Rethink routine – is there a better way to manage your workload?

The Van That Can has completed over 15,000 deliveries with just two directors and a freelancer ecosystem, embracing the new way SMEs are getting ahead

Statistics show that growing numbers of industries are regularly turning to sites like oDesk to run their business, as the ease of hiring freelance talent is greater understood.

Hiring freelancers isn’t the domain of small businesses only, either. Large ASX-listed companies wanting to tap into talent on demand are turning to sites like oDesk in a bid to improve efficiency rates.

oDesk has become a staffing resource for Tara-Jay Rimmer, who launched The Van That Can in Brisbane three years ago, after a delivery firm refused to take a box containing a stand up paddle board up two flights of stairs.

The Van That Can has since completed more than 15,000 deliveries for more than 300 businesses throughout Brisbane and South East Queensland.

Rimmer has 14 drivers out on the road completing up to 70 removals and deliveries a day and only two directors in the office leveraging freelance services to manage jobs and run the business.

She has accessed freelancers from around the world to handle SEO, website updates, administrative tasks such as data mining, data entry, infographics for blog articles, graphic designs for Christmas cards and background music for videos.

“The biggest benefit of online hiring has been the financial benefits, due to the lower cost of not needing to have a staff member on full-time payroll, then having to find them work in quieter periods. It also creates time for us as directors to focus on building and growing The Van That Can instead of working in the business,” Rimmer says.

“By using this model to run our business, we’re keeping running costs low, which in turn allows us to expand at a faster rate, therefore employing more drivers.”

Elance-oDesk country manager Kyri Theos says businesses realise there’s a better way to manage workloads and are rethinking their routine when it comes to resourcing. Theos urges business owners to consider where specialised freelance talent could improve efficiencies.

“Hiring freelancers can help SMEs survive the usual peaks and troughs that come with running a business,” he says. “We’re finding both SMEs and larger companies are increasingly searching for freelance talent to augment the skills of their core team.

“By tapping into online talent, you can integrate niche capabilities within your team and gain a competitive advantage over businesses that aren’t yet accessing those skills.”

The freelance jobs site is populated with millions of specialised freelancers from around the world. oDesk reports that freelancing contributes around $51 billion to the Australian economy each year.

A diverse number of industries are realising the powerful benefits of accessing freelance talent through the site, such as advertising agencies, digital marketing agencies, education providers, online businesses, travel agents, real estate agents and accommodation operators, which can see the value of extending their talent pool as required.

Businesses are hiring freelancers for tasks ranging from IT, customer support, accounting, personal assistants, design, research, writing and supporting an online presence, Theos says.

For more information on using freelance talent visit oDesk.com.

Writer: Nina Hendy