Digital intermediation platforms: a new lever in the employment sector

Digital intermediation platforms have already conquered many fields. Transport with Uber, accommodation with Booking, dating with Tinder, catering with Deliveroo... The list goes on and on, and is now part of the habits of many French people. Naturally, the employment sector had to follow the trend, especially as its potential is considerable. In this article, Le Backyard reveals the essential steps for creating your own digital intermediation platform dedicated to employment.

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What is a digital intermediation platform?

Digital intermediation platforms are based on a simple model: that of the intermediary. Their mission is to connect companies operating in specific fields with individuals who have a concrete request. 

In the case of platforms specialized in the employment sector, skilled workers (gardeners, waiters, receptionists, etc.) are put in touch with companies looking to fill one-off assignments.

The creation of such platforms responds to a real need to efficiently connect talent and opportunities. They simplify the recruitment process for both parties, while reducing costs and lead times.

Advanced algorithms and high-performance management tools are key to a precise match between the skills sought and the profiles available. The result: fast, efficient recruitment that's perfectly adapted to the needs of today's market.

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Why create a platform in the employment sector?

Creating a digital intermediation platform is a real opportunity these days, as the job market is full of opportunities! Here's why:

1. A growing need for flexibility: with the boom in freelance and one-off assignments, companies are looking for fast, reliable solutions to find the right talent.
2. Optimized processes: platforms automate time-consuming tasks for companies, such as selecting candidates, making contact or administrative management.
3. A fluid user experience: an intuitive interface, accessible on mobile and web, greatly enhances user satisfaction and encourages loyalty.

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Who are the main players in employment intermediation?

There are currently three players dominating the job market. Let's take a brief look at these platforms and their specific features: 

• Brigad, a premium solution that connects qualified freelancers with companies offering one-off assignments.
• Temper, which focuses more on short assignments and covers areas such as logistics and events,
• Cookorico, which specializes in the hotel-restaurant sector and targets cooks and front-of-house staff in particular.

These three solutions modernize the job market by offering seamless experiences adapted to a constantly evolving work environment.

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How do you create your digital intermediation platform?

To ensure the success of your digital intermediation platform specialized in the employment sector, it's important to follow certain key steps when setting it up.

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Defining the platform's positioning 

Essential step: you absolutely must have a clear vision of the type of relationship your platform will facilitate. You need to think in terms of both professionals and customers.

Cleaning staff for individuals or companies? Wellness specialists with large companies to improve employee well-being, or with private individuals in need of home care?

A well-defined positioning will enable you to develop a relevant value proposition and effectively attract your target audience.

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Niche or mass-market positioning?

Le Backyard gives you straightforward advice and recommends that you enter a niche market in order to offer a quality service to your partner companies and skilled workers.

In fact, mass marketplaces are not recommended, as they are time-consuming and complex to set up. They involve higher costs, not least because the technology to be implemented on the platform is complicated.

What's more, it's difficult to offer potential customers a clear positioning when you're not specific enough. As a result, the message is blurred, which is a significant obstacle when it comes to recruiting partner companies.

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Thinking through the development of your platform

Developing a high-performance digital intermediation platform doesn't just happen. One of the most crucial steps is to define in advance all the functionalities you'll need to operate your platform effectively. 

It's vital to take this time to think things through, in order toavoid unnecessary and additionalcosts and delays. In fact, having a well-defined list will enable you to launch the development of your platform on the right footing, and get the final product perfect for launch.

Without this, you run the risk of adding or modifying features as you go along, which will inexorably lead to budget increases and delays, unnecessarily pushing back your launch.

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Define all functionalities

You need to identify the specific needs of your platform, so that you can offer your users a smooth and complete experience from day one.

Key thoughts on functionality include: 

• The registration system: rely on a simple, secure process for fast registration.
• The matchmaking model: define an efficient and transparent mechanism for connecting the right professionals to the right jobs.
• Integrated messaging: choose a fluid tool that facilitates exchanges.

A well-defined list of features helps optimize costs and lead times, while guaranteeing a product that's ready to seduce your audience as soon as it's launched.

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Thinking through the user experience

Both the user experience (UX) and the user interface (UI) need to be thought through to the last detail to ensure simple, intuitive navigation that will encourage professionals and customers alike to use your platform on a regular basis.

Taking care of these aspects is fundamental to user retention, an essential condition for the long-term success of your business.

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Integration of payment and contract management systems

Payment systems and contract management are delicate and essential elements in establishing trust between parties and guaranteeing the success of your platform. 

Le Backyard uses the third-party Stripe solution for efficient, secure payment. By integrating this system, customers don't have to worry about making payments by generating pay slips. As for the professional, he can rest assured that he'll be paid on time.

Contract signature must also be simplified to generate trust for both parties, and also to speed up the process, a feature highly valued in sectors where needs can arise quickly. A third-party electronic signature tool is therefore essential on your platform.

With a smooth payment and electronic signature system, you also avoid users bypassing your platform to formalize their live relationships.

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Creating an ecosystem of trust

The success of a digital intermediation platform hinges on one essential element: trust. By creating a secure, reliable ecosystem, you encourage your users to collaborate within your tool, while reducing the risk of them bypassing the platform to work directly with each other.

To build this trust, it's crucial to implement certain essential features. Here are a few of the most important:

• Management of reviews and recommendations: this reassures both your partner companies and workers. Ratings and reviews from other users ensure the seriousness of each profile.
• System for verifying skills and certifications: by clearly displaying professionals' skills and abilities, with supporting evidence, you encourage partner companies to use your platform.
• Customer service and dispute management: responsive customer service and a dispute management mechanism are undeniable assets. By acting as an intermediary in the event of a problem, you demonstrate your commitment to user satisfaction, which reinforces credibility and long-term loyalty.

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Facilitating recruitment

Recruiting both partner companies and skilled workers is essential to the success of your digital intermediation platform. By attracting and retaining quality users, you reinforce the value of your service. Here are a few essential steps to achieve this:

• Guarantee the quality of the profiles offered by highlighting the skills of each individual to assure companies that the profiles proposed are reliable and suited to their needs.
• Set up a high-performance tracking system to manage requests smoothly and accurately.
• Support users with dedicated assistance to guide employers and professionals through the entire process.
• Recruitment assistance with personalized advice to help companies identify the right profiles.
• Guarantee reactive technical support to quickly resolve any problems related to the use of the platform.

Le Backyard has already helped numerous companies launch their digital intermediation platforms. Contact us so that we can put our expertise to work for you in this new entrepreneurial challenge!

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