Tuesday 24 January 2017

The Uber Revolution is here, but what does it mean for HR?

Chances are, you’re no stranger to the now-ubiquitous rideshare phenomenon that is completely – if you’ll pardon the pun – driven by consumer demand. But if you haven’t yet considered its ramifications on the way you run your company, then now’s the time.

You know how it works. Using a simple app, you tap your smartphone and your driver arrives in minimum possible time. It’s convenient, it’s where and when you want it, and it’s in the hands of the people: they rate and appraise their chauffeurs, and with 50,000 new drivers each month, in the transport world’s answer to Darwinism, only the best survive. 

It’s so simple, so effective, that the name has become synonymous with the business model. ‘Uberization’ has snuck into the corporate lexicon, and while it may mean different things to different people, the understanding that it embodies the breaking down of existing jobs and services into separate tasks that can be requested on-demand is a pretty good place to start.
So what does this mean for you?

In their recent study, PwC explore the changing face of workplaces across the globe. As we’ve discovered, among these realisations was the fact that almost half of HR Managers surveyed believed that by 2020, at least one fifth of the people on their books would be temporary workers.

Much to the chagrin of traditional Taxi companies, Uber’s competitive pricing and ‘on-demand’ structure have been a real boon to consumers. And as those 50,000 new signups a month demonstrate, the scenery is just as good on the other side of the fence. Unconstrained by regular shifts at predetermined times, an Uber Driver is in control of when and where he or she works, enjoying a sense of convenience and freedom that seems infinitely more compatible with the demands of other facets of life.

And this is no anomaly. In a similar way, this emerging workforce of contractors, temporary workers and consultants will enjoy their upper hand. They’re the Uber Drivers of their own destiny.
Which means that if you want to embrace this change, you’re going to see a higher rotation of faces at Your HQ. But they’ll be the kind you want to have around – trust us.

If right now, you’re imagining the worst temporary worker you’ve ever employed – the one that didn’t care about your business (and perhaps didn't have the motivation to), the one that didn’t contribute to your lively, collaborative office culture, or maybe even the one that didn’t show up at all – please, don’t. Although you’re not alone: when we spoke to clients for an earlier piece, we discovered that temping horror stories – from either side of the fence – were alarmingly common.

In the Uber world, that Darwinian equation comes into play heavily. With an ability to rate each driver, consumers carry the fate of each driver in their collective hands. Fortunately for you, an emergence of uber-esque HR platforms (like ours, Temp Market) provides you with the opportunity to rate – and crucially – select based on ratings. When only the best will do, only the brightest survive.

A traditional Taxi company driver will have accreditation. He or she will have passed through training and a standardised screening process. An Uber driver will have no formal qualification, but will have instead survived the scrutiny of a large, and increasingly discriminating consumer base.
Which driver would you prefer?





No comments:

Post a Comment

Are you working ON the business or IN the business?

5 ways small business can benefit from hiring a casual worker There comes a time in every business owner’s life when you are just swamped....