What is Expert-as-a-Service, and how does it play into the OdeCloud business model with NetSuite?

According to Wikipedia: Expert-as-a-Service (ExaaS) is an online synchronous and asynchronous delivery model of human consulting and/or automated knowledge transfer. OdeCloud largely utilizes ExaaS to carry out its NetSuite consultant services.

Similarly to SaaS (Software as a service), the concept of ExaaS comes from the remote nature of processing data and/or providing service. The user of an ExaaS accesses the service through a webpage, VoIP, IM, etc. or any related mobile app. Typical ExaaS providers are consultants, lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc.

Fifteen years ago, the concept of SaaS (software-as-a-service) redefined the technology landscape, followed by other similar concepts such as PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service).

In the same manner, the concept of ExaaS will redefine the future of talent acquisition and how companies build their knowledge capital.

PREVIOUS POST – OdeCloud NetSuite Services: The Right Talent at The Right Time

The most noticeable aspect of ExaaS today is the proliferation of freelancing platforms like Upwork, Upcounsel or Toptal . These platforms became extremely successful almost overnight.

Toptal, for example, was founded in 2010. Their business model centered around providing highly skilled software engineers to large corporate businesses. By November 2015, Toptal was ranked the #1 fastest growing talent marketplace in North America by the consulting firm Deloitte.

Today, Toptal deals with large organizations like Airbnb, as well as small startups with no employees, and it still provides the top 3% of talents in software engineering and finance.

Why are these platforms so successful in the talent acquisition marketplace?

The main reason for their success is the exponential increase in the demand for technical expertise, which is in direct response to a higher complexity of our technology ecosystem. These platforms feature two major elements interacting through an interface.

The first element is the exponential increase in the demand for experts. To guarantee the attractiveness of the platform, there needs to be an exponential increase in incentive offers for experts.

In a report published in 2013 by OECD, it was stated that the future of growth, especially in advanced economies, will increasingly depend on developing knowledge capital — referred to as a “knowledge-based economy”. That being said, it is unrealistic for a company to keep its staff’s knowledge level up to date on every technology.

On the other hand, for most midsize organizations, paying the overhead costs to work with consulting firms and staffing agencies is a waste of money when all they truly need is the knowledge of the individual consultant.

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The current economic environment and the race for talents has opened amazing opportunities for individuals with specific skill sets to offer their knowledge directly to the end customer. These freelancing platforms provide the interface enabling smooth and effective interactions between organizations and experts.

ExaaS offers great opportunities for startups and midsize companies with specific needs to contract outstanding talents directly — all without having to pay the overall costs of hiring that person.

ExaaS, combined with SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, enables midsize organizations to compete with enterprise-level companies. As a startup or midsize organization, could you contract a senior-level NetSuite Consultant (top 3%) to manage your NetSuite account on demand?

Absolutely.

It is the most effective way to access outstanding NetSuite talent without going through the arduous hiring process. However, it raises an important question that will be addressed in an upcoming post: How do you develop Knowledge Capital when the most critical part of your information system is outsourced?

PREVIOUS POST – What is NetSuite?

A more complex and advanced NetSuite technology platform

There is no doubt that the NetSuite client base will continue to grow at over a 20% annual rate, especially with the scale provided by Oracle. Oracle has provided both market scale and technology scale to NetSuite.

NetSuite will continue offering more advanced features with deeper industry specialization, which is great for customers but raises two important questions:

• Does your organization have the right tech-minded thought leader to recommend cutting-edge Oracle NetSuite solutions?
• Does your organization have the technical skills to build and maintain these advanced features?

In a rapidly evolving NetSuite ecosystem, the expertise required goes far beyond the skill set of a typical NetSuite administrator or developer. It is highly unlikely that a single individual can possess all required business, technical, and leadership skills.

This is why organizations should explore Expert-as-a-Service — or NetSuite Admin-as-a-Service. This model enables timely access to the right skills to maintain and expand your NetSuite platform in line with evolving business needs.

Is OdeCloud NetSuite Services the right solution for you?

Cheers!

Osar