Fiverr transforms from service marketplace to hiring platform

Fiverr has announced a significant update to its platform, marking a notable transition from a services marketplace to a comprehensive hiring platform. This change is aimed at addressing the burgeoning demand for skilled talent and new work methodologies in the contemporary job market.

The advent of remote work and the growing prominence of the gig economy have driven businesses to seek skilled freelancers for both short-term and long-term engagements. Fiverr's new features are designed to streamline the process for companies to find and recruit the appropriate talent efficiently. Key aspects of this update involve profession-based talent discovery, hourly rates for Fiverr Pro freelancers, business partners for project management, and support for new talent through a kickstart programme.

Profession-based talent discovery is one of the cornerstone features of this update. "Our brand-new professions catalogue will enable customers to search not just by services, but also by professions, and skills, providing rich information about a freelancer's background and experience," stated Micha Kaufman, founder and CEO of Fiverr. This will allow customers to explore freelancers' professions, services offered, unique skill sets, and expertise, aiding them in making informed decisions about whom to work with.

For the first time, Fiverr Pro freelancers will have the option to charge hourly rates, facilitating engagement on long-term and ongoing projects. This provides businesses with much-needed flexibility as project requirements evolve over time. Kaufman explained, "The new hourly rate hiring option allows businesses to choose how they work with freelancers in a way that best suits their organisation's needs."

Another notable feature is the introduction of business partners for project management. Fiverr-trained business partners will oversee an organisation’s projects from inception to completion, offering a high level of service for complex and long-term projects. “Business partners are experienced project managers who know your industry and will assemble a team of freelance talent to ensure you get high-quality results quickly and within budget,” according to a statement from the press release.

For new freelancers, Fiverr is implementing the Kickstart Programme, designed to assist in their onboarding process. The programme includes guided onboarding, free courses, market research tools, and AI-based feedback during project creation. This initiative aims to set new freelancers up for success by providing key resources and support at the early stages of their careers.

AI technology also plays a crucial role in Fiverr's latest update. Neo, an AI feature integrated into the platform, enhances project management and search functionalities. “Our pursuit of innovation and last year’s debut of Fiverr Neo provided valuable insights into how people want to use AI on our platform,” said Kaufman. Neo aids customers by drafting project briefs, narrowing search criteria, and offering detailed reviews, thus making the hiring process more seamless and efficient.

Additionally, Fiverr has introduced AI Briefs powered by Neo. These briefs assist customers in articulating project needs to freelancers more effectively. Customers can provide minimal input, and Neo will generate a structured brief, prompting for additional details such as timelines and deliverables if necessary. Early testing indicates that AI-enhanced reviews lead to more detailed and useful feedback without extra effort from customers.

Fiverr's transformation aims to integrate human expertise with technological advancements, shaping the future of work and collaboration. This summer product release is initially accessible to users on an invitation basis and will be rolled out to the entire community in the coming months.