"We are offering Vodacom customers and NSBC Members first exclusive access to join ExpertHive before opening it up to the public."
What is ExpertHive?
Vodacom Executive Head: SME Segment and Propositions, Nastassha Dooks:
So ExpertHive is a platform we've created in partnership with another SME, Urbian, to connect SME’s with vetted professionals that they need to run and grow their business. So we've created a web-based platform that allows SMEs to access quality vetted professionals in services, like digital marketing, IT services, design, legal any of the core services that they need to be able to run and grow their business.
Is buying services on ExpertHive safe?
Yashika Satgoor, Executive Head: venture and Business Partnerships at Vodacom:
The platform also offers a secure payment mechanism by credit card. So SME owners will pay for the services requested based on the particular scope of work. All transactions, including the communication between the expert and the SME is conducted online, thereby ensuring traceability for work delivered at all points.
As an SME why would I use ExpertHive?
Nastassha mentions:
So ExpertHive is here to enable scale. Because we know access to the right skill is often a struggle and getting access to the skills when you need it is an even bigger struggle. So on outside the reason why we created this platform with no contracts no lengthy sign-up processes is so that SMEs can access whichever skill they need from whichever expert they need as and when they actually need the services.
If you're launching a new product and you need to scale up on both digital marketing and maybe Design Services, you can work with multiple experts all on the platform all at the same time. The minute your product is launched and you need to move on to additional or alternative services you can either switch or actually just stop using the services until you may need access to an expert again.
Are the services affordable?
Anton Moulder, Urbian Managing Partner:
We have various packages tailored to the size and the kind of company with some starting as low as R500 per month ranging up to as much as R25,000 per month and higher depending on the company's size.
Are all the professionals on your platform vetted?
Professionals are absolutely vetted, says Anton. So we only work with the top five percent of companies in South Africa. So each expert is vetted through a series of online automated checks as well as manual human quality checks across various criteria, like years in business, industry domain experience, client testimonials and reviews, their digital presence, profile completion just to name a few.
How long can I Hire a professional for?
Anton mentions: You can hire a professional from as short as one month all the way up to one year, or two years or as long as you and the expert are in business.
Can I sell my services on ExpertHive?
Anton: Every professional has to pass through a quality check and which you can read on the ExpertHive website. So if your company passes the quality check and you are indeed in the top five percent, you can have a look at the service offerings that we offer on the website, have a look at the service pillars and if you match then you can sign up, create your profile, pick your service category and your price band and one of our account managers will then do our quality checks and get back to you with whether you have an approval or whether we have any questions that need answering before you can have approval and go live.
Tell me more about the Early Access Launch offer?
So we are offering Vodacom customers and NSBC Members first exclusive access to join the ExpertHive before opening it up to the public in the coming weeks and months. So the Early Access offering is a concierge type Business Service where through a series of questions and consultations each SME is matched to a unique service package and price point that fits their needs and then matched with the shortlist of verified experts within their specific industry and just to be fair to everyone who signs up we are using an early access waitlist method so we can move through each company in an orderly manner.
Click here to join the ExpertHive waitlist.
Click here to sign up as an expert on ExpertHive.
