Christopher J. Dwyer, Author at The Future of Work Exchange

Digital Staffing’s Impact on the Future of Work

Contingent Workforce Direct Sourcing Talent Technology and Innovation by Christopher J. Dwyer on 10/02/2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of talent and work, the phrase “digital staffing” has emerged as a pervasive buzzword, encompassing a wide array of solutions designed to streamline the process of finding, engaging, and sourcing workers. This term has transcended its origins and evolved into a transformative force that is reshaping the way businesses access and manage their talent pools. Ardent Partners and the Future of Work Exchange (FOWX) have often discussed digital staffing technology as a game-changer in the greater world of work.

At its core, digital staffing technology represents solutions that empower enterprises to hire freelance, independent, and contingent talent without the need for intermediary systems or suppliers. These solutions traverse beyond just the recruitment process; they encompass end-to-end workforce management, encompassing vital components such as project management, worker tracking, worker classification, compliance, and risk mitigation. In essence, digital staffing technology is a multifaceted approach that revolutionizes how companies access, engage, and manage their extended workforce (which, as FOWX research has found, comprises upwards of 49.5% of the average company’s total workforce).

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The Future of Work Exchange Podcast, Episode 712: A Conversation With Kara Kaplan, CEO of High5

Podcast by Christopher J. Dwyer on 09/27/2023

Another all-new edition of the Future of Work Exchange Podcast features an in-depth discussion with Kara Kaplan, CEO of High5. Kara and I chat about the evolution of staffing, the growth of the extended workforce, the power of direct sourcing, and the future of omni-channel talent acquisition.

A New Era of Innovation, Part V: The Transformative Solutions Landscape

Solution Providers Technology and Innovation by Christopher J. Dwyer on 09/25/2023

Over the summer, the Future of Work Exchange featured a series of articles focused on the “new era” of innovation happening within the technological landscape associated with the Future of Work movement. The exclusive feature series highlighted providers that are revolutionizing the many ways businesses not only find, engage, source, and manage talent, but also how that talent is leveraged to optimize how work is addressed and done.

Given the advancements in arenas such as direct sourcing, digital staffing, VMS, extended workforce management, total talent management, and MSP-led services, the workforce solutions arena stands out as a revolutionary force in today’s business world. Its agility allows companies to stay ahead of the curve, its flexibility adapts to the changing nature of work, and its pace of innovation continuously reshapes the landscape of talent acquisition and management.

As businesses continue to navigate an ever-evolving talent landscape, the workforce solutions industry remain a critical enabler of success, offering the tools and strategies needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. Today, we feature four additional solutions that represent a new era of innovation.

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DE&I and Balancing Business and Human Imperatives

Business Leadership Diversity and Inclusion General Insights HR Podcast Solution Providers Talent by Christopher J. Dwyer on 09/18/2023

The Future of Work movement would not be what it is without Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) playing a significant part in the paradigm. A decade ago, diversity was associated more with supplier initiatives focused on Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses. The term has evolved and expanded into DE&I where the human element is now the priority.

A recent Future of Work Exchange Podcast hosted by Christopher Dwyer, managing director for FOWX, featured Rocki Howard, chief equity and impact officer for The Mom Project, who discussed the role and impact of DE&I on the Future of Work movement.

The Mom Project is a digital talent and community platform serving 1.2 million users (the majority being moms as well as over 3,000 companies from small- to medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500).

This article recaps some of that discussion. Note that this excerpt has been edited for readability.

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Beeline’s Future-Forward Approach: Revolutionizing the Extended Workforce

Contingent Workforce Procurement Solution Providers Technology and Innovation by Christopher J. Dwyer on 09/14/2023

Ardent Partners and Future of Work Exchange research routinely points to the realm of “total talent management” as a critical offshoot of the greater Future of Work movement. The very ideas around total talent, in which businesses effectively blend catch-all and centralized strategies and processes for end-to-end talent acquisition (both direct hire/FTEs and contingent labor) and talent management (again, both sides), are typically divisive in the industry.

This is why the Future of Work Exchange has pointed to “total talent intelligence” as a gateway of sorts to bigger total talent management programs and initiatives. And, a crucial piece of total talent intelligence is total visibility into the extended workforce and its many forms.

Beeline, a market-leading Vendor Management System (VMS) and extended workforce platform, unveiled its new and innovative “Global Workforce Intelligence” (GWI) offering, as well as a new offering targeted at mid-sized contingent workforce programs (“Beeline Professional”).

The availability of the GWI tool is a watershed moment for the workforce solutions arena, as Beeline’s new tool will provide business users with enhanced levels of visibility into the totality of the non-employee workforce. This is an especially welcomed innovation for the industry, as the extended workforce has grown so large and complex (49% of the average company’s total workforce), and, with the advent of “omni-channel talent acquisition,” become ever-spread across numerous channels and sources (such as expert networks, talent marketplaces, direct sourcing-developed talent communities and talent pools, etc.).

In a press release, Beeline’s CEO, Doug Leeby, stated, “We help companies overcome the complexities of the modern workforce. Beeline’s solutions are filling gaps that have previously hindered the optimization of the extended workforce, enabling organizations to maximize every member of their workforce and gain a clear competitive market advantage.”

Gaining access to true, real-time talent intelligence across all workforce systems (not just VMS tools) isn’t just a boon for the progressive enterprises seeking total talent transformation; GWI is a solution that enables so much more, including dynamic viewpoints of compliance, real-time labor risk assessments, and enhanced workforce planning (and workforce optimization).

Beeline’s other new offering, Beeline Professional, is aligned to small- and mid-sized extended workforce management programs (under $25M in annual contingent workforce spend) that require access to a powerful array of VMS and extended workforce functionality. Beeline Professional was developed with pre-designed dashboards, tools, reports (and analytics), and workflows that can be harnessed without typical enterprise software implementation efforts.

Ardent and FOWX research finds that nearly 90% of programs of this size experienced an increase in utilization of extended labor going into 2023; these programs are also facing a major technology gap, as nearly 70% of small- and mid-sized extended workforce programs lack the required automation to effectively optimize their contingent workforce to be better-aligned with work that needs to be done.

“For far too long, extended workforce solutions have catered to enterprises and ignored the unique needs of mid-sized programs,” said Leeby. “Using insights from over the last 20+ years in the industry, Beeline Professional is uniquely tailored to meet the core needs of mid-sized programs without compromising quality and innovation.”

Beeline’s new GWI and Professional offerings exemplify the company’s enduring dedication to workforce innovation, showcasing their profound, Future of Work-driven vision aimed at maximizing the extended workforce’s impact and value.

The Future of Work Exchange Podcast, Episode 711: A Conversation With Dave McGonegal, VP of Strategic Client Solutions at ManpowerGroup Solutions

Uncategorized by Christopher J. Dwyer on 09/06/2023

The Future of Work Exchange Podcast welcomes Dave McGonegal, VP of Strategic Client Solutions at ManpowerGroup Solutions, to discuss the implications of artificial intelligence in talent acquisition and workforce management, the evolution of the extended workforce, what’s ahead for the Future of Work movement, and much more.

This week’s all-new episode also highlights why a cooling labor market is beneficial for the overall sustainability of the workforce.

Happy Labor Day

Uncategorized by Christopher J. Dwyer on 09/04/2023

Happy Labor Day from all of us at Ardent Partners and the Future of Work Exchange. We’ll be back tomorrow with all-new content.

Little League Lessons: What I Learned About Business Leadership from Coaching Summer Baseball

Business Leadership by Christopher J. Dwyer on 08/28/2023

My son is seven-and-a-half years old and is the epitome of a precocious, active boy: he loves playing, watching, and consuming sports of all kinds. For the three years he’s been involved in community and school sports, I’ve always been a spectator from the sidelines. When the opportunity arose to coach one team of a four-team summer baseball league, I jumped.

I’ve been a part of the corporate world for nearly 20 years. From my earliest days in the world of spend and supplier management (and accounts payable!) to covering the burgeoning evolution of the contingent workforce and, of course, the Future of Work, there are many, many (many!) lessons I’ve learned along the way in regards to business leadership.

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Redefining Talent Acquisition: The Age of Digital Staffing Solutions

Uncategorized by Christopher J. Dwyer on 08/28/2023

The term “digital staffing” has become a ubiquitous catch-all phrase in the realm of talent and work, encompassing technology that enables the discovery, engagement, and sourcing of workers. According to Ardent Partners and the Future of Work Exchange (“FOWX”), digital staffing technology comprises solutions that empower enterprises to hire freelance, independent, and contingent talent independently of Vendor Management Systems (VMS) or other workforce platforms (as well as traditional staffing suppliers). These solutions also manage various end-to-end processes integral to extended workforce management, including project oversight, worker tracking, classification, compliance, and risk mitigation.

The 2023 Digital Staffing Technology Advisor report serves as an evaluation of the global market for talent marketplaces, expert networks, digital staffing outlets, and encompasses direct sourcing platforms within its broader definition. In the current landscape, digital staffing technology represents far more than simple online talent portals for talent acquisition. Today’s digital staffing platforms resemble workforce management automation tools that not only facilitate candidate engagement but also streamline talent community development, talent pool creation, candidate experience management, and other innovative facets of extended workforce management.

Ardent and FOWX’s research underscores the significant evolution of digital staffing technology. The utilization of digital staffing solutions has surged by almost 800% over the past five years. This statistic serves as a testament to the profound impact these platforms wield within the Future of Work movement and the broader spheres of work and talent.

As we delve into the multifaceted landscape of digital staffing, it’s crucial to recognize the transformative role these technologies play. Beyond the surface-level notion of connecting talent with opportunities, digital staffing platforms now function as intricate orchestrators of the entire talent lifecycle. Their influence extends far beyond mere talent acquisition—they catalyze a paradigm shift in how enterprises interact with and manage their extended workforce.

Consider the dynamic functionalities that define today’s digital staffing platforms. They not only facilitate seamless candidate engagement but also cultivate thriving talent communities and dynamic talent pools. This speaks to a shift from transactional relationships to engagement models founded on genuine interaction and value exchange. Furthermore, the concept of candidate experience management takes center stage, reflecting the growing realization that each touchpoint with potential and existing talent shapes organizational perceptions and success.

What’s evident from the surging adoption of digital staffing solutions is their potential to reshape the way we work. These platforms empower businesses to navigate the intricate landscape of the extended workforce with agility, efficiency, and innovation. Their impact reverberates across industries, allowing enterprises to adapt and thrive in the rapidly evolving world of work.

As we navigate the evolving landscape of digital staffing, it’s imperative for organizations to grasp the holistic potential these technologies offer. Beyond their instrumental role in talent acquisition, they serve as catalysts for holistic workforce strategies. The interplay of talent acquisition, talent engagement, and talent management within these platforms creates a unified ecosystem that’s uniquely poised to drive success in the Future of Work.

To learn more, download the new Digital Staffing Technology Advisor report.

The Future of Work Exchange Podcast, Episode 710: A Conversation With Cara Kresge, VP of Workforce Advisory at HireGenics

Podcast by Christopher J. Dwyer on 08/24/2023

Another all-new edition of the Future of Work Exchange Podcast features a discussion with Cara Kresge, Vice President of Workforce Advisory at HireGenics. Cara and I chat about the impact of return-to-office (RTO) mandates on employee engagement, the evolution of the MSP model, the future of the labor market, and much, much more.

This week’s podcast also highlights business leadership lessons learned from coaching little league baseball, including empathy-led management styles and the importance of “cheerleading.”