How a Machine Learning Expert Helps Businesses Automate Complex Tasks

Alexander Fridman is an Expert-Vetted artificial intelligence (AI) and big data consultant. He first developed an interest in machine learning during college at Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics. At the time, he was fascinated by the potential of applying machine learning to real-world problems and automating complex tasks.

Alexander is based in Yerevan, Armenia. He started his career in Minsk, Belarus with an internship at Yandex, one of the largest tech companies in Russia, and grew into more advanced engineering and data science roles. During his time at Yandex, Alexander gained exposure to big data and research and development (R&D) projects, along with learning more about robust development processes in practice.

After Yandex, Alexander worked at several startups as a data scientist and machine learning engineer and later as the head of research and development at a medical imaging startup, where he oversaw machine learning projects ranging in scale.

In 2021, Alexander decided to explore new opportunities outside of traditional employment when he was in the process of relocating to another country. This ultimately led to building his own freelancing and consulting business in the machine learning, data science, and AI space.

Svaneti region, Georgia

Making the switch from traditional employment to freelancing

Alexander first learned about Upwork early in his career as a machine learning engineer, when the consulting agency he worked for at the time provided services on Upwork. This gave him a firsthand view into how Upwork connects professionals with unique projects, including opportunities in AI, machine learning, and more.

He began his journey on Upwork in 2018, initially completing a few small, fixed-price projects related to machine learning. In 2021, he returned to Upwork with a renewed focus and enhanced his profile to attract more clients and larger-scale projects.

Alexander attributes several factors to his success once he fully focused on building his business on Upwork in 2021. Some of these factors include insights gained from a friend with one of the strongest full-stack development Upwork profiles in Armenia, a dedication to crafting engaging proposals, and the fortune of partnering with exceptional initial clients.

“In the early stages of my freelance career, I quickly recognized the significance of crafting high-quality proposals and the strategic advantage of being among the first to respond to job postings,” shared Alexander. “To optimize this approach, I developed a process utilizing Upwork's RSS-feed feature, which alerts me immediately when new job opportunities are posted on the platform.”

When Alexander transitioned from traditional employment to freelancing, he quickly secured a long-term client who was flexible about his relocation timeline. Over the next two years, Alexander collaborated with this client to develop an AI solution that has since launched in the market and revolutionized their industry. This client partnership helped pave the way for Alexander’s successful freelancing business and underscored the power of remote work in fostering innovation across borders.

Leading an agency on Upwork

Given his success on Upwork, in 2022, Alexander reached a point when he couldn’t realistically scale further as an individual consultant. This realization prompted Alexander to explore other opportunities to scale his business, which led to launching his agency on Upwork, Shapeion Technologies, a full-service machine learning and minimum viable product (MVP) agency.

Opportunities to partner with other skilled talent on Upwork enabled Alexander to form a dynamic team dedicated to delivering innovative solutions. The agency now engages several skilled independent professionals with a diverse range of technical capabilities, including AI and machine learning specialists, big data engineers, hardware engineers, software developers, QA engineers, and a project manager.

“Through the Upwork platform, top-tier developers can collaborate on projects under the umbrella of an agency, which enables us to tackle larger projects and deliver comprehensive solutions to our clients,” explained Alexander. “This option not only amplifies our ability to handle complex challenges, but also broadens the scope of services we can offer, leveraging collective expertise to meet and exceed client expectations.”

Machine learning project examples

Alexander’s agency, Shapeion Technologies, specializes in solving practical problems with machine learning, with a specific focus on natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision (CV). The team also possesses expertise in big data engineering and offers services in hardware engineering and software engineering, with a world-class team of engineers and a strong portfolio.

Below are two examples of machine learning projects Alexander has completed for clients on Upwork.

AI-enabled review analysis for property rentals

Alexander spearheaded the complete automation of customer review analysis for a marketing research firm in the multifamily rental industry. Prior to the partnership with Alexander and his agency, the client manually sifted through tens of thousands of reviews each month, dedicating significant time to the task that could otherwise be spent focused on other strategic priorities.

Shapeion Technologies’ solution leveraged advanced deep learning and natural language processing techniques to automate the review analysis process. As a result, the client can now efficiently analyze feedback at scale, significantly reduce their operational workload, and quickly respond to and address customer feedback and comments.

Image segmentation for an automotive photography platform

For another project, Alexander and his agency partnered with a client who operates a platform designed to prepare car photographs for dealership sales listings. The team leveraged deep learning and computer vision to help the client more effectively recognize vehicles in different settings, environments, and backgrounds, along with automating image color correction. This solution streamlined the platform’s workflow and resulted in substantial resource savings by transforming a previously manual and time-intensive process into an automated, efficient system.

Managing expectations for AI and machine learning projects

Because AI continues to see increased adoption across businesses and industries, more clients are interested in accessing talent with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related skills. To stay up to date on the emerging AI advancements, Alexander follows a wide range of AI-focused online communities and news sources that discuss the latest tools, libraries, models, and research papers on a daily basis.

In addition to keeping up with emerging AI solutions, Alexander has also learned how to effectively manage expectations with clients who are eager to implement AI technology. He shared that clients often get inspired by demos from leading global tech companies and don’t realize that achieving such groundbreaking results typically requires significant financial and technological resources.

In many cases, large corporations with the most innovative AI solutions have dedicated teams of dozens of employees and millions of dollars in budget to build the solutions. While client expectations may be unrealistic at first, Alexander leans into his expertise to explain potential solutions.

“In my approach, I don’t dismiss job posts or client requests that appear to have unrealistic demands,” said Alexander. “Instead, I take the time to educate clients on what may be possible based on overall budget, available datasets, and total number of iterations involved,” said Alexander. “I've navigated similar conversations with many of my long-term clients and I'm grateful for their trust, understanding, and willingness to align on goals with complex AI and machine learning projects.”  

Freelancing benefits and advice for aspiring independent professionals

Effectively managing client expectations is one of many ways independent professionals can successfully grow their businesses on Upwork. Based on his experience, Alexander shared what he enjoys most about working as a freelancer, along with tips and best practices for aspiring freelancers.

“Being able to choose my projects and tasks is just the start when it comes to the benefits of freelancing,” said Alexander “What I truly value is controlling my schedule. It’s about working smarter, not longer. Most developers do their best work for just a few focused hours a day. With a flexible schedule, I can hit those peak hours hard, ensuring I’m not just clocking in time, but actually making a significant impact on my projects. This way, I deliver top-notch work efficiently, focusing on results rather than just putting in the hours.”

According to Alexander, some best practices for building a successful business on Upwork include:

• Create an engaging Upwork profile. A successful freelancer profile should reflect your dedication to diligently, efficiently, and effectively addressing client problems, rather than exclusively highlighting your personal experience. Showcasing a commitment to excellence and client satisfaction on your profile is foundational to standing out to clients and driving success on the platform.
• Always focus on delivering value to clients. Starting with the first interaction and proposal stage, show clients you understand their challenges and are eager to provide solutions. Include potential solutions in your proposal or cover letter that demonstrate a proactive plan and your expertise. This approach typically pays off, earning trust with clients and fostering positive relationships.
• Write personalized proposals. In addition to addressing client challenges and potential solutions, writing effective proposals requires thoughtful consideration and a personal touch. Using AI tools to help craft proposals can be tempting, especially when freelancers feel as though securing their first projects may be daunting. However, AI-generated proposals often simply copy details from the job post and can be easily spotted by clients, which can lead to lost credibility. Personalized proposals show your true interest and understanding of a client's needs, which can help you stand out in a sea of applicants.
• Invest time in learning new skills and technologies. As in-demand skills and technology solutions continue to evolve, an always-learning mindset is important to success as a freelancer. When learning about new technology, avoid cutting corners. The allure of having AI or another tool perform work for you can hinder your growth and success in the long term. Rather, investing time in continual learning and staying abreast of the latest advancements in your field will enhance your skill set and enable you to offer innovative solutions to your clients.

Benefits of engaging freelancers to solve business challenges

Alexander has firsthand experience seeing the business benefits of engaging freelancers, from when he worked at a consulting agency and through his success building an agency on Upwork. He shared a few specific advantages partnering with freelancers offers businesses, including:

• When a project requires diverse skills, building a team of freelance talent offers more flexibility and expertise than hiring one full-time worker and expecting them to handle various tasks and challenges.
• In R&D specifically, collaboration and idea sharing are crucial. Consulting with experienced independent talent on Upwork can offer new strategies and unique perspectives, essential for innovation and problem-solving.

“I believe that the key to successfully tackling any challenge lies in engaging a professional who has previously solved similar problems,” said Alexander. “Millions of skilled specialists are available on Upwork, providing clients with the unique opportunity to find a freelancer who not only has the most relevant experience and skills for their specific needs but also fits within their budget constraints.”

A continued focus on innovation and global expansion

Alexander is passionate about solving business challenges and motivated by seeing machine learning and AI solutions make a real-world impact.

Outside of work, Alexander spends time walking his dog in the park, off-roading and overlanding, snowboarding, and traveling.

Mount Aragats in Armenia

“What I truly appreciate about working on Upwork is the freedom it gives me to choose projects that resonate with my passions and expertise,” shared Alexander. “I thrive on learning and tackling new challenges and Upwork perfectly aligns with this by offering a diverse range of opportunities. My experience on Upwork is about more than work; it's about continuous growth and making meaningful contributions across industries, which makes my journey both fulfilling and exciting.”

Looking ahead, Alexander plans to continue scaling his agency across the globe and focus on innovation and problem-solving, while enabling clients across industries to work smarter and make better business decisions using the latest technology.

Alexander offers several options for clients on Upwork to get in touch and partner with him. You can book a development and IT consultation, invite him to work on one of your projects, or learn more about his agency, Shapeion Technologies.