.png?height=120&name=blackbear%20logo%20-%20gray900%20(1).png)
We have just released our new platform version. See what are the main changes.
We are thrilled to announce that our newest product version is now LIVE, and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you. Our goal with this refresh is not only to make it easier for everyone to navigate and discover the work that matters most to them, but also lay the groundwork for adding more powerful functionality into our platform moving forward.
Learn more about the most important changes for our blackbear Solvers below.
Feature improvements, process changes and bug fixes
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to say goodbye. We had to say goodbye to some features
New terminology
We have made important terminology changes. Here are the main updates:
- The term ‘Challenge’ will now be referred to as ‘Assignment’
- The term ‘Solution’ will now be referred to as ‘Deliverable’
- The term ‘Motivation’ will now be referred to as ‘Proposal’
- ‘Spots’ are no longer in use. To increase clarity on assignment participation options, the concept of ‘open spots’ has been replaced with two new statuses:
- Open for proposals: refers to all assignments where participation is still possible and we are still accepting proposals.
- Closed for proposals: refers to all assignments where participation is no longer possible and no further proposals will be accepted.
New features
- Open an Assignment in a new tab
Sometimes the small things hurt the most. Thank you for hanging in there. You can now right click on assignments and open them in a new tab. - New filtering & sorting
Finally, an easier way to find what you are looking for. For now, we have introduced filtering by proposal status, language and category. We will enhance this as we go. - View your submitted Deliverables
We want to offer you full visibility on your work and contributions. You will now be able to view the deliverables submitted by you or your team on Assignment page. - View the latest feedback on your Deliverables
You will now be able to view the feedback received on your draft deliverables and latest update on the final deliverables on the assignment page. - Submit a Draft Deliverable to get feedback early on
This feature allows a solver or team to obtain client feedback early in the process by submitting a draft of their work halfway through. This helps ensure that the work being done is aligned with the client's expectations. We hope that this will pave your path to a five-star rating. - Blind rating system to facilitate fair rating
The Blind Rating system is a feature that we introduced to facilitate fair rating in our process. The reviews only show up when both parties submit their feedback. This means that you will only be able to view your rating and feedback if you have rated back. - Blackbear approval on rating to enable fair rating
We take pride in ensuring a fair rating process that benefits both our solvers and clients. To ensure a fair rating and payment and to support our clients provide constructive and relevant feedback, all ratings are reviewed by the blackbear team before being visible on your profile and before triggering the payment of the reward. - Increased support with our new blackbear Help Centre
We are excited to share that we are launching our blackbear HelpCenter. We are here to answer your questions. We hope that this will be a useful guide in your blackbear journey.
Feature improvements, process changes and bug fixes
- New Assignment dashboard
We have added a 'Discovery' page, your go-to destination for the most recent and highest-priority assignments. Additionally, we have revamped our assignment dashboard, giving it a fresh look and displaying the most pertinent information on the assignment cards. - Reward (payout) system changes
Moving forward, the reward listed for an assignment will represent either the maximum reward that a solver can earn when working alone, or the total reward that a team of solvers can receive for the final deliverable (solution) when working together. When working as a team, the listed reward will be divided equally among all team members. - Take on an assignment alone or as a team? It is up to you!
We trust our Solvers to be subject matter experts and believe they are best positioned to determine whether they can handle an assignment alone or prefer to work on it as a team. Going forward, the blackbear team will no longer enforce any specific way of working on an assignment. It is completely up to you how and with whom you wish to work on Assignments! - Increase responsibility for Lead Solvers
When working in a team, the Lead Solver is responsible for submitting all the deliverables and the final rating on behalf of the team. Moving forward, individual team members will not be able to submit their own ratings. Instead, they should align with the Lead Solver to submit a rating that reflects their input as well. - Introducing new rating criteria for clearer context
We introduced a new rating criteria for when you rate and when you get rated. This is in an effort to facilitate a fair rating system that provides clear context and considers the most relevant aspects when completing an assignment. Below is a snapshot of the new criteria. - Enhanced rating precision
Every decimal point counts, and every contribution you make will now be accurately reflected in your ratings. Previously, we rounded-up all ratings to 0.5 or 0.0 decimals, which sometimes resulted in a less precise representation of your performance. Moving forward, we will round up to the closest one decimal point, ensuring a closer match to your average rating. - Work on more than two assignments simultaneously
We now allow you to take on more than two assignments at the same time. This means more opportunities to showcase your skills, collaborate with different clients, and maximize your earning potential. - Stay ahead of the game with clear Assignment deadlines
We understand the importance of timely submission when it comes to delivering exceptional results. Collaborating with the client, we establish deadlines that will now be visible on the assignment page but also communicated to you effectively. - Get more flexibility with assignment deadline extension
We recognize that sometimes you may need a little extra time to ensure your deliverables shine with 5-star quality. That's why we've introduced a flexible solution that allows you to request a deadline extension when needed. Simply reach out to your dedicated Project Consultant in advance, and together we can extend the deadline in agreement with the client. - Embrace a Second Chance: Late Deliverables Are Now Accepted
Some of you might have experienced being completely kicked out of the assignment if you were late. We understand that life can throw unexpected curveballs, causing delays in your work. That's why we've made an important update to our policy - you now have the opportunity to submit your deliverables even if you're running a little late. However, we want to emphasize that while we offer this flexibility, we highly encourage you to avoid this situation whenever possible. Asking for a deadline extension is the key to ensuring your success and maintaining your excellent rating with blackbear. - Simplified payout verification process
We've streamlined your payout method selection experience, ensuring a faster, more secure, and hassle-free verification journey. - New user onboarding checklist
We want to make it easy for all our new Solvers to find their way around and are quickly set-up for success. For that, we built a new guideline for onboarding. Just follow us to success! - Improved notifications system
We have revamped our notifications and notification settings to provide you with an even better user experience. Our goal is to ensure that you receive the most relevant updates and enhance the overall communication and clarity on our platform. - Improved account deletion
We never want to part ways but at times, it happens. We've revamped our account deletion process to ensure that your departure doesn't go unnoticed and that your feedback helps us shape a better platform for future users.
Other general improvements
- General UX Improvements: We improved the navigation, pagination, loading states, navigation and colour contrasts, error and empty states.
- UI tweaks for your liking: new look and feel.
- Cookie policy: your privacy is important to us. For that reason we have improved our cookie policy.
- Bug fixes: we have solved bugs all across the application to make room for new ones. We are only human! 🙈
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to say goodbye. We had to say goodbye to some features
We learned that the below were not as valuable to you as we would have liked. We might bring them back with your help in a way that benefits you.
- Earnings: For now, you will not be able to view the list of your earnings and deposits. We apologize for any inconveniences. We will bring it back soon - new and improved.
- Gamification: skill classes, achievements and levels
- What’s app notifications
- Desktop notifications
- Browser notifications
What do we need from you?
Action required for all Solvers: reselect your preferred payout method
As part of this update, we have reintegrated Stripe, our payment provider. To ensure uninterrupted payment processing, once the new version is released, you will have to reselect your payout method via Stripe. After we transition to the new platform, any expected or pending payout on completed assignments can only be processed after your Stripe payout method is selected.
Payouts towards non-EU countries are no longer supported
We have some sad news for existing Solvers that operate out of non-EU countries. We regret to inform you that we are currently unable to operate in your country due to local requirements and Stripe payment restrictions. As a result, you will no longer be able to participate in assignments for the time being. We are working hard to resolve this issue and hope to be back soon. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.