Our world processes an increasing amount of data every single day. Whether you’re a startup trying to find go-to-market fit or a B2B enterprise managing a constant flow of information, data is top of mind.
With the rise of data also comes the rise of data processing and maintenance. Companies of all shapes and sizes are using workforce solutions like crowdsourcing to fulfill their data management needs.
THE PROS AND CONS OF CROWDSOURCING
Crowdsourcing, like all things, has its pros and cons. Let’s look through some of the arguments for and against crowdsourcing as a workforce solution for data processing.
PRO #1: CROWDSOURCING CAN SAVE MONEY.
Hiring full-time employees to manage your data processes can ramp up your overhead costs. Crowdsourcing as a workforce solution can help you fulfill your talent needs while also potentially keeping your finances in check and reducing long-term expenses.
CON #1: CROWDSOURCED WORKERS CAN BE INEXPERIENCED.
While it might be appealing to crowdsource routine tasks like data processing, it’s important to recognize that crowdsourced talent can lack the proper expertise for your company’s needs. It may be cheap in the short-term but crowdsourcing your data management (especially to inexperienced workers) runs the risk of producing low-quality work. Ultimately, B2B companies can suffer from reduced sales and increased overhead if their data processes are mismanaged. Crowdsourcing can actually come at a high and risky cost.
PRO #2: CROWDSOURCING CAN SAVE TIME.
Crowdsourcing can save time by bringing in talent to cover routine tasks. Instead of wasting time on busywork, B2B companies can use crowdsourcing to unlock more freedom in their day-to-day.
CON #2: CROWDSOURCED WORKERS CAN LACK LOYALTY.
Saving time should be top of mind for any company looking to optimize its processes and scale. However, crowdsourcing can impede growth because of low retention rates and a lack of talent loyalty. Crowdsourced workers are temporary hires by nature. Investing too much in crowdsourced workforce solutions can actually limit scalability and long-term growth.
Externalize data processing
Crowdsourcing has the potential to help companies save time and money. As an immediate workforce solution, crowdsourced workers can get the job done for cheaper than full-time employees.
However, companies that rely too heavily on crowdsourced workforce solutions may be stunting their own growth, limiting their scalability, and investing in low-quality work. At the end of the day, any company that crowdsources its data tasks needs to accept the risks of losing sales, preventing growth, and incurring high operational overheads.
There are other more reliable and cheaper alternatives out there that can take data processing and management head-on. Options like Werkit’s remote workforce solution allow companies to find high quality, self-managed teams at low cost. Ultimately, every company’s primary focus should be on its core functions and growth.
Crowdsourcing can be a valuable short-term solution for B2B companies looking to manage their data processes. However, as tempting as that might be, crowdsourcing your data tasks can put your company at long-term risk. For scalable and more efficient workforce solutions, crowdsourcing is only the tip of the iceberg.