How Microsoft Scaled Video Production While Driving Cost Savings

Microsoft is always seeking new ways to scale and evolve video production and create the best content for customers. But as demand for quality video content increased, keeping up with the influx of requests while staying within budget was challenging for a small internal team.

The team realized it was time to enlist outside help when a request came in to produce nine videos within 10 days—a project well beyond the team’s bandwidth.

“I was used to producing one video per week to keep it up to the standard I required of any content we produced,” said Ken Circeo, Creative Director, Office Video and Production Team at Microsoft. “Nine videos in 10 days seemed like an impossibility.”

Microsoft uses Upwork to scale and evolve video production

Microsoft has a talented core video production team, but to scale and accelerate video production, the team turned to independent talent on Upwork.

When the team started receiving more video requests, they simply couldn’t meet the need, as they didn’t have enough designers or motion animators who could take on that volume of work. The team searched for talent on Upwork and immediately discovered skilled independent professionals ready to complete quick, low-cost, high-quality video production at scale.

The initial project of producing nine videos in 10 days yielded results that exceeded expectations. Circeo shared, “The videos were completed within nine days. I thought that when I received the videos, I'd have to edit them, so I left time for that. I didn't have to touch them. The work was fantastic.”

When companies think about scaling, they traditionally move toward adding full-time headcount, which can be costly, time-consuming, and misaligned with project needs. On Upwork, Microsoft has the flexibility to engage independent talent for a single project, or in longer relationships with projects of any size.

Microsoft is also committed to continuously evolving graphic design, motion design, video creation, and voiceover, among other capabilities. Upwork enables Microsoft to engage independent talent with the skills they need to produce relevant videos that meet customer needs.

Hybrid work model empowers team members to do their best work

By adopting a hybrid work model that leverages both full-time and independent talent, Microsoft team members now have more time to focus and work strategically.

“Using Upwork has helped us attract and retain top talent here on my team at Microsoft,” explained Circeo. “We can concentrate on strategizing, knowing that we’re scaling our production using freelancers from around the entire world. We don't have to worry about all the production being in-house. We can use our time and scale our work, scale ourselves, and scale our team."

Independent professionals from Upwork complete projects that align with their skills, such as interview transcriptions and quick video edits, empowering the Microsoft team to focus their time and efforts on more strategic priorities. This helps team members become more valuable to the company because they can produce more quality content for consumers and end users.

Independent professionals are trusted partners to the team

Working with independent talent creates new ways for Microsoft to build collaborative, trusted relationships among their hybrid workforce. These relationships transcend location and boundaries that traditionally separate independent talent and in-house teams.

Microsoft relies on independent talent from Upwork for their skills, communication, and turnaround time, among other criteria. By developing strong relationships with independent professionals, the Microsoft team trusts these individuals with their projects, no matter the size.

Circeo took this relationship building a step further by flying to India to meet Deep Chawla, an independent video editor and digital creator supporting his team. “About three or four months into our working relationship, I had the opportunity to go to India to visit Deep in person. I jumped at the chance because I thought it was important to make a personal connection with someone who had already done a great deal of really high-quality work for our team.”

Forging trusted relationships across a hybrid, distributed workforce aligns with Microsoft’s mission. Circeo shared, “Our mission is to enable every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Upwork connects us with so many people from around the entire world. We're working together so that as they achieve more, we achieve more. A rising tide lifts all boats. It's an exciting time at Microsoft; the freelance workers that help on a consistent basis are a large part of that.”

An agile team and modern work mindset drive cost savings

In today’s rapidly evolving world of work, business needs and priorities shift on a dime. With access to skilled independent professionals, Microsoft is well positioned to build an agile workforce and drive cost savings no matter the business environment.

Through Upwork’s Enterprise Suite, Microsoft managers can be more nimble and agile with their hiring and contracting needs. With access to skilled independent talent from across the globe, the team can make changes that minute or that day and find individuals to finish a project or take it in a new direction—without going over budget.

“I've been with Microsoft for more than 20 years and I can divide those 20 years into several different eras,” shared Circeo. “We're currently in the freelance era. I can easily say that the freelance era and working with Upwork has been the greatest change, particularly with regard to production and budget. It's been a positive experience for my team and has become part of the workflow across different departments.”