Spend Matters' PwC Launches its Online Talent Exchange to Join the Independent Workforce Platform Economy covers a new initiative by the consulting and accounting giant, the PwC Talent Exchange.
PwC describes their Talent Exchange as a platform that provides registered independent consultants and freelancers:
“a single, integrated platform that facilitates the project lifecycle from searching for open roles, to joining a project, to submitting hours and expenses, to networking.”
In other words, it connects independent workers to PwC and lets them find, apply for and secure work with PwC.
According to the Spend Matters article, PwC created this exchange for these key reasons:
- A growing number of talented professionals are choosing to become independent workers. The Talent Exchange allows PwC to more easily tap into this increasingly important labor pool.
- PwC wanted to develop direct relationships with these talented professionals instead of working through staffing intermediaires.
- To provide broader and easier access to independent workers with specialized skills while increasing PwC's business agility and flexibility.
PwC's Talent Exchange is not the only example of corporate online talent pools.
Last week Upwork (the entity formerly known and Elance and oDesk) announced two new products:
Upwork Pro targets mid-market firms and provides access to to pre-screened, top-rated professional freelancers that meet the specific needs of the hiring firm. It also comes up an account and support team to assure the proper freelancers are selected and the work gets done as needed.
Upwork Enterprise is freelancer management system that lets enterprises design their own talent pools by blending their own independent talent with talent provide by Upwork.
Others are also offering freelancer management systems, with examples including MBO Partners and Work Market . MBO Partners (an Emergent Research client) is also partnering with PwC on their Talent Exchange.
We think PwC's Talent Exchange is a watershed moment for independent workers who serve the corporate market.
That a leading professional services firm like PwC is embracing independent workers will not go unnoticed by other large enterprises. We expect to see many other large corporations developing independent workers talent pools over the next 2 years.
This, of course, means more opportunities for independent professionals serving corporations.
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