When a major project is on the horizon but the internal team is already working at full capacity, quick and practical solutions are needed.
Tobias Mulack knows such situations well. As Head of Digital Development at Sellwerk, he is responsible for the technical development of the customer platform and knows how quickly things can move.
Sellwerk is one of Germany’s leading digital transformation experts, present in over 100 cities and supporting small and medium-sized businesses with their digital visibility – from websites and search engine marketing to custom tools. To keep up with this pace, the company regularly collaborates with freelancers. freelancermap is the platform through which Sellwerk reliably finds the right external experts.
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Quickly available expertise that fits the team
In digital product development, especially in UX design and software development, resources can quickly become a bottleneck, for example when new platform modules are about to go live but the internal team is already at full capacity.
“In one specific case, we urgently needed UX design support,” recalls Tobias Mulack. “The person not only had to be available quickly, but also ready to get started immediately.”
At the same time, it was crucial that the freelancer fit both professionally and personally into the existing agile team. Sellwerk works in a team-centered way, with a high degree of personal responsibility and frequent coordination.
This is where freelancermap came into play, making the path to external support surprisingly simple.
From quick start to long-term collaboration
The team quickly found a suitable freelancer through the platform. “We didn’t have to search for long, and the match was perfect,” Tobias recalls. What began as a short-term project turned into an ongoing, project-based collaboration. The designer has now been supporting various projects for around three years, bringing in valuable external expertise. She regularly coordinates with the team, works as an equal partner, yet remains independent of internal processes and personnel structures.
An experienced developer also supports Sellwerk as an external expert on specific projects. Both freelancers know the relevant systems well, deliver reliably, and make their own contributions – bringing fresh insights from other client projects and adapting flexibly to each project’s goals.
Not without risk, but with a plan
Agility and long-term collaboration also bring challenges, particularly when it comes to bogus self-employment.
False self-employment occurs when a person is officially classified as a freelancer or contractor but, in reality, works under conditions similar to an employee. This typically includes:
– Working exclusively or primarily for one client
– Being subject to the client’s instructions and schedules
– Lacking entrepreneurial freedom in how the work is performed.
It’s considered illegal in many countries because it bypasses labor protections, social security contributions, and taxes that apply to regular employees.
Tobias explains: “We make sure our freelancers dedicate a certain portion of their time to other clients. We discuss this openly and transparently from the start – we have to be able to work together based on trust, otherwise everyone loses.”
Because in agile, long-term setups, the line between self-employment and dependence can be thin.
Our freelancers not only bring professional expertise but also a strong service mindset. Especially in agile teams, that’s worth its weight in gold.
Flexibility first: agility pays off
Budget changes can also affect freelancers. However, unlike permanent employees, freelancers offer flexibility when adapting to shifting conditions.
“At one point, we had to cut a project with our UX freelancer to 50 percent. It was painful for her and for us. But because she was a freelancer, we were able to adjust flexibly without putting the entire project at risk.”
Whether as temporary reinforcement or for recurring projects, working with freelancers has proven invaluable for Sellwerk. Today, the company can respond to changing requirements without compromising on quality or team dynamics.
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Benefits of working with freelancers for Sellwerk
- Reduced capacity bottlenecks & flexible scaling: freelancers allowed Sellwerk to quickly adjust resources during peak project phases and adapt to budget or scope changes.
- Quick access to specialized expertise: qualified freelancers were available immediately and brought valuable know-how from other client projects.
- Seamless team integration & collaboration: external experts fit smoothly into agile workflows, contributing as equal partners without being part of internal structures.
- Reliable long-term support: short-term assignments evolved into ongoing project-based partnerships, ensuring continuity and high-quality output.
- Fresh perspectives & innovation: freelancers contributed new ideas and approaches to product development.
- Transparent, trusted cooperation: clear communication and professional alignment helped avoid risks like bogus self-employment.
- Support from freelancermap: the platform provided stable processes, personal guidance, and reliable access to the right experts.
