The days of an employee working for eight hours a day at an office are gradually fading away. Today, an increasing number of employees work from their home office in New York or from a coworking space in Thailand.
What we’re seeing now is a big transition away from the old method of working and toward a new approach known as the on-demand workforce, which allows for greater diversity and inclusion, which is something that more and more company leaders are emphasizing today.
What Is the On-Demand Economy, and How Does It Work?
Managing people used to be a lot simpler. Each employee was aware of their responsibilities, and employers were aware of where to look for new employees. Companies may now reach out to tens of thousands of people all over the world to help them with their projects. Companies are combining the skills and experience of internal and external employees to achieve their objectives. This external staff is accessible on a project-by-project basis to provide their skills, especially if the project is difficult and fascinating to them.
Why are you doing this now?
People can readily communicate in real-time utilizing numerous communication and collaboration tools thanks to advances in processing speed, power, and storage. From wherever in the world, they may immediately join a conference call, share documents, communicate, learn, and work on their assignments.
The younger workforce is also a big driver. For example, millennials like to manage their professions on their own terms. While their parents valued job security and consistent pay, the newer generations value work-life balance and significance.
The expanding number of startups is another factor affecting the rise of the on-demand workforce. Around 50 million businesses will be founded globally in the following year, according to Dr. Paul D. Reynolds, who was quoted in an article by Moya K. Mason. Rapid innovation is driving an increase in the number of new tech businesses, which necessitates excellent personnel to work on building their solutions.
What Are Companies Doing With On-Demand Workers?
Businesses that are forward-thinking enough to take advantage of the on-demand workforce will reap a slew of benefits. Most entrepreneurs find it difficult to compete with tech behemoths such as Google and Facebook. Smaller businesses can acquire excellent talent from anywhere in the world and compete on the market by hiring outside of their local zip codes.
Startups can easily scale up and down when employing external expertise, depending on project objectives. Hiring outstanding people, especially full-time, can be difficult. Many professional developers, on the other hand, are more eager to work for a company on a project basis.
What Impact Does The On-Demand Workforce Have On The World?
The environment around us is always changing. Every day, new ideas are born, innovative startups are launched, and new technologies are developed. Workplaces are not immune to change. When we consider how people used to work, we can see how much has changed since the agricultural era.
People used to be nomads who traveled the earth in search of food and shelter. People went to cities to work in factories for low wages as the industrial age started. The 40-hour workweek was first adopted by Ford Motor Company approximately a century ago.
Other big developments on a worldwide scale are being driven by the on-demand workforce today:
• An Increasing Number Of Coworking Locations: On-demand talent, deprived of a regular office and the company of other professionals, sought a more relaxed alternative to workspaces. As a result, a slew of coworking spaces has popped up around the world. These well-equipped hubs provide virtual workers with a creative environment. They’re the ultimate blend of function and comfort, with solid connectivity, worktables, and boardrooms.
• Digital Nomads: Many on-demand workers have become digital nomads because they don’t have to be in an office. Instead of traversing the countryside in search of food and shelter, they’re traveling from country to country, learning about new cultures while doing their jobs. They don’t care where they live and rely only on technology to make a life. According to research, there are 4.8 million digital nomads, with 17 million more planning to become nomads in the future.
Why More Businesses Are Going Remote: The on-demand workforce trend has encouraged businesses to go remote. According to Owler’s recent remote work-study, 56 percent of all organizations provide remote work options.
• On-Demand Talent Platforms: The on-demand workforce revolution has spawned on-demand talent platforms. These platforms collaborate with businesses looking to recruit extraordinary talent on a project-by-project basis. Some platforms handle the sourcing, vetting, and onboarding of personnel so that the employing organization doesn’t have to.
Start Using The On-Demand Workforce Today.
The sooner businesses see the value of an on-demand workforce, the better. Here are some basic recommendations for success if you’re ready to welcome remote workers to your team:
Identify Good Candidates
Conduct in-depth technical interviews with individuals to establish their technical abilities. Examine your prospects for soft skills that are essential when working remotely, in addition to technical skills. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication, self-management, and time management abilities, as well as a strong work ethic.
Pick Good Team Collaboration Platforms
To avoid miscommunication, choose your communication tools intelligently, such as Slack or Google Hangouts, and stick with them over time. It will do more harm than good if you get lackadaisical around them.
Establish Procedures
You must keep track of tasks and move forward in a systematic manner. Using a project management tool will ensure that the entire team is on the same page. Jira and Trello are the most popular options.
Create a Positive Work Culture
Employees must feel valued and included in order to provide their best. Play team-building games, listen to comments, provide development opportunities, and respect the team to create a fun and collaborative workplace.
With a little luck, you can find yourself with the perfect on-demand labor for your company.