The gig economy is a term that describes the phenomenon of people working independently, on a short-term or project basis, through digital platforms that connect them with customers. The gig economy is not a new concept, but it has grown rapidly in recent years, thanks to the advancement of technology, the changing preferences of workers and consumers, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a report by McKinsey, there are about 162 million people in the US and Europe who engage in some form of independent work, either as their primary or secondary source of income. The gig economy offers many benefits for both workers and businesses, such as flexibility, autonomy, diversity, innovation, and cost-efficiency.
However, the gig economy also poses some challenges, such as the lack of social protection, the uncertainty of income, the isolation of workers, and the difficulty of control. Therefore, it is important for both parties to find ways to collaborate effectively and create a win-win situation.
One of the ways to achieve this is by partnering with gig platforms and marketplaces that specialize in connecting gig workers with businesses that need their skills and services. These platforms and marketplaces can provide various advantages for both gig workers and businesses. There are multiple things you need to consider when choosing your freelance platform partner, here are some of them:
Gig platforms and marketplaces can help businesses find the right talent for their projects at the right time, from a wide range of fields and locations. With remote delivery, some platforms provide access to global talent. You can hire people from anywhere. The pool of talent accessible is bigger than your local market. But this also comes with specifics you need to be aware of.
What to consider: global platforms may provide very diverse offers. You need to be aware of the local specifics of the options the platforms provide you. For example, hiring a software engineer from South America, Europe, and Asia can come at different price ranges and different mindsets, cultural specifics, and performance. Before engaging with a platform think about all parameters of your search like time zone, the quantity of the work you need to be completed, the quality of the freelancers, local mindset and work specifics, price range and budget, internal processes and mindset towards contractors, etc. When selecting your platform partner the best one with stand-out with deep knowledge of all these factors so they can consult and point you towards the best offering.
Freelance and gig platforms and marketplaces can only assist with the quality of the work delivered by gig workers, but they can provide feedback and ratings for both workers and businesses. For example, a platform like Fiverr has a system of reviews, ratings, and levels that indicate the reputation and performance of the gig workers. Some platforms offer resolution services to handle disputes and refunds. Likewise, a platform like TaskRabbit has a system of background checks, insurance, and customer support that protects the safety and satisfaction of the customers and the gig workers.
What to consider: Freelance and gig platforms are limited in the daily quality performance of the freelancers. They can provide mediation services, make sure to get accurate reputation checks from both clients and freelancers and provide additional communication channels for feedback. The best quality indicator starts with the matching process. A good gig platform would have a mechanism for digging into great details of your request, whether through a website or follow-up calls. The better the matching, the lower the chances for bad quality. If the freelancer is the best fit for the job, success comes with the best effort from the freelancer. Consider these platforms as your search mechanism in the great pool of talent. You need to be aware of all your specific to the job which you need to be completed. They will help you reach the right talent, but the final decision and check procedure is yours. Make sure you work with a platform, which provides the option for an interview before hiring. A great bonus is a platform with a short trial period. Usually around 10 work days or a week for longer engagements.
Gig platforms and marketplaces can help facilitate the payment process between gig workers and businesses, and provide security and convenience for both parties. For example, a platform like PayPal has a feature called PayPal for Marketplaces that enables gig platforms and marketplaces to accept and distribute payments from customers to gig workers and also offers protection and dispute resolution services. Similarly, a platform like Stripe has a feature called Stripe Connect that enables gig platforms and marketplaces to create and manage accounts for gig workers and also offers compliance and reporting tools.
What to consider: Not all businesses are flexible with payments to PayPal, Stripe, Revolute, or another instant or modern payment option. The majority of the world runs on verified bank transactions. Make sure your platform partner covers standard payment methods. Get interested in the way they settle their payments with freelancers if the platform is a payment mediator. It is an extra mechanism for identity fraud detection if this is done via standard banking.
Another thing to consider is the flexibility of payment terms. Although self-entrepreneurs freelancers usually don’t have dozens of income streams. In most cases, they do up to two or three projects at a time. Especially if they engage in long-term projects they limit it to one. This mode of delivery and operation requires for them to be very careful of the payment terms they agree with. The shorter for them, the better and happier they will be.
Gig platforms and marketplaces can help provide training and development opportunities for gig workers, and help them improve their skills and competencies. For example, a platform like Coursera has a feature called Coursera for Business that enables gig platforms and marketplaces to offer courses and certificates to gig workers and also track their progress and performance. Likewise, a platform like Udemy has a feature called Udemy for Business that enables gig platforms and marketplaces to create and customize learning paths for gig workers, and also measure their impact and ROI.
What to consider: Your platform partner should have community development and mentorship programs. Other options are to have partnerships with specific businesses (like the ones mentioned above) where freelancers get discounts or special offers for going through certifications or training. Giving back to the community should be one of the greater goals of each freelance platform.
Different platforms provide different ways to onboard and engage with freelancers. For example, a business that needs a logo design can use a platform like 99designs to launch a contest and receive dozens of proposals from designers around the world. There are also options to get quotations for a fixed scope and price delivery. Other platforms provide the options for personalized matching and search, based on detailed criteria, sometimes including matching via Artificial Intelligence algorithms. This engagement type makes sure you connect with the best talent fit for your project. Some platforms are open to view freelancers’ profiles, so you can choose from, them based on the way they presented themselves and their expertise.
What to consider: Know your preferred engagement model. Explore all existing options, but choose a partner which can deliver the model that works best for you. Not all gig platforms are suitable for fixed-scope and fixed-price projects. Usually, this is a model for smaller projects and short-term engagements. Full-time or long-term engagements follow the time and materials engagement.
Consider also what external talent means for you. If it is more of a capacity problem you are solving and you don’t need extraordinary performance you may rely on an automated matching mechanism. But if you are focused on finding great talent it is best to work with a partner, which will handpick the freelancers, based on your detailed requirements.
Most platforms have flexible pricing models. A lot of them offer the flexibility to start paying for the services of the freelancers as actual work started or was delivered by the freelancer. Others have chosen the pricing model closer to the traditional recruitment companies with specific fees paid per successful match. There is real diversifications in the pricing model, so you need to choose the one that suits you best.
What to consider: Be aware of multiple fees and complex pricing models from the platforms. Your partners should have a straightforward pricing policy, easy to understand and put into practice. In the best scenario, you would know the rate for the services as an end price, including all services provided by the platform. Some freelance platforms have percentage-based models, some have flat-fee models. Usually, the second one is preferred more by freelancers and it also proves to provide better long-term value for clients.
There is a serious challenge that needs to be addressed in the gig economy: identity fraud. Identity fraud is a growing concern that affects both businesses and customers. Fraudsters now have easier access to more tools and data than ever before, causing identity theft to reach a record high. According to a report by TransUnion, nearly one in four (24%) Americans have been victimized by fraud or identity theft while using gig economy platforms, like delivery and ride-sharing apps. That is more than double the rate they experienced elsewhere, with only 10% reporting victimization outside gig platforms.
In the latest years, well-paid remote positions have been in the interest of fraudsters. So you need to be very careful with tapping the gig economy when it comes to hiring the right and actual freelancer.
Identity fraud can have serious consequences for both gig workers and businesses:
Therefore, it is crucial for gig platforms and marketplaces to implement effective measures to prevent and combat identity fraud. Some of the measures that can be taken are:
Although the gig economy and freelancing are most popular for shorter-term engagements you should always look at it from the long-term perspective. Some of the benefits of long-term partnership are:
It is advisable for freelance platforms, gig workers, and businesses to seek and maintain a long-term partnership in the gig economy, when possible and appropriate. Some of the ways to achieve this are:
In conclusion, the gig economy is a dynamic and diverse phenomenon that offers many opportunities and challenges for freelancers and businesses. By partnering with the right gig platforms or marketplaces, they can access a large and diverse pool of talent, ensure quality assurance and feedback, facilitate payment security and convenience, and provide training and development opportunities. By preventing and combating identity fraud, they can enhance trust and security, and avoid loss of income and reputation. By seeking and maintaining long-term partnerships, they can foster loyalty and retention, enable growth and innovation, and offer flexibility and stability. Therefore, gig economy partnerships can be a key factor for the success of both gig workers and businesses in the future.
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