Cloud-based technology has been a significant game-changer responsible for propelling the growth of the freelance industry. Today, cloud-based technology is redefining the definition of work. Traditional workers are being replaced by freelancers who live and work from various parts of the world—thanks to cloud technology.

As ever more sophisticated cloud-based technologies evolve and as more companies embrace digital transformation, there is no sign that the rise of freelancers is going to slow down any time soon.

Cloud computing empowers freelancers with the tools to operate remotely and network with customers, associates, and other freelancers from various parts of the world. Here’s how cloud technology is supporting freelancers all over the world.

Communication

Once upon a time, taking on a client in a different time zone—let alone halfway around the world—would have cost you more in long distance fees than your final invoice would bring in. Today, freelancers can communicate freely with their associates and customers at no personal cost. Numerous apps have been designed to facilitate effective communication between working teams in various physical locations, such as Uberconference and Skype, which allow freelancers and their customers to communicate via chat, video, and audio channels via the web.

What's more, most cloud-based websites or apps today have communication features as part of their product interface, underlining the importance of communication in facilitating the growth of the freelance economy.

Sharing

Just like communication, cloud technology has provided freelancers with the needed tools to collaborate digitally and share documents from any part of the world.

Dropbox, Google Docs, Slack, and many other industry-specific platforms are cloud-based document-sharing innovations that have allowed freelancers to effectively collaborate with other associates and customers from different parts of the world without sharing the same office. Freelancers can share documents for ongoing projects as needed—even working together in the same document at the same time for remote brainstorming sessions.

Moreover, website-building platforms such as GoDaddy, WordPress, and Squarespace allow freelancers to host and manage their own websites with little or no web expertise. These cloud-based, pre-coded, DIY websites have contributed in no small measure to the growth of the freelance economy. Freelancers can leverage the use of these platforms to engage with their customers and operate their businesses.

Payments

The success of the freelance economy is dependent mainly on the development of efficient and highly secure e-payment systems. Thankfully, there are lots of cloud payment sites and other payment APIs that have eased the challenges associated with getting payment from clients around the world. Several digital payment platforms available today have removed the friction that were historically experienced by freelancers using traditional financial management systems.

With e-payment platforms, freelancers can send and receive payments seamlessly without losing all of their profits on overhead transaction costs. Furthermore, issues of compliance with the policies of different countries and the challenge of navigating the fluctuating exchange rates associated with cross-border payments have all been resolved by these cloud-based e-payment platforms.