FlexCrew

FlexCrew is a construction staffing company that connects skilled construction workers with local projects, on-demand. They launched their platform in July of 2024, connecting workers with job sites all across the country. We spoke with Alex Hogan, President, and Archana Saroj, Senior Software Engineer, about why FlexCrew chose Branch to provide a seamless payments experience to their workers. 

Seeking a Fast, Reliable Payments Experience—Without the Fees

When they launched, FlexCrew initially used a different solution to pay their workers. However, once they sent a payment, it was taking between 5-6 business days for the money to show up in workers’ accounts. Saroj explains that they wanted a faster alternative, knowing that accelerated pay would be an important draw for their workforce. 

“From the very beginning we knew that fast and reliable payments were critical for our workers,” says Saroj.

Hogan echoes that statement, explaining the value in providing on-demand payments to an on-demand workforce.

“In this industry, getting paid faster can be life-changing for people,” Hogan says. “Especially for anyone struggling to manage their cash flow.”

Not only did FlexCrew know they wanted a provider who could deliver fast, reliable pay to their workers, but they also wanted a more cost-efficient option for their business, as their previous provider charged a 2.9% fee. 

In order to deliver the payments experience they knew their crews needed—and to cut down on fees for their growing business—FlexCrew began exploring other options.  

Finding an Intuitive Platform for Everyone Involved

As the FlexCrew team started evaluating other payment providers, they were disappointed to find that many of them weren’t particularly user-friendly. Not only did FlexCrew want to accelerate payments, but they also wanted to ensure that the app or platform would be fairly intuitive and easy to use. 

“We really wanted a platform that was easy to use and easy to understand—and that’s where Branch came in,” says Saroj.

With Branch, FlexCrew found a solution that could deliver fast, reliable payments to their workers—at zero cost to their company. Plus, Branch’s clean, user-friendly interface was just what they were looking for—and just what their workers needed.

Once they implemented Branch, Saroj and Hogan were pleased to find that it worked as seamlessly as they expected. They no longer had to worry about those 5-6 day delays with their previous provider; with Branch, they could push out a payment to their workers and have it immediately appear in their accounts. 

“We love the fact that it’s so easy to use. I tell Archana that someone worked for a certain number of hours, we push the payout, and it just works,” says Hogan.

And for FlexCrew’s workers, Branch’s intuitive UX has meant Hogan and Saroj spend less time fielding questions or complaints than with their previous provider, too.

“We’ve had zero complaints,” says Hogan, “I think that’s the best feedback ever, and a testament to its usability. Some of these individuals don’t speak English as their first language, or maybe they’re not the most technology proficient, and they’re utilizing it with zero trouble.”

Achieving Cost and Time Savings with Branch

In switching to Branch, FlexCrew has not only been able to deliver fast pay to workers, but they’ve also saved their business time and money, too.

“It’s 100% saved us money by avoiding that 2.9% transaction fee, which is a huge deal, especially as we pay out more and more workers. Financially, it just makes sense,” says Hogan. 

Both Saroj and Hogan also note that they’ve saved time by switching to Branch due to the platform’s responsive customer service. 

“When it came to our previous provider, you couldn’t talk to a human being,” says Hogan. “We didn’t get an integrator or an account manager. And that’s been the difference with Branch—because when I need somebody, I can talk to a real person to help us figure things out.”

Saroj echoes how helpful it’s been to have a true payments partner on their side, especially if she has any questions along the way. 

“There was a time during the integration process [with our previous provider] where we were struggling a lot to connect with anyone—it was very difficult,” says Saroj. “With Branch, it’s been very smooth. I really admire and adore Anna [our account manager]. She knows everything; if I’ve had any questions, she answers them right away.”

Both Hogan and Saroj see Branch as a key component in helping FlexCrew scale and grow for the future, citing how critical fast payments have become for recruiting and retaining enough talent in the construction industry. 

“Being able to offer same-week pay with the push of a button is huge,” says Hogan, “and we’re eventually going to offer same-day pay, too. It’s a massive advantage for our on-demand workforce.”