ESN or freelance platforms: who to choose?

You started research to find your future external freelance collaborators but you quickly realized that it was not an easy task. This search may have proved to be longer and more complex than expected, in particular because of the severe shortage of qualified talent in sectors such as tech and digital. This is why some companies decide to be supported by ESNs (Digital Services Companies) or to use freelance platforms. Which solution should you choose? In this article, we explain why you will benefit from delegating your research and, above all, how to identify the right trusted third party.

Summary

1. Call on recruitment experts

2. ESN or freelance platforms: which solution should you choose?

Call on recruitment experts

Why delegate your search for a freelancer?

Delegating your search for talent as a freelancer is above all saving time and efficiency. You can thus focus on your core business, while benefiting from the expertise of a recruitment professional, which brings real added value to the team and the company. If operational managers put their daily tasks on hold in order to focus on recruiting their team, projects are likely to slow down.

It is also important to know that freelancers frequently rely on these structures. They can thus focus on their job, by reducing their efforts on prospecting, a task that quickly proves to be time-consuming. These trusted third parties can thus be real catalysts for strategic freelance missions, by allowing access to first-choice customers. It also allows independent consultants to offer their services, without fear of overly cumbersome logistical processes, as Stéphane, Product Owner Back Office, explains in his testimony. By relying on these third-party structures, freelancers can then access the best job offers. On the business side, when Purchasing Departments reference these structures, whether they are ESNs or freelance platforms, business managers can quickly benefit from their market expertise and find the profile that corresponds in every way to their search. While some companies are difficult to access without NSEs and platforms, the same is true for some freelancers who have rare expertise on the market.

Here is a summary of the key benefits of delegating your search for freelancers:

• Save time and increase efficiency
• Find the right profiles according to the defined criteria
• Benefit from the expertise of a recruitment professional
• Access a network of qualified freelancers
• Have a single point of contact to simplify the recruitment process

Delegating your research: what to expect?

When you use an IT services provider or the services of a freelancer platform, it is normal to have a certain number of expectations. Here is an overview of the services you can benefit from depending on the partner you choose:

• Understand, frame and refine your needs : these partners will take the time to discuss with you to understand your problem, the challenges of your needs, the expertise and skills required as well as the other selection criteria that you consider important.
• Approaching talent and pre-identifying the right candidates : after understanding your needs, they will look for candidates who match your criteria, using various sourcing channels (databases, professional social networks, ads, etc.). It is very possible that they seek freelancers with whom they are used to working.
• A qualification of talents : before presenting the selected talents to you, they will conduct a thorough check of professional experience, technical skills, knowledge of the sector as well as their adequacy with your corporate culture.
• A refined selection of talents : once the selection is made, you will be able to access all the information of the profiles selected. Generally, this information is complemented by personalized recommendations based on candidates and your initial criteria. During this stage, the need may be adjusted, either because your expectations cannot be aligned with market realities, or because you have been able to refine your priorities using the first profiles presented.
• Support during the contracting process : they will support you throughout the research process and answer all your questions, in particular by adopting a support role during the contracting process.
• Regular and continuous follow-up during the collaboration : you can sometimes benefit from a follow-up applied throughout the collaboration, until the end of the mission. Some also offer other guarantees: a replacement guarantee if the proposed independent talent leaves or is not suitable, a guarantee that the status of the freelancer is in accordance with the obligation of vigilance, or even simply mediation in order to facilitate communication until the end of the collaboration.

However, it should be noted that the majority of these structures, whether they are ESNs or freelance platforms, do not offer all of these services. Some will be more specific on one or other of these points, which is why it is important to choose the partner to whom you will entrust your needs.

ESN or freelance platforms: which solution should you choose?

In order to facilitate your understanding, it is important to know the differences between NSEs and freelance platforms.

Characteristics of NSEs (digital services companies)

Formerly called SSII (Société de Services en Ingénierie Informatique), ESNs are companies specialized in the provision of services related to information and communication technologies. They thus offer consulting and expertise services.

If you choose to use an ESN, you will benefit from:

• Of a expertise in the digital, IT, data or digital transformation sectors ;
• Ofa better understanding of your technical needs ;
• support based on innovative recruitment solutions

On the other hand, NSEs generally have high margins in this networking market. Another point to remember: the profiles offered by NSEs are generally not freelancers but employees on an inter-contract basis within the ESN. If your need requires expertise that is rarer or not available among their internal team, relying on freelancer platforms may prove to be a better solution.

Characteristics of freelancer platforms

The main characteristic of freelance platforms (or “marketplaces”) is that they provide a large pool of freelancers with varied expertise. These marketplaces can also specialize in certain sectors of activity or types of jobs, such as Beager, for example, with its 4 main areas of expertise: interim management, digital transformation, project management and IT, data and technology.

There are two types of platforms:

• open platforms (the most traditional ones) allow you to directly access a wide choice of freelancers that you can filter according to their profession, their TJM (average daily rate) or the evaluations of their former customers. You have the advantage of being autonomous but you will not benefit from any personalized support.
• So-called “closed” platforms offer a support service that relies in particular on this digital medium that brings together all the talents of their network. You are therefore less autonomous in all of your research but you benefit from in-depth support on your needs and are therefore not alone in the face of the usual constraints of looking for freelancers.

By choosing a freelancer platform, you will benefit from:

• Of a direct approach (or headhunting) via closed platforms, relying on a thorough qualification of profiles, even those who did not report their current availability;
• Of a great flexibility and close listening to your interlocutors in order to adjust searches ongoing on closed platforms, in order to offer you highly qualified profiles;
• Of a large talent network, without being limited to profiles that they have already requested for previous missions;
• Of a extended visibility on the progress of research and better monitoring of ongoing processes;
• Of a administrative and legal management of consultants (contracting, verification of supporting documents, invoicing, declaration, etc.).

Unlike NSEs, the margin on the rates charged by consultants is generally less significant. It generally varies from 15 to 25% depending on the services offered. One point not to be overlooked: you will have to define your needs precisely in order to use the right freelancer platform, especially because of the fairly significant differences between open and closed platforms and the level of service offered.

Who to choose: freelancer platform or ESN?

To help you identify the right partner, here are the 3 approaches we recommend:

• Conduct an in-depth benchmark : it is important to clearly identify your need for support (legal guarantees, turnkey support, autonomy in research, etc.) in order to better compare the offers of NSEs and freelance platforms. In fact, you will not benefit from the same responsive response, or the same budget depending on the size of your business. Moreover, make sure that your partner has an approach that is aligned with your needs in order to avoid proposals for profiles that are faster but sometimes less qualified.
• Make sure that the partner you are looking for is an expert in the jobs you are looking for : have technical knowledge of the business, and therefore access to a large pool of talent: your partner must be able to understand your needs and adapt to them. It is therefore important to choose a company that offers a service that meets your most urgent expectations. For example, if you are looking for a developer specialized in a computer language that is very rare on the market, you will rather prefer experts with a thorough knowledge of Tech and/or who have a qualified network available where to find competent candidates.
• Avoid commissioning too many structures at once : it is often counterproductive to multiply your contacts in order to minimize research time. It is always more effective to communicate with a single trusted third party or a limited number of partners, with whom you will be able to devote the necessary time in order to offer them a detailed and complete view of your needs. By this means, you will be able to refine your criteria as the proposals are made and guarantee them a 360° vision of your needs.

Who to choose between NSEs or freelance platforms? It all depends on your current needs. If you are ready to delegate your research, you should therefore take the time to compare the pros and cons of each of these solutions. However, if you want a turnkey offer with a qualitative service, prefer solutions like Beager which offers all these services and places people at the heart of its recruitments.