Fluz optimises Remote’s contractor management platform to become a finance app powerhouse
Established in 2016, Fluz is a cashback app unlike other rewards programmes. It uses social networks so users can earn income whenever they or someone in their network makes a purchase, following the motto “the more you spend, the more you earn.”
As the business has expanded, so too have its aims. Seeking to become an all-in-one financial app and move beyond cashback alone, Fluz needs the finest fintech talent worldwide — and a trusted global HR partner to secure that expertise.
Below is why Fluz relies on Remote to hire at scale internationally while staying compliant and adaptable at every turn.
Fluz at a glance
Headquarters: New York
Founded: 2016
Number of contractors with Remote: 24
Industry: Fintech
At the outset, Fluz’s whole team — founders, engineers and designers — worked from New York. When COVID‑19 arrived, the company moved to remote working and simultaneously handled a sharp increase in both users and staff.
Around the same time, two core team members chose to relocate to Canada, and that’s when Remote first became involved. Fluz had to find a compliant way to support the change.
“Remote played a key role in keeping those two employees in the business,” says Amador Pilapil, Fluz’s Head of people. “They dealt with the contracts, the paperwork and compliance, and it was a huge relief to have everything handled. They guided us through the process and it was effortless.”
That constructive start quickly made it clear to Fluz that Remote could help solve other challenges too.
Making the most of the world’s top contractor talent
To support rapid expansion, Fluz was already engaging contractors in the US and overseas. The existing contractor workflow, however, was manual, lacked transparency and could not scale.
For example, Fluz was running identity checks and managing paperwork for every contractor, including personal data and contractor agreements. Pilapil says this took several hours each week and introduced the risk of human error. The company needed a more robust approach.
“When we learned Remote provided a contractor management platform , we chose to transfer our international contractors,” says Pilapil. “The improvement was immediate.”
Removing that administrative load allowed Fluz to expand its pool of international contractors at scale. With most of its customer care team based in the Philippines, the approach is both logical and effective.
“We get contractor support that matches domestic standards,” Pilapil explains. “As a result, we can hire excellent people to support the business while creating opportunities for those who need them. It’s very successful for us.”
A more efficient approach
Remote’s Contractor Management platform also helps Fluz handle payments more efficiently and avoid the quirks of its prior manual system.
“We found occasions where contractors had left the company but automatic wire payments kept going,” says Pilapil. “We needed a better way.”
Using Remote, Fluz can now pay monthly invoices in bulk (in each contractor’s local currency) with just a few clicks. Rather than processing one-off wire transfers, invoices are uploaded to Remote, approved and added to the contractor’s monthly total. The workflow is fast and removes the back-and-forth needed to settle expenses.
Remote gives us clear control over contractor management. The modest monthly fee is negligible compared with the reassurance of paying people correctly, compliantly and efficiently.
Trust, transparency, and security
For Fluz, identifying the right contractors and building trust are essential.
“Remote helps with that by providing a professional platform that promotes contractor accountability,” says Pilapil. “Contractors must upload their documents and can view their history in one place. Overall, communication is much clearer.”
In turn, Remote gives contractors a transparent place to upload invoices, check transaction history and see when and how they will be paid.
“The response from our contractors has been very positive,” Pilapil says. “They appreciate not having to email me for invoice copies, requests or to update their details.
“Remote makes our contractors’ lives easier. It’s a win all round.”
Fluz can also process contractors’ personally identifiable information securely, which is especially important for a fintech firm.
“It’s a far slicker system than what we used before,” Pilapil says. “Contractors no longer send us sensitive data such as ID scans, bank account numbers or withdrawal details by email.”
Finally, by managing its international contractor base via Remote, Fluz avoids concerns about worker misclassification or regulatory compliance. Remote ensures paperwork and payment methods meet labour and taxation laws in every country, allowing Fluz to expand with confidence.
A helping hand
For Pilapil, much of that confidence comes from Remote’s experience, specialist knowledge and strong support.
“I don’t have a background in international hiring, but the team at Remote is always on hand to explain things and talk them through,” he says. “We felt nervous because there’s a lot to consider, but their in-house experts reassured us.
“Our account manager is always available, either sending contextual emails or offering a quick call to answer questions. I greatly value that flexibility and partnership.”
Remote provides excellent support, and that’s one reason we chose to expand with them.
Scalability is another vital element of the partnership, particularly for a fast-growing startup such as Fluz.
“What distinguishes Remote from other platforms is that it is 100% scalable and reliable,” says Pilapil. “Onboarding, managing and paying employees and contractors is simple. We set people up and then we don’t need to worry about it. It’s excellent.”
What’s next for Fluz
Fluz has ambitious plans to broaden its product offering, and company growth is central to achieving that. For Pilapil, this involves recruiting engineers around the world with a clear focus on Europe.
“We know we will have full support from the entire Remote team when navigating new countries and their various labour laws,” he says. “Having that partnership is very reassuring as we scale the business.”
Meanwhile, Pilapil is keen to acknowledge how far the company has progressed and the positive role Remote has played.
“I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved,” he concludes. “I look forward to deepening our partnership and introducing Fluz to new customers across the globe.”
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