In a world of accelerating technological change and ever-evolving business landscapes, IT leaders face the relentless challenge of staying ahead of the curve. As the lifeblood of modern organizations, IT teams must constantly adapt to meet the growing demand for specialized skills and expertise. Traditional workforce models are straining under this pressure, prompting IT leaders to seek new, innovative approaches to building their teams. One such approach gaining prominence is the use of fractional talent.
According to a study by Upwork, 50% of the US workforce will be freelancers by 2027, highlighting the growing importance of flexible talent solutions. Fractional talent refers to the engagement of highly skilled professionals on a part-time or project basis, offering organizations the flexibility to draw upon a diverse pool of expertise. This model has proven to be an effective solution for IT leaders’ challenges in the current climate. With the demand for agility, efficiency, and specialized skills only set to increase, fractional talent is not merely a passing trend; it is here to stay.
“The future of work is not about full-time employees versus freelancers. It’s about how companies can find the right mix of both to drive growth and innovation.” Stephane Kasriel, former CEO of Upwork.
Future Workforce Report 2021: How Remote Work is Changing Businesses Forever
In this blog post, we will explore the rise of fractional talent in IT, its benefits, and how IT leaders can leverage it for the success of their teams and projects.
The Rise of Fractional Talent
Fractional talent refers to engaging highly skilled professionals on a part-time, temporary, or project basis instead of hiring full-time employees. This approach enables organizations to access specialized expertise and resources for specific needs while maintaining the flexibility to scale their workforce up or down based on project requirements.
The rise of the fractional workforce can be attributed to several factors, including:
- Increase in remote work
- Advances in collaboration technology
- Growing need for specialized skills in the IT sector
“Freelancing in America” report states that in 2020, 36% of the US workforce was freelancing, and this number continues to grow amid the changing work landscape (Source: Freelancers Union and Upwork, “Freelancing in America: 2020”). This statistic shows the growing importance of flexible work arrangements in the American economy. This shift towards more flexible work arrangements is driven by workers seeking greater autonomy and organizations looking to optimize their budgets.
A study by Deloitte found that companies can save 20-30% in labor costs by adopting a fractional workforce model. Furthermore, according to Gartner, 68% of IT leaders prefer to work with a flexible workforce to adapt to changing project requirements, emphasizing the increasing demand for agility in the IT sector.
“In the new world of work, organizations must reimagine how they think about talent. Embracing fractional talent allows access to specialized skills, increase agility, and drive better business outcomes.”
Josh Bersin, Global Industry Analyst and Dean of the Josh Bersin Academy
As organizations increasingly recognize the value of flexibility and the importance of accessing top talent on a project-by-project basis, fractional talent is becoming an integral component of the modern IT workforce.
Benefits of Fractional Talent for IT Teams
- Access to a larger pool of specialized talent – One of the main advantages of embracing fractional talent is the ability to access a vast pool of specialized expertise. IT leaders can tap into the skills and knowledge of professionals from various backgrounds and industries, which might otherwise be unavailable or too expensive to hire full-time. This strategy allows IT teams to bring in the right experts for specific projects, ensuring they have the best resources to tackle complex challenges.
- Increased agility and ability to scale up or down based on project requirements – Fractional talent offers IT teams the flexibility to quickly adapt to changing project needs and fluctuating workloads. By engaging professionals on a part-time or project basis, IT leaders can quickly scale their teams up or down as required without the long-term commitment and overhead associated with hiring full-time employees.
- Cost-effectiveness and optimized resource allocation – Adopting a fractional talent strategy can lead to significant cost savings for organizations. As mentioned earlier, a study by Deloitte found that companies can save 20-30% in labor costs by adopting a fractional workforce model. By engaging professionals only when their skills are needed, IT leaders can optimize their budgets and allocate resources more effectively.
“Embracing the gig economy means embracing a more flexible, agile approach to work that can drive better outcomes.”
Daniel Pink, author of ‘Drive’ (Source: Daniel Pink’s interview with Big Think)
The benefits of fractional talent are not limited to cost savings and access to specialized skills; they also include the potential for better business outcomes. By incorporating flexibility and agility into their workforce strategy, IT leaders can foster a more adaptive and innovative environment, leading to greater success in the ever-changing IT landscape.
Example: How Fractional Talent Transformed an IT Project
Project Overview
Let’s look at a medium-sized software development company specializing in creating custom solutions for clients in various industries. A client approached them for a complex project requiring expertise in machine learning and data analytics, where the company’s in-house team lacked experience.
Challenges faced by the IT team
The client’s project had a tight deadline, and hiring full-time employees with the required expertise would have been time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, the company’s existing IT team was already occupied with other ongoing projects, making allocating resources to this new project challenging.
Implementation of a fractional talent strategy
To address these challenges, the company’s IT leadership explored the potential of fractional talent. They engaged several experienced machine learning and data analytics professionals on a project basis, integrating them with the existing team to work on the client’s project. These fractional talents brought with them the necessary expertise while also providing insights and innovative approaches that the in-house team could learn from.
Results and impact on the project’s success
By incorporating fractional talent into its workforce strategy, the company successfully completed the project on time and within budget. The client was highly satisfied with the end product, and the company’s reputation for delivering quality solutions was further solidified. Additionally, the in-house team gained valuable knowledge and experience from working alongside the fractional professionals, contributing to their overall growth and skill set.
This example illustrates how fractional talent can be a game-changer for IT projects, providing access to specialized skills, increased agility, and a pathway to success in a competitive industry.
How IT Leaders Can Leverage Fractional Talent
Identifying the right projects for fractional talent
To effectively leverage fractional talent, IT leaders must identify projects or tasks that would benefit most from specialized expertise and a flexible workforce. These may include projects with tight deadlines, complex technical requirements, or a need for specialized skills that are not available in-house. By pinpointing the areas where fractional talent can add the most value, IT leaders can make strategic decisions about when and how to engage external professionals.
Building a culture of collaboration and adaptability
For fractional talent to thrive within an organization, creating a culture that fosters collaboration and adaptability is crucial. IT leaders should encourage open communication, knowledge sharing, and a willingness to learn from one another, regardless of whether team members are full-time employees or temporary professionals. By promoting an inclusive and collaborative environment, IT leaders can ensure that in-house and fractional talent work together effectively, maximizing the potential for success.
Utilizing technology and platforms to manage fractional teams
Managing a team of fractional professionals can present unique challenges, as they may be working remotely or have different schedules and availability. To overcome these challenges, IT leaders should leverage technology and platforms that facilitate seamless communication, collaboration, and project management. Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, or Trello can keep everyone on the same page, streamline workflows, and ensure that projects stay on track.
“The key to a successful fractional workforce is creating a culture that values and integrates these new ways of working.”
Jim Collins, author of ‘Good to Great’ (Source: Adapted from “Good to Great” and other interviews)
As emphasized by Jim Collins, IT leaders need to embrace the unique dynamics of working with fractional talent and integrate these professionals into the fabric of their organization. By doing so, they can tap into the full potential of the fractional workforce, driving innovation, agility, and growth in the IT sector.
Conclusion: Embracing the Future of IT Teams
The rise of fractional talent is a testament to the ever-evolving landscape of the IT sector, where flexibility, agility, and specialized expertise have become paramount. As the demand for such talent grows, IT leaders must adapt and recognize the potential benefits of incorporating fractional professionals into their teams.
By leveraging fractional talent, IT leaders can access vast expertise, scale their workforce based on project requirements, and optimize resource allocation. A study by Accenture found that companies leveraging flexible talent models can achieve up to three times faster growth compared to those relying solely on traditional workforce strategies (Source: Accenture, “Workforce 2025: Flexibility, Fluidity and the Future of Work”). This statistic highlights the potential of fractional talent to drive better business outcomes and foster a more innovative, adaptive IT environment.
However, to fully capitalize on these benefits, IT leaders must create a culture of collaboration, utilize technology to manage fractional teams effectively, and strategically identify projects that can benefit most from this flexible workforce model.
As we look to the future of IT teams, it is clear that fractional talent is not a passing trend but an integral component of the modern workforce. By embracing this new way of working, IT leaders can position their organizations for continued success and growth in an increasingly competitive and dynamic industry.
Want to know more about fractional IT? Reach out to EJ Bowen at ej.bowen@waqasahmadpk97gmail-com
Other content by OmniLegion Technologies 10 key steps to selecting the right ccaas platform for your business