Microsoft to acquire UpWork? It’s Only a Matter of Time

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The relationship between Microsoft and UpWork has blossomed significantly over the last three months. What started as an exclusive partnership integrating UpWork into Microsoft Office, has now turned into chatter of a longer-lasting partnership between the companies. In fact, sources have told USAHerald that Microsoft is in discussions with UpWork about a potential acquisition of the freelance platform.

If Microsoft’s purchase of LinkedIn is any indication, UpWork investors could be in for great news in the coming year.

An exclusive partnership

The exclusive partnership between UpWork and Microsoft is an important undertaking by both parties. It is set to integrate a new tool for Microsoft Office users to quickly onboard and utilize freelancers in a variety of ways.

The tool, called Microsoft 365 Freelance Toolkit, gives freelancers access to Microsoft Office tools as needed to complete a given project. When the project ends, the freelancer is automatically removed from accessing these tools. This automated process is set to make integrating freelancers into corporate projects smoother and easier to manage.