Freelancers who look for job opportunities over the internet as well as hirers who are looking for expert help without the need to hire full time employees know very well how the various freelancing sites make life much easier for them.
Some such fabulous sites over the internet become meeting places where enthusiastic hirers can scout for the best talent at prices that suit them most.
I myself have, over the years, met wonderful people from across the globe at various sites. Some of them have gone on to become good friends besides professional acquaintances.
Two of the best platforms for freelancers and hirers are oDesk and Elance.
Since both the companies aim to provide similar services and share the same vision, a merger between the two is being worked out.
The new entity, which is yet to be named, will boast of nearly 8 million freelancers aboard of which three million will be from Elance and five million from oDesk.
The two platforms will continue to operate independently under their separate brands. Behind the scenes, however, the older Elance seems to be taking the lead. Elance CEO Fabio Rosati will become chief executive of the new enterprise, with oDesk CEO Gary Swart assuming the role of “strategic advisor.”Although the companies’ executives have been acquainted for many years, frequenting the same conference circuits, discussions of a merger started just a few weeks ago. (Source:VentureBeat)
The final terms and conditions and the workability of the new model has not yet been disclosed as of now, but it certainly could affect the fortunes of all those who either or both of these channels of getting across to potential experts or hirers.
Since I have never been very active on oDesk and almost dormant on Elance as well since the last two years, I was surprised to see a mail from first Elance and then oDesk in my Inbox earlier this morning.
This email message was about the proposed merger.
Though they refuse to elaborate on the exact features and the module along which the new site will work, the users are being promised:
· Investments in technology: As the two giants join hands, they are offering their users a better and bigger set of tools which will provide for better user experience, better collaboration between the two parties involved and mobile support.
· Better results: The users of this new site which, obviously, will be bigger and better than any of the two will get to see many more improvements like better freelancer recommendations.
The complete details and the Terms and Conditions of this new site have not yet been disclosed. But the people behind the scenes are trying their best to make sure that the revamped new site will make both hiring and freelancing a lot easier than before.
Existing and past users are being encouraged to write about their suggestions and comments.
I was asked to drop a mail to Fabio.Rosati@elance.com and garyeswart@odesk.com for Elance and oDesk respectively.
You may try that too if you want to make yourself heard.
The actual merger will take almost four months to be official and fully operational.
Have you ever tried any of these platforms?
And are you happy to know that they are both joining hands?
After this proposed merger, their only formidable rival in the online marketplace will be Freelancer.com which has more than ten million freelancers as members.
Do write to us to know how you feel the proposed merger will affect the freelancing community and hirers
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