Outsized, an on-demand talent marketplace has launched in the MENA region to link clients with talent needs and consultants.
Beyond finding the experts, the platform also assists clients in scoping out projects and listing required deliverables. It then uses a shortlisting algorithm together with human insight to narrow down potential individuals that meet client needs.
The platform covers multiple segments within financial services, such as retail and digital banking, fintech, payments, investment houses and insurance, where companies are looking for talent to facilitate, for example, project management, risk management, data analytics, business analytics, mergers & acquisitions, proposition design, regulatory compliance and digital transformation.
Currently, clients can access some 10,000 fully vetted independent consultants and expert freelancers including digital transformation specialists, project & programme managers, strategy consultants, data scientists, actuaries, innovation consultants, agile coaches, and business analysts.
Key features of the platform include ensuring consultants and freelancers can access 3-12 month income at market validated rates, which are paid on time. While a community initiative seeks to connect peers and offer support such as mentorship and upskilling resources.
Vikram Malhotra, managing director - MENA at Outsized, said: "With the ever-increasing demand for deep expertise, there is a newfound need to have agile talent on board, and this is bound to grow in the foreseeable future. In a recent survey of CEO's by a prominent consulting firm, it was noted that expertise was a key choke point for 70% of the companies these executives led. Finding the right talent is becoming more challenging as new specialties and niche skillsets arise. Having the right talent on board can help companies improve their performance and grow faster by closing gaps in skills and knowledge. Marketplaces such as Outsized are allowing companies to reinvent the relationship between an employee and the workplace, enabling them to tap into the global talent pool."
The trend of remote working and the availability of jobs not restricted to a geographic location are speeding up the growth of many sectors, especially financial services, in the Middle East region, Outsized added.
