Gig Economy Challenges

India’s Gig Workers Just Got Their ID Card… But..... On Budget Day, a dear friend reached out. “Gopal, did you watch the news? The FM just announced ID cards for gig workers!” For a moment, I was happy. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. But let’s be honest, 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. An ID card is nice. But gig workers need real protections, not just paperwork. I’ve been on both sides of the table, designing consulting solutions and freelancing. And I’ve seen the chaos firsthand. Big consulting firms release salary benchmarking reports, pay parity insights, and raise trends for employees. 👉 But for gig workers? Nothing. No rate cards. No structured pay guidelines. No client accountability. 👉 You charge too high? They ghost you. 👉 You charge too low? You undervalue yourself forever. How do you even define “𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐲” when the market decides your worth on the spot? And this isn’t just about delivery executives and drivers. White-collar freelancers, consultants, designers, independent tech professionals, face a different nightmare. 🚨 Which is why 50% of freelancers go back to full-time jobs within their first 36 months. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐚𝐲, 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. I discussed this in-depth in my podcast with Jon Younger PhD known as the Godfather of the Freelancing Revolution. The Harsh Reality Behind the Headlines: ⇢ 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐃 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Recognition is great, but does it stop companies from undercutting freelancers? Does it force platforms to offer fair commissions? ⇢ ₹30,000 𝐔𝐏𝐈 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐯𝐬. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 The government is offering gig workers a ₹30,000 UPI-linked credit card. But tell me, how does credit help when clients delay payments for months? A predictable income stream matters more than a loan. ⇢ 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐯𝐬. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬—𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬? A Swiggy rider and a McKinsey consultant on an independent contract are both “gig workers.” But will both get healthcare benefits? Will both be eligible for social security? 𝐎𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞-𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧? Where’s the clarity? Where’s the policy that fixes the real problem? The Gig Economy is Booming. But Who’s Actually Winning? The demand is rising. But the people powering it are still fighting for fair pay, protections, and stability. Recognition is great. But gig workers, blue-collar and white-collar, need protection from exploitation, not just paperwork. Freelancers, Consultants, What’s the worst payment delay YOU’VE faced? #GigEconomy #Freelancers #Budget2025 #FutureOfWork #SocialSecurity

I have been freelancing for 3 years and here is the complete truth about it, without romanticising it! Sure, the idea of "being your own boss", working from the comfort of your own home, and having the flexibility to choose your own hours can be very liberating but the all that glitters is not gold! From the lack of stability and job security to the never ending pressure to find new clients - freelancing is not all rainbows and butterflies. Here are the harsh realities of being a freelancer which you should consider: - No steady pay-check: Income as a freelancer, can vary greatly from month to month. This makes it extremely difficult to plan for the future. I have had months of making INR 2 lacs and then INR 15,000, so you need to be ready with a finance cushion in case things go south. - Cycle of finding new clients: As a freelancer you need to be on your toes - networking and finding new clients all day every day. A project can last anywhere from 1-6 months and hence you need to manage your workflow in a way that you don't overwhelm yourself with work but also have enough work to sustain yourself. - Lack of work life balance: When you are your own boss - it is difficult to get track and meet deadlines because you are a wonderful boss but a sloppy employee. There's also the risk of overworking oneself and burning out, as you often work in a niche you enjoy so separating work and play often doesn't happen. All in all - while the freedom and flexibility of freelancing can be alluring, it's important to weigh the pros and cons before making the decision to become a freelancer. What are some of the challenges you have faced working for yourself? Let me know in the comments below! #freelancingtips #freelancinglife #linkedingrowth #linkedincreator

Zomato has officially shut down its intercity food delivery service, Zomato Legends, after two years of operations. 🔒 The announcement was made by CEO Deepinder Goyal on August 22, 2024, stating that “despite efforts to make the service viable, it ultimately did not meet customer needs or expectations”. 👉 Launched in August 2022, Zomato Legends aimed to provide customers with iconic dishes from various cities across India. Initially, it allowed users to order meals from ten different cities, with a focus on delivering food via flights to enhance speed and efficiency. 👉 In April 2024, Zomato temporarily suspended Legends to reassess its operations, later relaunching it in July with modifications such as a minimum order value and pre-stocked food items to reduce delivery times. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴? 🔵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝘁 The most critical challenge was the inability to establish a viable product-market fit. Despite the initial excitement surrounding the concept of intercity food delivery, the service did not resonate with customers as intended. 🔵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 The service experienced instability due to key leadership exits. Siddharth Jhawar, who was instrumental in launching the project, resigned in November 2022. His departure created a leadership vacuum that affected the strategic direction of Zomato Legends. 🔵 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 Zomato initially attempted to deliver food from various cities the next day, which did not meet customer expectations for freshness. In response, the company shifted to a model of pre-stocking popular dishes for quicker delivery. However, this change did not yield the desired results, and the service struggled to maintain quality and customer satisfaction. 🔵 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 The service faced legal challenges, including a court case alleging misleading claims about delivery times and food freshness. This legal scrutiny further complicated its operations and public perception. 🔵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 There were significant shortcomings in marketing the service effectively. Many potential customers were unaware of Zomato Legends, which was evident from user comments on social media expressing surprise at its existence. This lack of awareness hindered customer acquisition and engagement. 🔵 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 The service was criticized for being too costly, with a minimum order value set at Rs 5,000 during its relaunch. This pricing strategy limited accessibility and deterred potential customers from using the service. 𝗣𝗦. What do you think about this? Let me know in the comments!

It would not be the only "Fast Delivery Game" anymore Whether it’s Zepto, Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, or even Jio, everyone is diving into quick commerce, making it the buzzword of 2024. But is quick commerce only about fast delivery? Here are 7 takeaways which I found through my research [1] Consumer Preference for Balanced Service Many consumers would rather wait a bit longer—say, 26 minutes—if it means better prices and reliable customer service. The appeal of a few extra minutes is higher than a 6-minute delivery with high fees and subpar service [2] Expansion in Product Variety and Personalized Pricing Quick commerce is evolving beyond a “fast only” approach. Platforms like Swiggy Instamart are investing in broadening product selections and offering category-specific deals. This evolution toward personalized and affordable pricing better meets diverse consumer needs, adding value beyond speed [3] Supply Chain Complexity and Inventory Pressure Rapid delivery requires local warehousing to stock thousands of items, but managing these inventories at scale is costly and challenging. Balancing immediate availability with stock rotation adds complexity and can lead to inventory issues that hurt profitability and disrupt service. [4] Worker Well-Being and Job Satisfaction The push for fast deliveries places heavy demands on delivery workers, who often work under pressure in dense traffic. While platforms try to improve conditions, the rush for speed can compromise safety and job satisfaction, increasing turnover and making it hard to retain skilled employees. [5] Financial Sustainability and Cost Control The operational expenses of quick commerce—such as local warehousing, technology, and staffing—are high. Balancing these costs with sustainable revenue models is difficult, especially in lower-demand areas. Profits depend on precise cost control, making it essential to optimize every part of the supply chain. [6] Quality Consistency as a Competitive Edge Ensuring high product quality under time constraints is a common struggle. For example, maintaining fresh food standards is difficult when speed is prioritized, which risks disappointing customers. Platforms that can ensure consistent quality alongside fast delivery can strengthen their brand loyalty. [7] Customer Loyalty Rooted in Overall Experience Consumers are becoming more critical of high surge fees, platform fees, and inconsistent service quality. Even the fastest delivery loses appeal if service doesn’t match expectations or prices seem unjustified. Sustainable customer loyalty in quick commerce depends on transparency, fair pricing, and excellent service, not just speed. What do you value? Price or Fast Delivery Let me know in the comments #quickcommerce #ecommerce #analysis

Leaving your current job to freelance? Freelance life often means bidding farewell to conventional job security and benefits. When I left my current job, I was so scared and uncertain about life. And nobody was there to tell how to handle this situation. But I will not gate keep my learnings. Here's how you can navigate these challenges: Financial Safety Net: Create a savings buffer to cover your expenses during downtimes or unexpected situations, enhancing your financial stability. Spread Your Wings: Avoid dependency on one client. Diversifying your client portfolio spreads risk and ensures a steady income stream. Keep Learning: Constantly upgrade your skills and stay updated with industry trends. This not only makes you more marketable but also provides a sense of job certainty. Self-Investment: In absence of corporate benefits, it's crucial to invest in your own health and wellness. This includes securing health insurance and taking time off to recharge. Networking: Building a strong professional network can lead to new opportunities and provide a sense of community in the often solitary freelance life. Freelancing offers unparalleled flexibility, but it equally demands good planning, self-care, and continuous learning. #freelancer #coaches

Since Wednesday, Swiggy has started charging a 2% collection fee from restaurants for orders sourced via its platform. This fee is over & above the >20% platform fee which Swiggy already charges to restaurants. ➡️It is interesting to see how monetization pressure is pushing food marketplaces down the route of having to squeeze both sides (customer & restaurant): (1) On the restaurant side 🍲 - Per industry sources, the commissions were earlier ~12% (approx. 5 yrs ago) & now this is ~20% to 25% - The 2% collection fee seems very similar to the platform fee charged from customers (check pt 2 below) - And, they’ve become stricter about discounting & refunds (adverse impact on restaurants) (2) On the customer side: 📲 - In 2023, both Swiggy & Zomato have rolled out flat “platform fees” of ₹3 and ₹2 respectively - These fees are payable on any order regardless of order size; and this fee is borne by customers - And, I’m not sure if others agree: But as a consumer, I don’t see as many enticing offers off-late. 🧠If you understand / study / track marketplace companies, this behavior should NOT surprise you: (a) The marketplace growth framework often requires subsidization to acquire scale in the first few years (b) Once the marketplace acquires scale, brand & lock-in, the subsidization decreases & the focus on monetization kicks in (c) Despite some resentment on both sides of the marketplace, due to scale & lock-in, business continues as normal 😉The strange part is that despite the public outcry about food delivery apps & transportation apps squeezing consumers & suppliers - these apps continue to be used (scale & lock-in).. You still order from Swiggy / Zomato etc 💡But, here’s what doesn’t get factored in - often a matured marketplace which is in the “exploit” phase faces a new axis of competition: (i) Food Delivery: ONDC is starting a good fight up against Swiggy / Zomato - Magicpin clocks 22K food orders per day via ONDC (ii) Mobility: Fleet operators like BluSmart are putting up a fight against Ola / Uber - In fact, Uber rolled out its own BluSmart equivalent called Uber Green (via its investment in Everest Feet) ➡️To summarize: It is inevitable that some monetization tactics from marketplaces will feel exploitative. BUT, in the medium run, these marketplaces will continue to thrive because of existing customer behavior. 😉However, in the long run - the pirates are coming for them :) You’ll see much more from open networks like ONDC & full stack mobility operators like BluSmart. Mr. Bezos says “your margin is my opportunity”… But, my fear is - will the above cycle repeat again with today’s pirates? Most likely - yes! #india

The biggest challenge I faced as a freelancer was about PRICING. Some said I charge too high. Some said it doesn't meet my budget. Some didn't come back after pricing. So, here's what I found, and it worked!! I was able to close 90% of deals with whom I used to share my prices: 𝟭. 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻. Showing the list of the values the client receives. When they understand the investment, objections diminish. 𝟮. 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟯 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀. Offer diverse packages to cater to different budgets. Provide options but not too many. 𝟯. 𝗜 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. Share success stories of past clients who found immense value in your services. Real-world examples build trust, like case studies! Shift the perspective from cost to investment. Emphasize the long-term benefits and returns your services bring. Include additional perks or services to sweeten the deal. Like, FREE Brand Audits or Creating FREE brand guidelines. Remember, pricing is not just a number; it's a conversation. Approach it strategically, emphasizing the value you bring to the table. If it helps, REPOST.

Whenever I post a freelance role on our socials, we receive over 100 responses within two hours. There are too many people in the production world. Over the past two years, I’ve seen many friends struggling to find work, considering other career paths after 10+ years in this industry, or even going full-time for far less than they’re worth. I’m not talking about newcomers, I mean professionals who are truly skilled at what they do. I thought the market was simply overcrowded. However, I’ve come to realise that many in our industry struggle for one of two reasons: 1. They aren’t willing to adapt. 2. They’re not spending time doing the things they don’t really enjoy e.g. sales, admin, marketing etc. As a freelancer or contractor, you benefit from having control over your time, choosing the projects you work on, and deciding what to charge. But with that freedom comes the responsibility of finding your own work, keeping your clients happy, and taking the hit when the market goes through tough periods. Here are the main mistakes I see: - Lack of Sales Drive: There’s no real hunger for selling, and keeping in touch with old contacts only when you need a job isn’t enough. You should be regularly checking in with them, sending gifts once a year or so, and persistently following up. - Not Saving Money: The industry is cyclical. When things are good, you can earn a lot, but many people feel they’ve cracked the code and spend it all quickly. Without savings, you lose the leverage to stay calm, to say no to projects that might set you back, and to look for better opportunities when times are tough. - Overcommitting and Risking Your Reputation: It’s tempting to take on every project when work is available. I’ve seen people juggle three to four projects at once, even when each project pays decently. It’s unethical to charge for a full day and deliver only half of it, even if you manage to complete everything more quickly. - Sticking Rigidly to Your Ways: You’ll eventually need to work with in-house teams, operate on lower budgets, and even embrace AI. The world moves on regardless, so it’s better to lead and adapt than to play catch-up. - Excessive Competition: Our industry thrives on collaboration, and people move around frequently. Don’t be afraid to pass jobs to competitors or to share contacts. Be kind, helpful, and honest, having all 3 makes you stand out quite easily to be fair. There are many other reasons the market is overcrowded... - The Content Creators making creative world a career that many teenagers aspire, so they end up using their creative skillset in the advertising world after giving up on amassing millions of subscribers - The low bar to enter the industry - The work that can make you feel cool at times - The gateway to a 9-5 corporate office job Crowded or not, I still don’t consider it hard to stand out. But you’ve to do things that others are not doing. Obvious, but true.

What does it take to run a Food Startup? The most inevitable thing with running a startup is that every day there is a new challenge to handle and when it comes to a FOOD startup, challenges are the NORM. The truth of the matter is that anything to do with food is exceptionally tough and it needs thorough control over various aspects like: - Inventory Management - Demand Forecasting - Maintaining stock in multiple branches - Supplier Management - Customer Retention And to top it all, analyse the profitability of each dish, in our case meal. The list is endless. Other than demand and inventory-based challenges, owners also need to go through the basic process of hiring the right people with the right skills. All this in addition to the personalised specifications that we provide to our customers for their daily caloric requirement - which is the mission of FOOD DARZEE, is surely a difficult job. It means that our kitchen has to strictly measure the exact amount of oil, protein, carbs etc. basis the caloric intake of every customer. One can only imagine how daunting it is to quality control everything and do it diligently every single day. Honestly, an absolute nightmare! Another major challenge of running a food business is the fact that FOOD is very personal. This means that there will always be some who will not like a dish even though it will be perfect in taste for the rest of the customers. Out of these people, very few will be genuine and most would be doing it just for the kicks. An owner has to learn the knack of filtering this by keeping genuine valuable feedback and letting go of the ones that just create a ruckus. Having said that, it is a skill that doesn’t come easy, one has to learn it over time. Despite all the challenges having been in the food industry for 7+ years and running a successful startup,I would say that the things that keeps the ball rolling are: 1. Good customer experiences. 2. Seeing personal and professional growth. 3. Meeting someone whose life you have changed for the better, through your startup. These are the things that I strive for while running a food business and it makes me want to endure every bit of the pain and hassle with a smile. #FoodDarzee #Enterpreneurship #FoodBusiness #Startup

I thought I had to be good at SELLING to get clients. So I tried to be persuasive. I tried to be confident. I tried to say the “right” thing on discovery calls. And it felt awful. Because I’m not a salesperson. I’m a service provider. I care about helping people, not convincing them. What I didn’t realise is that selling isn’t about being pushy. It’s about having a conversation and being CLEAR. If you’re struggling to sell your services, it’s probably not your confidence that’s the problem. It’s your messaging, your pricing, or your offer. Here’s what I see go wrong most often: 1. Hourly rates: You’re not just selling your time. You’re selling your expertise, your experience, and the result. 2. Jargon: Your client probably doesn't understand what you do - that's why they're hiring you. Talk about outcomes they need, not the intricacies of how that work gets done. 3. No boundaries: If you’re saying yes to everything, you’ll burn out and underdeliver. Selling gets easier when you stop trying to be someone you’re not. You don’t need to be a salesperson. You need to solve problems and have the confidence to say, “This is how I can help.” I’m Zoe, follow me for more.