The Rise of the Freelancer: Why Flexspace makes sense for a mobile workforce
Freelancers are a growing tribe in India and the numbers have now skyrocketed to 26 million, and the industries that need them include IT, sales and marketing, academic writing, content writing, animation, designing, finance and procurement, and academic writing. Companies need additional staff during peak seasons or major projects, and they want contractual employees who can operate from any part of the world. With a healthy supply of freelancers and a varying demand from companies, the need for flexible spaces like a coworking space is growing by leaps and bounds. The City of Joy has been quick to respond to this rising demand for co-working spaces, and the latest addition to the co-working universe is IdeaPod on Sudder Street. Let’s find out why freelancers are the ideal solution for companies.
Why are Freelancers in Demand?
Here are some reasons why there is a growing demand for freelancers:
Mutual Benefit
Freelancers want flexibility with regard to working hours and prefer working on a project-to-project basis. They get to bargain better rates compared to a job with fixed working hours and pay.
Companies in the IT industry face a resource crunch during major projects. They need additional resources just for the duration of the project. This suits freelancers perfectly. They get paid the best rates, and the company is able to complete the project on time and optimize revenues.
Variety and Cost Savings
Hiring an expert is expensive and they are in short supply. Moreover, your company may need a variety of professionals having a niche set of skills. This would increase your overheads by a huge margin. Higher overheads would reduce your profit margins and make your company inefficient.
There is no such hassle with freelancers. There are online portals where you can shortlist freelancers with the required skills and negotiate the best rates. You don’t have any long-term liability and there is no need to provide any statutory benefits to such freelancers. You get the best quality at a much lower cost. Being agile in markets and workloads is important for the survival of every company.
Since freelancers and employees can work remotely, co-working spaces are a better option than expensive commercial spaces. From private cabins for employees to open seats for freelancers or any other suitable combination, co-working spaces offer it all.
Networking with Staff
While a freelancer is not on your payroll, they need to interact with your staff to understand the culture of your company. When freelancers and your staff meet at a coworking space, they are able to collaborate and work as a team. This interaction helps freelancers feel a part of your company, even though it is limited to the time spent in the co-working space.
The café at IdeaPod is the ideal meeting point for freelancers and employees of both established companies and start-ups. Bonding happens at its best over mugs of coffee and a variety of snacks to cater to the different tastes of co-workers. The library is also a favourite hangout for co-workers, and you might find staff and freelancers discussing the latest bestseller.
In Conclusion
Co-working spaces have proved to be the perfect fit for both companies and freelancers alike. Companies don’t need to pay the high rentals that commercial offices demand. Hiring freelancers helps companies lower their overheads and improve their profit margins. Freelancers not only get to choose projects they are interested in, but they also develop bonds of a lifetime with the employees of their clients.
Keeping in mind the needs of freelancers and company employees, IdeaPod offers booking options ranging from 1 hour to 11 months. Subscribers can start with a short-term booking and depending on their needs go for longer bookings. The blend of the formal and informal ambience makes IdeaPod a preferred destination for start-ups, established companies, and freelancers. The mutual benefits that all subscribers enjoy ensure higher productivity.