When is hiring freelancers a good idea?

The economy of the film industry is here to stay and it is not surprising that more and more people are considering freelancing as an additional source of income or a small business apart. According to some statistics, it is estimated that in the United States alone, in 2027, there will be 86.5 million freelancers representing 50.9% of the total workforce. The situation in India and other parts of the world is similar, although in some EU countries, people still prefer full-time jobs.

A large number of people working on their own behalf, for various reasons, the repayment of student loans for new housing. it is inevitable to look to the other side and explore when and why companies choose to recruit freelancers.

Some time ago, Transformify HR Software & Freelance Platform launched the '' Gig Economy ''. The series questions human resources managers, executives and founders of startups when and why they hire freelancers, are they more or less faithful workers than full-time employees and if the productivity of their team suffers when freelancers are involved in the process.

Unstable workload

Usually, when the society is growing, there are times when there is a lot of work and almost. This is typical of companies working on projects such as marketing and public relations agencies or software outsourcing companies. Hiring freelancers and relying on a pool of freelancers with whom they work over and over again allows these companies to reduce their costs and increase their profit margins.

Casey Hill, Director of Human Resources at Bonjoro, said:

at Bonjoro [ we operate a global workforce spread over three continents (Europe, North America, Australia). We are hiring freelancers because we find that this gives us versatility and a high quality workforce at a good price, as a fast growing startup. Often, with full-time employees, the learning curve is longer and you grow them or develop them in your niche / sector over time. With freelancers, we believe we can quickly get high value and be able to use it flexibly (ie, more hours when we need it the most and less time on slower times).

Source: Transformify HR Blog

bootstrapping

Some companies choose not to raise any advance financing to avoid dilution or to put in place a more flexible and faster decision-making process. However, not having an external source of financing requires rigorous cost control and full utilization. Hiring underutilized people, because the company is not progressing fast enough or trying to wear a lot of hats without having the required skills, is a recipe for disaster. The best option is to hire freelancers for all unique or irregular tasks.

When we founded Transformify HR Software & Freelance Platform it was clear that bootstrapping was the best way to go. We had a certain budget and had to publish our product within the limits of this budget because there was no other source of funding. Using freelancers was the best decision possible by hiring a full-time project manager, graphic designer, and quality assurance manager, but using only thirty percent of their time was not feasible at all.

If the company is self-financing, it is rarely possible to hire full-time employees and fill all roles. Hiring freelancers allows you to have all the skills and at the same time an optimal use.

Rare Skill Sets

Imagine that your company is implementing an ERP system and that you need somebody's experience in the same sector a very similar project. The project should be completed in six months, so that the person you hire will no longer be needed. What options do you have? Hire a full-time employee and try to find a different role after the project is finished? Or maybe subcontract the project to a consulting company?

Often, the best that can be done is to hire a highly skilled freelancer project by project.

Kasper Dam, CEO and co-founder of Kandio said:

"When I started out as an entrepreneur, most of my businesses were based in Denmark. Then I had a start-up idea that I wanted to build and I had played with the idea of ​​going to Southeast Asia just because of their talent and the fact that it was becoming the next crucible for startups. Freelance work is an emerging trend in this part of the world and it's obvious to entrepreneurs like me. You get quality work at an affordable price and, in addition, the talent pool is endless. "

Source: Transformify HR blog

No training needed

If minimal or no training is required, it is easy to hire freelancers and rely on a group of people who can add creativity and see the same problem from a different perspective. This is especially valuable for skilled designers, editors or digital marketing experts. Data entry jobs are another good example.

Diversity of thought

Hiring people with different backgrounds, skills and life experiences adds value to the team. It seems that freelancers with more than one client bring a new look and can solve a problem faster because they have faced a similar challenge before when they were working for another client.

Asked Freelancers with Multiple Ideas and Innovation Clients, Josh Ladik, President of GSA Focus said:

'' A little yes. If they worked with various companies, they probably learned "tricks" at each concert. Over the years, their abilities and speed are improving. They become a "jack of all trades". I had a freelancer who gave me a full task with a fast turnaround because they knew how to use Excel to automate data entry. "'Source:Transformify HR Blog [19659029] Hiring a freelancer who knows the culture and traditions of the market in which the company has just entered is priceless. In addition, this can save a lot of costs while the market has not been validated yet and it makes no sense to form a legal entity in a foreign country just to hire a handful of marketing and development employees which may need to be terminated. less than a year. Entering new markets can sometimes be more effective and less expensive if the initial team were freelancers who spoke the local language and had a large network.

Of course, in some cases, recruiting freelancers is not the answer. go. These include complex processes, tedious training and integration, and in some cases, risks associated with the violation of data privacy and intellectual property rights.

Optical fiber is the dominant fixed broadband technology in Europe in 2023

Today, xDSL technology accounts for almost half of all fixed broadband (49.9%)

Today xDSL may be the dominant fixed broadband technology in Europe, but the picture is changing in the years to come, with connectivity shifting to fiber. In fact, by 2023, Fiber to the Home / to the Building-FTTH / B will be Europe's dominant fixed broadband technology.

Today, xDSL technology accounts for almost half of all fixed broadband (49.9%), while fiber optic connections account for 30% and cable connections for 17%. By 2023, fiber optic connections will represent 41% of total, while xDSL technology will be limited to 39%, with cable connections remaining almost flat at 16%.

According to a new analysis by GlobalData Technology, FTTH / B technology will continue to grow at an average annual rate of 12.4% by 2024. Currently, Russia has the largest share of the lines. fiber optic in Europe as a percentage of total broadband (75%). However, analysts estimate that Spain will take the lead in the FTTH / B market in 2023, with an 86.5% share.

Network sharing

Research also finds that European fixed-line telecommunications providers are increasingly investing in network sharing to accelerate coverage and reduce the cost of fiber optic installation. "To meet ever-increasing consumer demands and to offer new digital products and services, European telecommunications are investing heavily in high-speed broadband,"  said GlobalData Technology analysts.

Indeed, as analysts at GlobalData Technology note, European telecommunications regulators and governments not only encourage, but are also promoting, the development of fiber optic technology. Company analysts cite the example of Italy, which financially supports the transition to FTTH / B technology. In detail, the Italian government plans to offer subsidies to small and medium-sized businesses up to € 5,176 and to schools up to € 3,882, through a voucher, for the transition of their fixed broadband connection to the fiber optic network.

Differences between cloud computing and grid computing

Grid computing vs. cloud computing:

The two conditions for grid and cloud computing are two types of resource sharing techniques where multiple computing devices and generally the Internet are involved. Although cloud computing has brought some features from grid computing, both will not be confused.

Grid Computing:

Grid computing is a form of computing computing where a virtual computing system is compiled by performing a large computing task using many compositing connected computing devices. They are linked together because they can be from multiple administrative areas together to combine computing resources to reach a common goal. The goal can usually be a single problem - usually a scientific one for a technical problem that requires a large amount of processing to perform a huge data set. A prominent example for grid computing in the public domain is the SETI @ HOME project where a large number of Internet users share their unused processor cycles to perform a scientific test of the Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Cloud is a common term used to refer to the Internet. A cloud device uses machines to represent the Internet in computer network diagrams or flowcharts. Cloud computing refers to any computing service provided on a system hosted on the Internet. The service provided may be within an infrastructure, platform or software service. The main feature of cloud computing is that the service is fully managed by the service provider (the service is hosted) and the user requires minimal benefits of personal computer and internet access. Due to the fact that the service provider hosts the services, they are provided to users in a simple manner where it is not necessary to understand how the services are made available. Examples of services (under the Software Services section) are web-based email, Emang Cloud Player can be anything from a human resource management system to an enterprise asset planning system. Examples of cloud computing systems are Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google's GO Cloud.

Overview:

Grid computing is a distributed methodology that is combined with the goal of providing computing resources to reach a common goal on most connected computers.

Cloud computing is any computing service operated and operated by the service provider on the Internet.

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is access to virtualized IT resources over the Internet. They are provided as a service, on request, pay-as-you-go, through a cloud platform.

Cloud Computing Definition

“Cloud” is not a place, but a way of managing IT resources, which replaced local machines and private data centers with virtual infrastructure. In the cloud,

 users gain access to virtual computing and network resources, as well as to storage resources provided by a remote provider on the Internet. The allocation of

 resources is carried out instantly on request, which is very convenient when you need to quickly expand or reduce infrastructure in

 accordance with changing demand.

Cloud Computing Benefits

Of course, cloud computing is not suitable for all applications, but partial or full transfer of IT operations from the local infrastructure to the cloud offers

significant advantages

Reduce initial investment. When switching to cloud computing, the main part of the budget is made up of operating expenses, not preliminary capital costs.

 You can immediately start work or implement new initiatives without spending money on expensive data centers.

Economic efficiency

 Online scaling of resources in the cloud can significantly save both small and large enterprises. Cloud service providers use the equipment

 with maximum efficiency and load, which allows them to save energy and other resources so as not to pick up prices for customers.

High flexibility of resources. Cloud computing resources not only scale well, that is, easily expand, but are also very flexible. This means that during periods

of low demand, you can reduce the amount of resources used and reduce costs.

Ease of use and maintenance . With cloud computing, the deployment of resources and updates is automatic and standardized. This increases availability and also eliminates inconsistency and the need for manual updates. In addition, your specialists will not need to perform physical server maintenance or be present in the data center.

Simplification of innovation 

 Cloud computing simplifies the development of innovative solutions both within teams of IT professionals and across the whole company. When IT professionals are freed from the need to build and install new systems in order to increase resources, they have the opportunity to implement improvements to business processes that have far-reaching effects. At the same time, the company's management will be able to quickly and without significant costs to provide resources for pilot programs, and then increase and reduce them without the need for detailed infrastructure planning or preliminary long-term investments.

Improving business continuity . Since the cloud computing infrastructure is virtual, you can automate the processes of creating copies of data and operating systems, as well as the initialization of failover procedures. This makes it possible to improve data protection and increase their availability compared to local systems.

Types of Cloud Services

Despite the fact that cloud computing has many advantages, enterprises may have some doubts, for example:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

 The most basic form of cloud computing that offers users basic infrastructure components, such as space in the north, data storage, and network components that can be used through the API. This model resembles the implementation of the functions of a traditional data center in a hosted environment.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) 

This model offers the provision of a complete development environment. Thus, developers completely get rid of solving problems at the infrastructure level when deploying or updating applications.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

 SaaS applications are designed for end users, and all infrastructure deployment and development processes are invisible to them. SaaS applications offer the widest range of features in the cloud, from business applications such as word processing programs and spreadsheets to customer relationship management, photo editing packages and video hosting platforms.

Cloud Deployment Models

Enterprises can use the three main cloud deployment models.

Public cloud 

 A public cloud is a public infrastructure that is owned, maintained, and managed by a cloud solution provider such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. The main benefits of a public cloud are scalability on demand and pay as you go.

Private cloud 

 This type of cloud is protected by the firewall of the internal network of the enterprise and is based in its own data center of this organization. The configuration and management of private cloud infrastructure can be tailored to the specific needs of the company.

Hybrid cloud 

 As the name says, the hybrid cloud model allows companies to use both public and private cloud solutions. Thanks to the hybrid cloud, organizations leverage the strengths of each cloud model to provide them with flexibility and scalability while protecting sensitive data and critical operations.

Cloud Infrastructure Security

Security is a major concern for companies that want to move all or part of their IT processes to the cloud. Some industries have data security requirements that require some applications to be stored in private data centers. In this case, it is necessary to use private or hybrid cloud models. At the same time, cloud computing has several security benefits, including:

Modern technology 

 In public clouds, there is no security risk that exists in most on-premises data centers, where often older systems are combined with more modern technologies. Cloud solution providers can implement advanced encryption systems and other security features throughout the system, as well as automate maintenance procedures.

Specially dedicated specialists 

 The reputation of cloud service providers and companies depends on their ability to ensure the security of customer data. They have specialists who are involved in security monitoring and maintenance. This means that they can solve these issues much more efficiently compared to IT specialists working in individual companies who usually deal with a wide range of tasks.

High availability .

 Cloud computing involves redundancy, so even if some servers fail, interactive applications will continue to work without interruption. Daily round-the-clock monitoring and a guarantee of uninterrupted operation are a standard integral part of the contract with the cloud computing provider.

More effective data protection and disaster recovery . Cloud-based backup solutions are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The cloud computing model also implies that key files are not tied to individual machines that could break as a result of improper handling and eventually eventually inevitably fail.

Basic cloud computing terminology

There are several concepts in the field of cloud computing, which are very important to clearly understand.

Cloud application

 An online program or “hosted application,” such as those offered by SaaS providers.

Cloud broker . An intermediary with access to several cloud service providers who can offer individual customers the best cloud services to suit their individual needs. In a hybrid IT environment, IT departments often become cloud brokers.

Cloud management platform 

 In companies in which operations are distributed between two or more clouds and / or on-premises infrastructure, clear cloud management is critical to ensure the coherence of all components and make it as efficient as possible and optimize costs. Cloud management tools help integrate all the necessary functions into a universal control panel.

Transition to the cloud . The process of transferring data and applications from private machines or data centers to the cloud.

Cloudy 

 Applications that are specifically designed for use in the cloud. Typically, such applications are microservices in open source containers, which makes it possible to effectively use the flexibility and scalability inherent in cloud computing.

Cloud service provider . They are also sometimes referred to as "cloud providers." Cloud service providers configure virtualized data centers and offer their customers cloud computing services, typically through self-service platforms. At the same time, a wide range of services is offered: from infrastructure to SaaS applications.

Container 

Containers provide virtualization of software applications, offering lightweight runtime environments that include everything you need to run applications, and make porting easy. Containers are the core of cloud computing.

The hypervisor 

 Also called a “virtual machine monitor”. This can be a program, hardware, or firmware, and is the level that virtualizes the resources offered by the physical infrastructure. In other words, hypervisors are management systems that allow multiple guest virtual machines to use the same resources.

Measured service . A key component of cloud computing. Cloud service providers monitor and "measure" the use of various resources and bill accordingly.

Middleware 

 A software control layer that sits between the application and the network and enables data exchange between network devices. In cloud computing, middleware is often used to support complex distributed systems.

The architecture of microservices 

 Small modular programs that are interconnected and form complex applications. Because they are self-contained, they can be deployed and updated separately, which increases the speed and flexibility of deployment.

Multi-cloud 

 Companies often use multiple cloud service providers. For example, a company may use an IaaS or PaaS provider for its own systems and internal or customer-oriented applications, as well as use one or more SaaS applications from other providers that are designed for other aspects of the company’s work.

Multiuser 

 Public cloud providers create a common pool of computing resources that are used by multiple consumers. Resources are assigned dynamically on request.

Software Defined Infrastructure 

 Software-defined infrastructure can be fully deployed and managed using any application and without specialist intervention. Thanks to this, applications can set and configure the equipment they need at the code level. Software-defined infrastructure is a fundamental building block of technology for any cloud.

Virtual Machine 

 A virtual machine consists of hardware and software and is a software-defined environment for the operating system and applications that contains all the same components as a physical computer.

Work task . A separate computing task that arises in the context of application execution. In cloud computing, application work tasks can be distributed between different systems.