The uberization of work
The collaborative economy has enabled thousands of consumers to access a portfolio of products and services at reduced costs. According to the Directory of Legal and Administrative Information in France, “the collaborative economy is a peer-to-peer economy. It is based on the sharing or exchange between individuals of goods (car, dwelling, parking, drill, etc.), services (carpooling, DIY, etc.), or knowledge (computer courses, learning communities, Etc.), with a monetary exchange (sale, rental, service) or without exchange of money (donations, bartering, voluntary work), via a digital connection platform. “
The influence of the collaborative economy is growing due to the emergence of digital, robotics and artificial intelligence.
According to the study carried out by PwC, the sharing economy — sizing the revenue opportunity, the collaborative economy is expected to generate $ 325 billion in 2025.
“Everyone starts to fear to be Uberized” — Maurice Levy, CEO of Publicis Group.
The collaborative economy has outgrown commercial transactions and is now tackling jobs. We are witnessing an uberization of work.
Defining the uberization phenomenon
The uberization phenomenon is based on the success met by Uber since 2009. The business model of Uber has been an inspiration for thousands of entrepreneurs who have chosen to decline the same economic model in different industries. Moreover, the Uber phenomenon can also help to define a company who disrupts a traditional market through innovation.
In France, there is an “Observatoire de l’Uberisation ». According to this Observatoire, the uberization trend emerged at the crossroads of three major mature background trends. These three trends include the understanding of the digital universe, the search for the best customer experience, and the quest for independence by each individual in the expression of his / her skills on a daily basis.
Impact on the workforce
With the profound changes in the economic models that adapt to the digital, the question arises: are we entering the era of “workforce uberization”?
Are we heading for “on-demand” recruitment?
In the near future will we not find and then recruit on an application, a part-time developer looking for small projects or a certified accountant willing to work for 3 months on a financial engineering mission, by simply tapping on our smartphone like we do when we are looking for an Uber taxi?
We will analyze the new forms of work.
Freelancing: Being independent above all
The freelance economy comprises of one out of three Americans.
Hopwork, a leading platform for freelancers, conducted a reseach in France on freelancing. This study showed that “freelancing is a deliberate choice”. As for the main reason why freelancers have made this career choice: 88% reply that it is for the sake of independence.
Teleworking: a flexible solution for employees and employers
The uberization of work is also opening up to the world. Indeed, it is necessary to open up to the various opportunities that are now possible thanks to technology. Telework also known as “remote working” is gaining momentum. With an internet access and a computer, the employee can work from anywhere. The benefits are numerous for both the employee and the employer.
Benefits for the Employer:
- Capable of recruiting without worrying about the geographical position of its teams,
- Optimization of infrastructure expenses (offices, workspaces),
- Increase the level of engagement of employees, who spend less time in transportation and more time on their project.
Benefits for the employee:
- No waste of time in transport,
- An optimized schedule for spending more time with family and/or social activities,
- Possibility of choosing his/her working environment, between the home and a coworking space,
- Improved productivity,
- More flexibility but also the possibility to test a free-lance or independent activity.
Conclusion
The uberization of the work is in progress. This transition will bring about profound changes in the way employees sell their skills. There are already different forms of work (freelancing, interim, teleworking etc.) that are available to those who are looking for more independence and flexibility. For companies, it is a question of finding the right formula to seize the opportunities linked to the uberization of work.
