As we near the end of 2020, we’ve become well acquainted with the concept of the new normal and the changes it imposes to the workforce as we know it. One major change is the high demand of freelancers.
We came across Ureed.com, one of the largest freelance marketplaces in the GCC region with over 35K freelance talents onboard. Created in 2017, the platform’s aim is to connect business owners with expert freelancers from over 150 specializations and fields.
Luckily, we had the pleasure of having a quick conversation with their co-founder, Marwan Abdulaziz, to learn more about this awesome platform. Tune in to read the whole conversation!
- Could you give us a brief rundown of Ureed.com?
Over the years, Ureed.com managed to build a client base of over 500 brands in the region and beyond, with big names like Amazon, Noon, Endeavor, Wamda, Zain, stc, and more. Ureed.com gives employers benefits such as connecting with vetted talents in their field, setting their own budget, unlimited revisions and secure payments and transactions fully conducted over the platform.
The platform also gives freelancers the ability to expand their client base from home, build an online portfolio, work flexibly around their schedule and earn sustainably online.
Ureed.com’s reach in the market is wide, as we’re the first marketplace that has invested in building a product that is compliant with the GCC region. Also, Ureed.com caters for both supply and demand simultaneously. We’re not just connecting freelancers with business owners, we’re also providing viable economic opportunities to talents in the region through the model of freelancing.
- How do you see Ureed.com changing the freelancing culture in the region?
Before the pandemic, companies were skeptical of hiring freelancers, therefore, we had to invest a lot of time, money and effort to convince companies that hiring freelancers is the most effective way to get things done.
Then COVID-19 created a cultural shift overnight to the extent that even established and mature companies became more open to the idea of hiring freelancers. We will continue to impact this culture by inviting more companies to try out our platform, preserving and presenting a very solid model of vetting freelancers and minimizing the risk of wrong hires.
- What is one feature you are proud that Ureed.com offers? I am mostly proud of Vacation Mode, a feature that’s available for freelancers and allows them to have time for themselves. All marketplaces lack this. A lot of times, managing the work life balance can be difficult, so we made sure to add this feature to allow freelancers to take ownership over their time and still take the decision that they want some time off.
- What can Ureed.com offer to enterprises?
Ureed.com offers enterprises a piece of mind and enables them to work with freelancers at ease. We take full responsibility on how freelancers are vetted before they can join the platform and start working on projects. We also offer a project management service and tools for enterprises to allow them to work with these freelancers.
- Do you think the pandemic will lead to more work with freelancers? What do you think the “new normal” will look like?
Definitely, I don’t have a doubt about that. We’re already living in the new normal. We’re currently witnessing a real structural change as more businesses are becoming more accepting of outsourcing, remote work and temporary workers due to uncertainty.
I believe the new norm will mean your value as an employee will not be based on the location you are at but rather by the value you provide to the company. So, this is the structural change that we’re going to be witnessing more of and I don’t believe it is going to change, I think it’s here to stay for a very long time.
- What’s next for Ureed.com? Are there any projects or features that you are excited about that are rolling out soon?
We’re currently working on a complete product revamp. We recently hired a full engineering team to help us achieve our goal by the end of this year which is to come up with a product that answers all the needs and compliance issues that companies are currently facing or could potentially face while working with freelancers. We’re also looking forward to onboarding more freelancers and employers on Ureed.com.
Want to know more about Ureed.com and other startups in the MENA? Feel free to drop a line using any of our social media channels over at Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and we’ll get back to you ASAP.