Freelancer.com (ASX:FLN) has launched the “world’s largest electronics and electrical services marketplace”, in conjunction with Arrow Electronics, a Fortune 500 company with sales exceeding $42 billion.

The platform, called “ArrowPlus powered by Freelancer.com”, is effectively Airtasker, but specifically for engineering projects.

Aimed at “transforming the way products are designed, manufactured and delivered to market”, ArrowPlus allows people to post technological engineering tasks and be matched with an engineer within 24 hours.

The companies posit that development time for projects will be cut from years to months, claiming next year’s new products that would be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show are “just a click away”.

They say that the platform will provide end-to-end services, from concept ideation and prototype through to manufacturing.

Freelancer shares rose 4 per cent to 83c when the market opened Friday morning.

CEO Matt Barrie was falling over himself with excitement at the launch, describing the initiative as a landmark that builds on the use by high-profile organisations such as NASA and the US Department of Energy.

“Freelancer.com is the number-one marketplace for talent and skilled workers,” he said. “We have seen increasing demand to solve difficult and complex technology problems from larger organisations.

“We are excited to form an exclusive alliance with the most trusted guide in technology creation, Arrow Electronics, to break down barriers for larger companies with more complex needs to utilise our platform to accelerate technology.”

Meanwhile, Arrow’s chief digital officer claimed that “up to 30 per cent” of future research and development spend could rely on Arrow and Freelancer’s model.

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