Peter Borsos, Emil Nilsson and Johan Dennelind got to know each other as top executives at Telia. With long international careers, they have gained unique individual perspectives on a multitude of different value chains. But they all share one major vision, and they’re backing it with a joint investment in Vakanta.
There’s about to be a great cultural shift in the world of work.
The stage is already set. External workforces account for over 40% of global labour costs. Gen Z (born 1997-2000) is more inclined toward freelancing than any previous generation. Professionals represent the largest group of self employed people in the EU. And 80% of large U.S. corporations plan to change their recruitment practices in favour of a flexible workforce.
These are the facts. Managerial mindsets, however, vary.
Old habits die hard. Contrary to reality, the traditional notion of life-long service ending in a gold watch persists. All too many managers still regard hiring consultants as Plan B. It’s even reflected in the language. We refer to a “contingent” workforce as though it were a just-in-case, makeshift solution. But consultancy isn’t a patch. It’s a strategic choice – for the hiring company as well as for the consultant.
Those companies who are first to meet this new reality head-on have a massive competitive advantage.
Making all the difference
Peter Borsos, former Head of Telia Global and Telia Communications: “most companies who hire consultants would benefit greatly from Vakanta’s vendor management system. You assume control and boost the network effect. You go from treating your contingent workforce as an afterthought to being faster, better connected and better informed than your competitors. That means a lot today. Tomorrow, it can make all the difference.”
It’s also a matter of saving man-hours. Benjamin Franklin’s quote “for every minute spent in organising, an hour is earnt” is more apt than ever. Digitalisation and AI are making it a big understatement.
Having held the positions of Telia Senior VP and Head of the Eurasia, Baltics & Denmark regions, Emil Nilsson knows very well what economy of scale the right SaaS can bring. ”The contingent workforce adds practical challenges,” says Emil, “not the least in terms of administration. In Vakanta, customers have an efficient digital workflow covering everything from procurement through time-reporting to invoicing and payment.”
Investing in the future
Having the right team in place was an important consideration when Peter, Johan and Emil decided to invest in Vakanta. Johan, Telia’s former CEO, in speaking for the group: “the team behind Vakanta base everything they do on first-hand experience in consultant management. They combine insights into the everyday reality of the target group with leading-edge technical capabilities. Add the already strong network of investors, and you can see why we really believe in Vakanta’s concept.”
Peter elaborates. When he, Emil and Johan invest together, they look at a number of key factors. In Vakanta’s case, three stood out: team, a proven product and scalability. “With small companies, a great team is an absolute requirement, because without it, not even a good product is going anywhere. Vakanta do have a great team, and their product is already used and appreciated by large customers. And, of course, scalability is inherent to Vakanta’s architecture. We see tremendous potential here.”
Peter, Johan and Emil share the same vision: it’s not so much a question of what will happen as when it will happen. The gig economy is becoming an accepted fact, and pragmatic corporations are restructuring. Competition for the flexible workforce is increasing, bringing a cultural shift to the boil. It’s only a matter of time before managers everywhere go from a lamenting “but we had to hire a consultant…” to an excited “and we got the best consultant!”
That subtle change in mindset will revolutionise the world of work.
And Vakanta is already in position.