costly and time-consuming rework.

Context and background

So many people skimp on those briefs. Giving context and background information is crucial for a comprehensive brief. Throw in some juicy insights about the brand, market trends, and competitive landscape, and you’ve got a comprehensive brief that sets the stage for success.

Defined goals and KPIs

A well-defined brief is like a creative treasure map. X marks the spot of your goals and KPIs. Whether it’s building brand buzz, driving web traffic, or increasing sales, these goals steer the team in the right direction. And with KPIs keeping score, you’ll know exactly how close you are to finding the treasure and delivering a winning project.

Collaboration and feedback

Think of a creative brief as the ultimate team huddle, setting the play before the big game. Effective briefs encourage collaboration and feedback. They should outline the roles and responsibilities of each team member and establish a process for regular check-ins and reviews.

Flexibility and adaptability

Plans are great, but we all know plans get changed. While a good brief should be detailed, it should allow for flexibility and adaptability. Creative projects often evolve. Other stakeholders get involved. The brief should accommodate changes and new ideas. This flexibility ensures that the final output is aligned with the initial vision and incorporates innovative solutions.

Vision

Want to light a creative fire? Show, don’t just tell! Including visual and inspirational elements in the brief can spark creativity and give clear direction to the creative team. Mood boards, reference images, and style guides can help convey the desired look and feel of the project, ensuring that the final output is visually consistent and on-brand.

Visit: https://www.ekcs.co/

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Can creative production outsourcing help with creativity?

Could in-house production be getting in the way of creativity? In March 2022, EKCS asked delegates at Creative Operations London what their biggest challenges were for their team right now. In the ‘challenges for IHAs in a post-pandemic world’ survey, 27% of in-house agencies (IHAs) said ‘finding time for creative work.’

It was Albert Einstein who said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” But these days, it’s all too easy to feel that there is little time to have fun, and even less time to be creative! The ability to think creatively is vital for in-house agencies and brands. Yet, so often it’s difficult, or even impossible, to harness our creativity when it is needed the most.

An EKCS poll conducted in April 2021 showed that one-fifth of IHA leaders still felt that they were mainly a production entity, running as a centralized production team over and above being creative-led. Does your artworker really want to resize print adverts or your web developer create multiple banners when they could be working on ideation and other creative elements?

Creating Time To Be Creative

Creative production outsourcing is all about enabling staff and your IHA to do more. IHAs consist of talented individuals who should always be leading creative strategy. There are so many challenges that hinder creative output when working in-house. But the key challenge is time, or lack of it. That’s why more and more IHAs are looking to outsource their creative production to an offshore partner.

What to outsource?

As American management consultant, Peter Drucker, wrote in the Harvard Business Review back in the 1980’s, “Do what you do best – and outsource the rest!”

In-house agencies often outsource these seven areas to free up creative time:

Digital banners.

Artwork and retouching.

Content localisation (social, digital & video).

Annual reports and PowerPoint.

Video editing.

Post-production video editing and animation.

Web / Mobile App development.

Explore now: https://www.ekcs.co/

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Five strategies to boost creativity and reduce burnout in 2026

In 2026, creative teams within in-house agencies and brands are under pressure to deliver. The consequence of this high-demand environment can be an all-too-familiar cycle of overwork and burnout.

Overwork culture is harmful to the wellbeing and productivity of in-house creative teams. It often results in a diminished ability to think creatively. And what is an in-house agency without creativity? There are many ways to break the cycle of overwork and create a healthy work environment.

Here are five ways to reduce overwork and burnout in 2026

1. A stress-less work environment

When an in-house team is put in a high-stress situation (unreasonable deadlines or a chaotic studio), they risk moving into fight-or-flight mode. When people stay in this state for too long, they burn out. Can you incorporate stress reduction habits into your team’s daily workflows?

2. Quiet time

Encourage the use of private workspaces when creatives need to focus. If you don’t have private workspaces where your team can go to focus or decompress, use signals like ‘do not disturb’ signs when needed or schedule ‘no meeting hours’ to enable creatives to focus on elements of their job, such as ideation. What methods can you promote for team focus and ‘do not disturb’ time for creatives?

3. Set boundaries

Nowadays, teams are often in different locations and might work outside of traditional hours. However, the blurring of work and personal time is a source of job stress. One study has found that it is not just answering emails that increases employees’ anxiety; it is the expectation that they are available outside of work hours. To combat this, set guidelines and follow them. Could you use email scheduling so that if you’re working around the clock, your team isn’t expected to either?

4. Flexible work

For a highly adaptive team, create an adaptable work environment. Give your employees flexibility by allowing them to work staggered hours. Hold one-on-ones to understand those needs and discuss arrangements for people who are struggling with work-life balance. Take into account the individual needs of your team. Do they have a long commute? Are they neurodiverse? Do they have caregiving responsibilities outside of work?

5. Embrace creativity and outsource production

Would outsourcing creative production free up your team? Many creative leaders worry about the effect of outsourcing on team members. It’s not about trying to reduce headcount. Remember, creative production outsourcing is about enabling your team members to do more. Chances are they are consumed by production and, as a result, miss out on bigger creative projects. Creative production outsourcing can save time and enable your skilled in-house people to focus on their strengths: ideation, creativity, and design.

What can be outsourced to free up time for the in-house team?

In today’s fast-paced creative landscape, preventing burnout isn’t just about maintaining work-life balance – it’s about fostering an environment where creativity can truly flourish. Remember, a stressed, overworked team rarely produces their best creative output.

By implementing these five strategies, creative leaders can build resilient teams that consistently deliver exceptional work without sacrificing wellbeing.

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Beyond silos: The collaborative sales revolution in publishing

Advertisers now demand more than signatures: seamless execution, 48-hour launches, and ROI that sticks. Legacy silos starve growth, leaving 20-30% of potential revenue on the table. Today’s winners fuse sales with ops, tech, and creative to deliver end-to-end value.

This isn’t optional integration—it’s a revenue flywheel. EKCS framework: (1) Embed sales in production loops for 90% faster fulfillment; (2) Leverage AI for predictive handoffs; (3) Align incentives across functions for 25%+ renewal gains. Publishers cracking this code don’t just sell—they orchestrate dominance.

Sales without silos: The new imperative

Publishers face advertiser demands for <48-hour launches, cross-channel precision, and ROI proof. Sales can’t just sell; they must orchestrate.

Industry data confirms it. Alexander Group’s 2024 Media Outlook shows 43% of firms extending comp to campaign managers and engineers—blurring lines for deeper integration.

Silo-busters grow revenue 28% faster: sales embedded in production from brief to billing.

From closers to outcome architects

Sales pros must level up: master AI workflows, ops mechanics, production rhythms. Shift from “sold it” to “delivered it.”

Challenge: Avoid dragging sellers from pipelines. Solution? Unified platforms like Mediaferry embed production into sales CRMs—promises kept, relationships fortified.

Thought leadership: AI’s role in sales evolution

AI isn’t optional; it’s the sales multiplier. Alexander reports 33% adoption for comp design. EKCS predicts 60% by 2027, unlocking:

Framework 1: Outcome-Aligned Incentives – Tie 20-30% of sales quotas to delivery metrics (e.g., on-time fulfillment). Result: 15% renewal uplift per our benchmarks.

Framework 2: Predictive Pipeline Ops – AI forecasts production bottlenecks pre-sale, enabling 90% faster bookings. Forward view: Hybrid human-AI teams handle 3x volume sans burnout.

Framework 3: Strategic Partnership Model – Sales as “revenue conductors,” co-owning execution. EKCS case: One regional group saw 35% ARPU lift via sales-ops fusion.

This isn’t evolution—it’s reinvention. Siloed sales caps growth at 5-7%; integrated models compound at 20%+.

Adopt this EKCS playbook:

Cross-Functional Huddles: Weekly syncs with ops/creative—cut delays 50%.

Tech Mastery: AI tools for real-time pipeline visibility—scale 3x without hires.

Holistic Metrics: Track delivery NPS alongside closes—drive 25% renewals.

Publishers embracing this don’t just survive—they build resilient revenue engines that compound through disruption, turning sales into strategic moats.

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Can I outsource creative production when I have a great in-house team?

Let’s face it, there are plenty of advantages to keeping production in-house. For starters, your creative team lives and breathes the brand. They have knowledge of the company and understand its culture. Your in-house agency team is far more invested in your business and its success than an outsourced partner. Plus, you don’t have to invest time onboarding them and ensuring culture fit. And, by keeping it in-house, you’re always in the loop about the latest campaigns. 

However, there is a high cost for full-time staff and creative freelancers. With the former, there are:

salaries

benefits

payroll

tax

annual leave allowances

hardware and software costs

With freelancers, there are the additional challenges of first finding them, aligning them with the brand, and keeping their hours within budget.

And when it comes to creative production, there are disadvantages.  

Skills gaps and expertise: It’s not realistic that your employees are always going to have the production skills you need, especially given the speed at which digital production is evolving. Hiring art workers or video editors leads to high spending; this can be avoided when you outsource.

Time-consuming: Production is a time-consuming process and can drain capacity. It can deviate the focus of your employees from more exciting creative tasks.

Pressure to meet deadlines: An in-house agency team can only do so much. With a time-critical campaign or company rebrand there might not be enough hours in the day. 

But outsourcing is a dirty word...

Outsourcing any work is a big deal and isn’t without risk. Perhaps your business has been burned before but it is safe to say, outsourcing has come a long way since the early days when typically IT work was undertaken offshore and call centres were set up. Nowadays, more brands and IHAs are outsourcing. In fact, the 2020 ‘State of the Market for Offshore Creative Production’ by TKM Consultants showed that 86% of agencies have been offshoring for at least two years.

And my in-house team is great! 

Of course, the words ‘outsourcing’ can cause concern for team members, but outsourcing today isn’t all about reducing full-time staff costs. Sure, you can save on freelancers and paying overtime, but outsourcing enables your department to do more interesting work. Creative production outsourcing is about enabling staff and your IHA to do more. Does your talented graduate graphic designer really want to resize print ads? Is your web developer excited each morning to create multiple banners? These talented creatives could be working on ideation and other creative elements.  

And if your in-house creatives are great, do you even have a big enough team? When EKCS conducted our Modern Challenges of an IHA survey, 51% of IHAs told us they didn't have enough creative staff!

Communication with your team is key early on in the process. If you're thinking of outsourcing don't keep it a secret. Have a discussion and a two-way conversation about how it could work.

FOMO by not outsourcing  

If you are wondering whether you are missing out by not outsourcing, consider all the benefits of modern production outsourcing. These include:

Using offshore partners who are working in different time zones is a huge advantage for a creative team. It helps take the pressure off when advertising campaigns need to be produced and delivered to tight deadlines. 

By outsourcing the production support to an external agency, you don’t just cut down substantial costs of ramping up a team but also gain control and flexibility.

Access to a bigger pool of talent. An offshore team has experience working with different clients and understands production challenges.

The hybrid mix

Offshoring creative production isn’t about handing over huge elements of work. Many in-house agencies operate a hybrid model when it comes to creative production outsourcing. Outsourcing should only account for a small portion of your budget, perhaps 5-15%, but having it on hand will come in handy at some point!

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Six Time-Saving Benefits of Outsourcing Video Production

In 2024, nine out of 10 businesses used video for marketing. These statistics highlight the growing dominance of video content in brand marketing strategies and the positive impact on consumer engagement and sales.  Yet, producing high-quality videos can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. It’s hardly surprising that video production is the most common service social media marketers outsource. That's where outsourcing comes in, offering many benefits that can save your organization time and money.

Efficiency and expertise

Outsourcing video production enables brands and in-house agencies to tap into a pool of experienced professionals who specialize in visual content production. These offshore production experts come equipped with the latest technology and industry best practices, ensuring your videos are high-quality, produced efficiently, and expertly edited. 

Concentrate on core business activities

By entrusting video production to an external team, your in-house staff can focus on what they do best. Be creative! This shift in focus can lead to increased productivity and better overall performance in your core business areas. It enables marketing and creative teams to concentrate on: 

strategy

content ideation

creativity 

and other tasks

Cost savings 

While building an in-house video production team can be costly, outsourcing offers a more flexible and cost-effective solution. You avoid the high expenses of purchasing editing equipment and software, hiring full-time staff or freelancers, and training. It frees your team up. Instead, you pay for the services you need, when you need them, allowing for better budget management.

Scalability

Outsourcing provides the scalability to handle varying workloads. Whether you need a single promotional video or a series of training modules, an outsourced team can scale up or down based on your requirements. This flexibility ensures that you can meet your video production needs without the stress of managing an in-house video production project. 

Fresh production insights

Offshore video production brings fresh perspectives and ideas that can enhance your content. Their diverse experiences can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace, delivering videos that capture attention and drive engagement.

Time-saving

Outsourcing significantly reduces the time it takes to bring a video project from concept to completion. With a dedicated team focused solely on your project, you can meet tight deadlines and respond to your business demands. Outsourcing creative video production allows your teams to remain agile, which is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge. 

[ekcs97]

Can I outsource creative production when I have a great in-house team?

Let’s face it, there are plenty of advantages to keeping production in-house. For starters, your creative team lives and breathes the brand. They have knowledge of the company and understand its culture. Your in-house agency team is far more invested in your business and its success than an outsourced partner. Plus, you don’t have to invest time onboarding them and ensuring culture fit. And, by keeping it in-house, you’re always in the loop about the latest campaigns. 

However, there is a high cost for full-time staff and creative freelancers. With the former, there are:

salaries

benefits

payroll

tax

annual leave allowances

hardware and software costs

With freelancers, there are the additional challenges of first finding them, aligning them with the brand, and keeping their hours within budget.

And when it comes to creative production, there are disadvantages.  

Skills gaps and expertise: It’s not realistic that your employees are always going to have the production skills you need, especially given the speed at which digital production is evolving. Hiring art workers or video editors leads to high spending; this can be avoided when you outsource.

Time-consuming: Production is a time-consuming process and can drain capacity. It can deviate the focus of your employees from more exciting creative tasks.

Pressure to meet deadlines: An in-house agency team can only do so much. With a time-critical campaign or company rebrand there might not be enough hours in the day. 

But outsourcing is a dirty word...

Outsourcing any work is a big deal and isn’t without risk. Perhaps your business has been burned before but it is safe to say, outsourcing has come a long way since the early days when typically IT work was undertaken offshore and call centres were set up. Nowadays, more brands and IHAs are outsourcing. In fact, the 2020 ‘State of the Market for Offshore Creative Production’ by TKM Consultants showed that 86% of agencies have been offshoring for at least two years.

And my in-house team is great! 

Of course, the words ‘outsourcing’ can cause concern for team members, but outsourcing today isn’t all about reducing full-time staff costs. Sure, you can save on freelancers and paying overtime, but outsourcing enables your department to do more interesting work. Creative production outsourcing is about enabling staff and your IHA to do more. Does your talented graduate graphic designer really want to resize print ads? Is your web developer excited each morning to create multiple banners? These talented creatives could be working on ideation and other creative elements.  

And if your in-house creatives are great, do you even have a big enough team? When EKCS conducted our Modern Challenges of an IHA survey, 51% of IHAs told us they didn't have enough creative staff!

Communication with your team is key early on in the process. If you're thinking of outsourcing don't keep it a secret. Have a discussion and a two-way conversation about how it could work.

FOMO by not outsourcing  

If you are wondering whether you are missing out by not outsourcing, consider all the benefits of modern production outsourcing. These include:

Using offshore partners who are working in different time zones is a huge advantage for a creative team. It helps take the pressure off when advertising campaigns need to be produced and delivered to tight deadlines. 

By outsourcing the production support to an external agency, you don’t just cut down substantial costs of ramping up a team but also gain control and flexibility.

Access to a bigger pool of talent. An offshore team has experience working with different clients and understands production challenges.

[ekcs97]

Six Time-Saving Benefits of Outsourcing Video Production

Video content is king, thanks to TikTok and Instagram. Using video content effectively can be a game-changer for brands looking to connect with their audience and drive business results.

In 2024, nine out of 10 businesses used video for marketing. These statistics highlight the growing dominance of video content in brand marketing strategies and the positive impact on consumer engagement and sales.  Yet, producing high-quality videos can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. It’s hardly surprising that video production is the most common service social media marketers outsource. That's where outsourcing comes in, offering many benefits that can save your organization time and money.

Efficiency and expertise

Outsourcing video production enables brands and in-house agencies to tap into a pool of experienced professionals who specialize in visual content production. These offshore production experts come equipped with the latest technology and industry best practices, ensuring your videos are high-quality, produced efficiently, and expertly edited. 

Concentrate on core business activities

By entrusting video production to an external team, your in-house staff can focus on what they do best. Be creative! This shift in focus can lead to increased productivity and better overall performance in your core business areas. It enables marketing and creative teams to concentrate on: 

strategy

content ideation

creativity 

and other tasks

Cost savings 

While building an in-house video production team can be costly, outsourcing offers a more flexible and cost-effective solution. You avoid the high expenses of purchasing editing equipment and software, hiring full-time staff or freelancers, and training. It frees your team up. Instead, you pay for the services you need, when you need them, allowing for better budget management.

Scalability

Outsourcing provides the scalability to handle varying workloads. Whether you need a single promotional video or a series of training modules, an outsourced team can scale up or down based on your requirements. This flexibility ensures that you can meet your video production needs without the stress of managing an in-house video production project. 

Fresh production insights

Offshore video production brings fresh perspectives and ideas that can enhance your content. Their diverse experiences can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace, delivering videos that capture attention and drive engagement.

Time-saving

Outsourcing significantly reduces the time it takes to bring a video project from concept to completion. With a dedicated team focused solely on your project, you can meet tight deadlines and respond to your business demands. Outsourcing creative video production allows your teams to remain agile, which is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge.  Outsourcing video production is a strategic move that can save time, reduce costs, and deliver high-quality content. By utilizing external expertise, you can ensure your videos are professional, engaging, and aligned with your brand's goals. It's an investment that pays off.