oDesk.

There are many things I don’t like doing in a general work week and they normally entail processing of some kind, whether that be emails, reports or papers generated by meetings. Then there are the things that I’m not as good at (hard to believe huh?) which sometimes slide off the radar or are not done as regularly as they should be. Not having done any of the above, it hopefully gives me maximum time to concentrate on the important tasks, which are, you get the gist.

The long lost typing pool along with secretaries and Girl Fridays have long since gone to that great wood paneled office in the sky. Today’s executives answer their own mail, email, put together presentations and reports and spend time processing their life away. Instead of thinking, innovating and running companies, management executives spend inordinate amounts online processing documents, answering everyone’s emails and generally being distracted.

So do we bring back the typing pool? As tantalising as that may sound, it would be easier to start outsourcing some processing and services to get us back to concentrating on the big picture.

Micro outsourcing or liquid labour exchanges allow users to tender online for services from software engineering to plumbing. From the smallest job at the local business level to large corporations, outsourcing is seeing a new revival. Far from the jeered at call centres of India we are now able to source services and innovations from a global village where the local blacksmith has been replaced by the IT technologist from Uzbekistan.

oDesk (should I be asking for money?) which was founded by Odysseus Tsatalos in 2006 links more than 600 service providers in an online marketplace aimed at software and technology. They ask the simple questions of how to get more done with less, how to find talent and how to pay a remote team, while aiming their site at technology people looking for help with their work and also looking for technology people who want work. Other sites such as Freelancer.com.au which is the world’s largest outsourcing marketplace for small business has the facility to help you with technology, software, writing, computing, design, business, HR and many other services that could make your day a breeze.

Providing work for the most rapidly expanding technology countries keeps costs to a minimum and if you have access to the internet, then you have access to an unlimited workforce globally.

So I’m waiting on the first travel company to outsource its non revenue processes. How long did it take to put together that 20 stop round the world itinerary with cruise and coach for Mr. Smith? You have to ask yourself the question, when am I selling and when am I processing, because you only make money when selling. What about a travel auction site where customers can put together their trip ideas and then send it out to be serviced by the best price or most innovative response?

The sourcing of services and people is nothing new but the internet opens up the world for you to work with. With only one third of the world’s population online, think of the demand to come as billions more look for services provided or provide them. Think about it, maybe you already have a service to offer but need a larger market to make it viable. Think about joining sites like Servicedesk.com or Freelancer.com.au to find a whole new world of clients or better still, get that report written and tabulated for $12.50 and go for a surf.