As workforces have become more fluid in the last few years, the need for freelancers among industries has exponentially grown. A 2022 Entrepreneur article on freelancing shares that, by shifting their talent model to include freelance employees, 90% of companies predict they will gain a competitive advantage in the future. Despite this perceived benefit, a common struggle most businesses foresee is managing their freelance staff amidst uneven work hours and remote work arrangements.
Fortunately, new technologies—such as messaging platforms and project management software—enable businesses to smoothen communication and work processes between their freelance staff. So on that note, this article highlights the reasons why you should leverage tech to manage your freelance staff.
1. Facilitates a smoother onboarding process
According to a 2022 Xolo feature on onboarding freelancers, a haphazard onboarding process can result in a delayed project start date and service delivery. It can also lead to recurring miscommunications and reworks. Thankfully, digital onboarding is shown to facilitate a smoother transition from the moment a freelancer submits their job application.
Digital onboarding, as relayed by HR Curator, can boost employee productivity. This is because deploying digital tools from the get-go helps freelancers feel safe and informed. For one, application management platforms enable you to track and assist your applicants, thus streamlining your hiring process. Electronic contracts allow you to upload your own contract and efficiently secure your new freelancer’s signature. Guiding your freelance staff as they prepare to become a team member will prove easier with the right tech tools.
2. Enhances mentorship programmes
Mentoring enables businesses to assist their freelance staff’s individual development. In 2021, a sustainability study shared that freelancers across Europe and the US prioritised training to improve their skills. But perhaps more importantly, these individuals noted the significance of having workplace mentors to look up to for guidance. An LHH write-up explains that mentoring increases engagement and retention across your freelance staff, especially since it establishes your support and investment in their professional careers. By leveraging tech, you can seamlessly hold virtual mentoring sessions and check-ins and, consequently, measure your freelancers’ performances.
To do so, first, utilise video conferencing tools to create virtual meetings between mentors and mentees. In order to guarantee that all freelancers have access to important educational sessions, look for an app that can record video chats and store them in the cloud. Having freelance staff also requires you to assess their performance, which can be done by scheduling one-on-one video call consultations. Finally, you can deploy a digital notebook tool to share written materials between mentors and mentees. Great mentorship programmes subsist on consistent communication; thankfully, digital apps can ensure that.
3. Enables better task management
The referenced Entrepreneur article shows that 56% of individuals said they chose to freelance due to the freedom of working on their own terms. This has resulted in increased productivity. But on the other hand, flexible schedules can cause a strain on your working relationship when tasks lack information or aren’t delivered on time. And more often than not, it’s tedious to keep sending emails to notify your freelance staff about new assignments. As such, creating a system where your freelancers can efficiently see and undertake tasks is crucial.
To start, search for task management software that’s easily customisable. It should also be able to accommodate the number of active projects you have. Under each project, ensure that you can rank assignments based on their level of urgency. This helps your freelancers recognise which tasks have to be completed first. Moreover, your staff should be able to identify the deadlines of their deliverables, no matter how far away they are. This gives them adequate time to ask questions or seek additional resources to benefit their overall work process.
Incorporating tech can be advantageous when managing your freelance staff. Of course, it’s likewise encouraged that you provide tools that are meaningful for your office employees as well. In order to properly optimise your workforce and usher in better productivity and profits, tech tools are a necessary investment.
For more insights on great employee engagement, read through our latest articles on HR Curator.
Bea Arnold
