SmallBizResource Blog -- Productivity

SerebraConnect: A Viable Outsourcing Option

Posted by Gayle Kesten Monday, Apr 21, 2008, 10:29 AM ET

Small-business owners have an incredible amount to juggle, but typically don't have the budget to hire even temporary help.

That's why I was interested to learn about the global launch of SerebraConnect, a service that helps individuals, corporations and governments outsource tasks to skilled workers in developing nations.

SerebraConnect's roots are in technology-based training. Its Vancouver-based parent, Serebra, was founded in 1987 by Ted Moorhouse, a globally minded man who put his company's offerings into the hands of students in developing nations about five years ago. Interestingly, Serebra's main customers are corporations and governments that purchase, then donate, training in the name of social responsibility.

It then occurred to the always-thinking Moorhouse to go one step further, "to have an eBay for services, where people could get a chance to receive international money by bidding on projects from international buyers."

That's where we come in. We post our business need on SerebraConnect, then workers bid on the business. Those people don't have to be from developing nations -- they don't have to complete Serebra courses, either -- but you'll likely get the most for your money by going that route. People bidding for your business complete profiles that detail their know-how, experience and related training, plus an eBay-like rating system lets you know how well they did on other projects.

SerebraConnect has two project requirements: The work has to be done remotely and electronically. Click here for a look at the project categories and to browse posted tasks. You'll see when jobs were posted and how many people have bid. Click on a post to see the actual bids and questions/comments from bidders.

So how does SerebraConnect make money? It adds 13 percent to the price you pay; your money is held in escrow until the project is complete and has met your satisfaction. Say you accepted a bid from someone in the Philippines for $100 -- five month's salary for teachers there, Moorhouse said. Just tack on another $13 for SerebraConnect.

With SerebraConnect Moorhouse hopes to "get philanthropy into the hands of the individual." At one of his many speaking engagements, he met former president Bill Clinton, who told him, "Great things can happen to small companies." Those words spoke to Moorhouse, whose $5 million company is just 16 employees strong.

"That gave a boost to our whole company," he said. "We're really doing something that can help change the world, and if we feel that, imagine the number of people that are grasping at how they can help change the world as well."

Productivity