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The digital world is evolving at a dizzying pace. This transformation is no longer limited to tools; it is now affecting organizational models themselves. ESNs and digital agencies, long perceived as the pillars of innovation, are facing a serious alternative... freelance collectives. These hybrid structures, at the crossroads of independent agility and collective cohesion, are shaking up the norms. These structures are increasingly appealing, but... why?
The mutation of the digital market
Since the 2000s, ESNs (formerly SSIs) have dominated the technology sector. Their strength relied on their ability to industrialize the development and maintenance of information systems. Digital agencies, on the other hand, focused on creativity, design, and user experience.
But the market has fragmented. According to the Numeum 2024 report, the digital market in France represents 70.4 billion euros, of which nearly 50% is captured by ESNs. However, this dominance hides a gap. Clients are now looking for more responsiveness, transparency, and adaptability.
No-code has accelerated this transformation. A study by Gartner (2024) reveals that a large portion of companies have already integrated no-code or low-code tools into their processes. This technical democratization is reshuffling the deck: development no longer exclusively depends on major players. Companies can now design, test, and adjust digital products without the organizational burdens of ESNs.
Marketing agencies have seized upon this, creating simple, quick-to-deploy, and visually appealing products. Development agencies, on their part, are positioning themselves on intermediate technical projects, often too complex for pure no-code but not large enough to warrant the intervention of an ESN.
The emergence of an intermediate model
In this reconfiguration, freelance collectives such as BURST place themselves in a strategic zone. They fill the gap left between no-code agencies and ESNs.
These collectives are capable of designing and managing complex tech products while remaining lean, flexible, and focused on value. Where an ESN bills an entire team with overhead costs, the collective assembles a tailored team for each project.
Clients find dual benefits here: the quality of senior experts and the efficiency of a fluid organization. This model particularly meets the needs of SMEs, very small enterprises, and startups, often seeking a responsive technical partner but without the contractual or budgetary constraints of an ESN.
The human factor: a silent revolution
Behind the success of collectives, there is one major fact: the best talent is leaving large organizations. According to a study by Malt x BCG (2024), 42% of digital professionals in France are considering freelancing in the next two years. The reason is clear: autonomy, variety of missions, meaning in work.
ESNs and agencies are suffering from high turnover and a loss of engagement. Freelancers, on the other hand, choose their projects and clients. This profoundly changes the market dynamic: the sharpest expertise is no longer captive to large structures; it is free.
An experienced developer who would invoice 60,000 euros annually in an ESN can double their income as a freelancer while working on projects aligned with their values. This movement thus attracts senior profiles, enhancing the credibility of collectives.
The freelance collective: a new synergy
A collective is not just a simple gathering of independents. It is a structured organization, driven by shared values and a common framework.
At BURST, three pillars structure this approach:
Support. Each mission is framed from start to finish, from product definition to technical deployment.
Expertise. The teams comprise senior freelancers from product, development, and design backgrounds. This diversity ensures a cross-functional perspective and enhanced efficiency.
Mastery. Costs, timelines, and priorities are shared transparently. This mode of collaboration helps avoid the classic pitfalls of complex projects.
This hybrid model combines the rigor of ESNs with the flexibility of freelancing. It leverages industry knowledge while eliminating administrative and hierarchical burdens.
A new form of collaboration
Rather than seeking to replace agencies or ESNs, collectives are asserting themselves as complementary partners. We now speak of coopetition: cooperation among competitors.
Some large companies are already adopting this approach. Platforms like HubSpot or Notion collaborate with freelance collectives to develop integrations or specific modules. These structures benefit from quick execution and an external perspective that is often more creative.
The results are tangible. Collectives allow for an average reduction of 30% in costs and a 40% acceleration in delivery times (source: study TechCrunch, 2025). Meanwhile, customer satisfaction increases thanks to direct dialogue between experts and decision-makers.
The future of tech work: agility, expertise, trust
The collective represents a sustainable vision of digital work. It is based not on hierarchy, but on competence and trust. Each member is an entrepreneur of their own value and a co-actor in collective success.
This model corresponds to a new generation of talent that refuses to compromise between freedom and stability. It is a concrete response to the evolution of work towards more distributed organizations, where performance stems from collaboration, not control.
Conclusion
Freelance collectives embody a cultural as much as an economic transformation. They combine individual freedom with the power of the collective. In a market where speed, trust, and competence are the new standards, they represent a credible and effective alternative to traditional ESNs and agencies.
The future of the digital landscape will be built with them, as they reconcile what previous models had separated: the human aspect and performance.
Sep 1, 2025
