Fluz leverages Remote’s contractor management platform to become a finance app powerhouse

Founded in 2016, Fluz operates a cashback app that differs from conventional rewards programmes. It uses social networks so users can earn income when they — or people in their network — make purchases, following the motto “the more you spend, the more you earn.”

As the company has expanded, its ambitions have grown too. Aiming to become a one-stop financial app — extending well beyond cashback services — Fluz requires top fintech talent worldwide and a proven, reliable global HR partner to support that ambition.

This is why Fluz partners with Remote to hire at scale internationally, while keeping compliance and flexibility at every stage.

Fluz at a glance

• Headquarters: New York

• Founded: 2016

• Number of contractors with Remote: 24

• Industry: Fintech

Initially the whole Fluz team — founders, engineers and designers — was based in New York. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the company adopted remote working and simultaneously handled a major surge in both app users and staff.

Around the same time, two key team members relocated to Canada, which prompted Fluz’s first engagement with Remote. The business needed a compliant way to manage those moves.

“Remote played a crucial role in keeping those two employees within the business,” says Amador Pilapil, Fluz’s Head of people. “They managed the contracts, paperwork and compliance, which was a huge relief. They guided us through every step and the whole process was seamless.”

Following that positive start, Fluz quickly recognised that Remote could help resolve other challenges as well.

Maximising access to the world’s top contractor talent

To support rapid growth, Fluz was already engaging contractors in the US and overseas. Yet the contractor management workflow was manual, opaque and not scalable.

For example, Fluz was performing identity checks and handling paperwork for every contractor, including personal details and contractor agreements. Pilapil says these tasks consumed several hours each week and introduced the risk of human error. The company needed a stronger solution.

“When we learned Remote offered a contractor management platform , we moved our international contractors across,” says Pilapil. “The improvement was immediate.”

Beyond removing time-consuming administrative work, the switch enabled Fluz to grow its international contractor base at scale. With most of the customer-care team in the Philippines, the arrangement is both sensible and effective.

“Our contractors deliver a level of support comparable with domestic service,” Pilapil explains. “That allows us to engage excellent people to support our operations while offering opportunities to those who need them. It’s been a very successful model for us.”

A more efficient approach

Remote’s Contractor Management platform also streamlines Fluz’s payment processes and helps avoid the anomalies of the previous manual setup.

“We found cases where a contractor had actually left the business, yet automatic wire transfers kept going,” says Pilapil. “We needed a superior solution."

With Remote, Fluz now settles monthly invoices in bulk — in each contractor’s local currency — with just a few clicks. Rather than processing one-off, ad-hoc payments via separate wire transfers, invoices are uploaded to Remote, approved and aggregated into each contractor’s monthly payout. The workflow is fast and removes the need for repeated back-and-forth to clear expenses.

Remote gives us complete control over how we manage contractors. The modest monthly fee is nothing compared with the peace of mind that comes from paying people correctly, compliantly and efficiently.

Trust, transparency, and security

For Fluz, finding the right contractor and building trust is essential.

“Remote enables this by providing a professional platform that enforces accountability on the contractor’s side,” says Pilapil. “Contractors upload their documents and can view their history in one place. Overall, communication is much clearer.”

In turn, Remote gives contractors a transparent interface where they can upload invoices, access transaction history and see when and how they will be paid.

“Feedback from our contractors has been overwhelmingly positive,” Pilapil says. “They appreciate not having to email me for requests, invoice copies or to change their details.

“Remote simplifies our contractors’ lives. It’s a win all round.”

Fluz can also process contractors’ personally identifiable information securely, which is particularly beneficial for a fintech company.

“The process is far slicker than what we had before,” Pilapil says. “Contractors no longer email sensitive items such as ID scans, bank account details or withdrawal methods.”

Finally, by managing its international contractor base through Remote, Fluz avoids concerns about worker misclassification and legal compliance. Remote guarantees that paperwork and payment methods comply with labour and taxation laws in every country, giving Fluz the confidence to continue expanding globally.

A helping hand

For Pilapil much of that confidence is rooted in Remote’s experience, expertise and strong levels of support.

“I don’t have experience in international hiring, but the team at Remote is always available to talk things through and explain matters,” he says. “We were anxious because there is a lot to consider, but their in-house experts put our minds at ease.

“Our account manager is always reachable and will either send me emails with context or offer a quick call to discuss my questions. I really value that flexibility and partnership.”

Remote provides excellent support, and that’s one reason we expanded with them.

Scalability is another key part of the collaboration — especially for a fast-growing startup like Fluz.

“Remote’s distinction is its 100% scalability and reliability,” says Pilapil. “Onboarding, managing and paying employees and contractors is so straightforward. Once we set people up we don’t have to worry about it day to day. It’s excellent.”

What’s next for Fluz

Fluz has ambitious product expansion plans, and company growth is central to enabling them. For Pilapil this means recruiting engineers globally, with a clear focus on Europe.

“We know we’ll have full support from the whole team at Remote to navigate new countries and their various labour laws,” he says. “It’s very reassuring to have that partnership as we grow the business.”

Meanwhile, Pilapil is keen to reflect on how far the company has progressed and on the positive impact Remote has made.

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished,” he concludes. “I look forward to expanding our partnership and bringing Fluz to new customers around the world.”

Want to remove stress and uncertainty from your international hiring? Contact us today to schedule a friendly consultation with one of our global hiring experts.

Alternatively, start immediately. Set up your profile now, and begin onboarding contractors around the world in minutes.