Facilitating links between clients and freelancers in the maritime sector
The future Internet platform Ocean Freelancers will connect independent service providers and small structures of the blue economy with their customers and clients. It is supported by the Marseille-based specialist in human resources in the maritime sector Oceandrive Services. "Our idea is to facilitate the contractualization between companies and freelancers. Freelancers face difficulties to get in touch with the right interlocutors. It can take time. Payment deadlines can be problematic. On the side of the companies, it is sometimes difficult to recruit while there is an army of freelancers. The targeted jobs in the nautical industry are, for example, project managers, maritime experts, and port management consultants," explains Nicolas Carasso, the company's managing director.
An integrated solution including invoicing
To simplify the mission throughout its duration, Ocean Freelancers integrates all the steps, from the selection of the profile to the payment of the invoice. It also controls the regulatory documents for the completion of the mission. For a typical mission, the main steps are :
- Publication of the mission by the client
- Submission of quotes by registered freelancers at the rate they wish. A solution of wage portage is possible.
- After selection, contract proposal by the client with electronic signature
- Advance payment of the freelancer with management of the invoicing on his behalf
A transparent offer
For its remuneration, Ocean Freelancers receives a commission set at 7% on the sums invoiced to customers. "This is in line with the business providers in yachting or shipping. Compared to an engineering services company, it is completely transparent and the client knows how much he is paying the engineer, which is an important consideration in terms of CSR policy," says Nicolas Carasso. Client companies pay a fixed fee for access to the platform as well as a percentage linked to invoices.
Version 1 of the platform will be operational in June 2021. At 1 month and a half of the opening, it counts a hundred of pre-registration of independent and small structures in 15 days and more than twenty principals.
