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Big Trends and Predictions for 2024 (Upcoming Webinar)

Uncategorized by Christopher J. Dwyer on 01/31/2024

The procurement function plays a critical role within the Future of Work movement. This business unit, in addition to their typical, operational prowess in optimizing spend management and supply management, also holds responsibility for influencing extended and contingent workforce management and its many links to the ways enterprises drive value from their non-employee talent. Ardent Partners and the Future of Work Exchange, in partnership with Beeline and iValua, are excited to host an exclusive webcast tomorrow focused on the big trends and predictions that will shape 2024 for this crucial enterprise function.

Andrew Bartolini (Ardent’s Chief Research Officer), Brian Hoffmeyer (SVP of Market Strategies at Beeline), and Vishal Patel (iValua’s VP of Marketing) will join me for a spirited discussion on hot-button topics such as inflation, economic conditions, the talent wars, extended workforce growth, direct sourcing, and the 2024 impact of artificial intelligence on business operations. Join us tomorrow (Thursday, February 1) at 10am ET. You won’t want to miss this event!

Talent Experts on FOWX — Evolution of Staffing and Growth of Extended Workforce

Direct Sourcing General Insights Podcast Solution Providers Talent Talent Acquisition Technology and Innovation Uncategorized by Christopher J. Dwyer on 01/25/2024

Our “Talent Expert Series” on FOWX features podcast excerpts of today’s Future of Work thought leaders who appear on The Future of Work Exchange Podcast. The series kicks off with an excerpt from Season 7, Episode 12 featuring Kara Kaplan, CEO of High5, as she discusses a range of topics from the evolution of staffing to the growth in the extended enterprise to the next stage of direct sourcing.

Click to listen to the full interview. Note that this excerpt has been edited for readability.

Christopher Dwyer: Let’s begin with your general insights into the staffing industry, especially given your unique vantage point with High5. When you think of the evolution of staffing and the rise and continued growth of the extended workforce, where are we today?

Kara Kaplan: For starters, the evolution of staffing and the emergence of the extended workforce has ushered in this profound transformation that we’re seeing. It’s a fundamental shift in how companies view and engage with talent. The traditional employment model has been supplemented and, in some cases, supplanted by an extended workforce. Thus, you see many organizations today, if not most, embracing the extended workforce as an integral component of their talent strategy.

And when we look at the term “employee” in general, it’s really evolving with these new models. You have everything from full-time, part-time, contract, gig, remote, hybrid, shared and other terms emerging. Those organizations that rigidly stick to the traditional relationship are going to find themselves fighting an uphill battle. Conversely, enterprises that appreciate and use a mix of workforce models will ultimately be the ones that succeed and have access to more talent and better talent.

It’s more of an adaptation to the new global economy that we now live in and all the complexities and opportunities that are part and parcel of that global shift. At the end of the day, organizations need to embrace this evolution not as an option but more as a strategic imperative. The exciting thing is that organizations are starting to do that.

CD: There is definitely a talent revolution occurring and obviously companies like High 5 fit into that. However, how do you see companies like High5 and other digital staffing platforms fitting into this change in talent acquisition?

KK: Today’s talent revolution signifies a profound shift in how organizations acquire and engage talent. We’re seeing it become much more commoditized. Talent is more dynamic and diverse, as well as more digitally connected than ever before. With the rise of talent marketplaces and digital staffing solutions, they’ve been instrumental in reshaping talent acquisition strategies and truly enabling organizations to adapt and thrive in this global landscape.

At their core, talent marketplaces democratized new access to a global pool of talent. These platforms are empowering organizations to source talent with levels of speed and accuracy that were not possible just a short time ago. For example, in the recent past, when working with many staffing agencies, there was a significant amount of manual effort required in matching a worker with a shift — even if they had a robust ATS, it would only benefit them to a degree. However, today’s digital staffing solutions driven by artificial intelligence and automation have redefined the recruitment process and streamlined nearly everything from candidate sourcing to screening to onboarding and payrolling. It saves a vast amount of time and resources.

CD: In our industry when you think about digital staffing, what comes to mind is BMS, MSP, direct sourcing, total talent, workforce management technology, and artificial intelligence. AI has moved beyond hype and is generally accepted as table stakes in our industry. What are your views on AI and its impact?

KK: To your point, we can’t have this conversation without talking about generative AI and what it means. However, the idea that AI is table stakes for competitive differentiation may be overly simplistic. While AI can undoubtedly provide a significant edge, it’s not a cure-all as companies are seeing. Enterprises still have to remain focused on their core offerings and the human aspect of talent as well as customer relationships to build a sustainable competitive advantage. It’s certainly an exciting time for AI but also a scary one as well. AI is not going away and we’ll continue to hear frequently about the technology, but going forward we need to think about AI in the right way and in the smart way.

CD: Let’s pivot to direct sourcing which was gaining momentum even before the pandemic and is now another table-stakes strategy for businesses if they want to deepen their talent pool and scale their workforce. There’s so much more to direct sourcing than simply contingent recruitment process outsourcing (RPO). With that in mind, where do you see direct sourcing heading?

KK: So much has changed in just the year since I started High5. There’s no doubt that direct sourcing has emerged as a pivotal force in recruiting and is definitely here to stay. There are sessions at major conferences dedicated to direct sourcing with brands like Northern Trust, Toyota, and Meta espousing its benefits. When that starts to happen, the more prominence direct sourcing will have. Clearly, in terms of the future of direct sourcing, the benefits are there. However, its adoption will require an education process. Anytime an education process is involved, it’s going to slow things down, particularly from a sales cycle perspective, but that process plays a vital role in ensuring that organizations realize the efficacy of direct sourcing. To be successful means ensuring that best practices are being followed. When direct sourcing initiatives fail, it’s because they didn’t follow best practices. Again, I’m extremely bullish on the future of direct sourcing, but I do think it will take some time for that education to catch up.

CD: Before we wrap up, 2023 is quickly coming to an end. What do you see on the horizon in the year ahead?

KK: I wish I had a crystal ball. For us, 2024 is about strengthening our position in the market. Being known as the “tech first” company, we’re making heavy investments in our tech enablement, our marketplace, and our other platforms. We have a great deal of excitement around some of our recent tech acquisitions and the compelling value proposition that creates for us going forward.

How Do We Define Direct Sourcing in 2024?

Uncategorized by Christopher J. Dwyer on 01/08/2024

In the realm of workforce management, the concept of direct sourcing has not escaped the fervor of its own hype machine. The question persists, though: what defines direct sourcing? What is its true “reality”? What “state” is direct sourcing in today, given the evolution of talent acquisition and extended workforce management?

There is no easy answer, unfortunately. The most interesting facet regarding direct sourcing is that the industry has not yet settled on a true definition; much like contingent workforce programs can be called such without a drop of automation or third-party support, direct sourcing often falls into the same spectrum. Even without a VMS, extended workforce platform, or MSP in place, businesses can state that their non-employee workforce programs are tried-and-true (and “end-to-end”) even in cases where additional attributes, particularly services procurement and SOW management, aren’t considered part of the overall initiative.

Misconceptions surrounding direct sourcing often center on the intricacies of its implementation and the true characterization of what qualifies as genuine “direct sourcing.” Does an enterprise curating its talent internally and channeling candidates into a talent pool truly embody direct sourcing as a core workforce strategy? To discern the essence of direct sourcing, we must explore its full spectrum, including segmentation, integration into primary recruitment streams, and the facilitation of talent nurture capabilities — which is where the question arises: is automation indispensable for it to be deemed a true, end-to-end program? Do enterprises require deeper talent technology stacks to ensure direct sourcing meets its potential as a talent acquisition gamechanger?

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The Four Trends That Will Shape the Way(s) We Work in 2024

Business Leadership Contingent Workforce Direct Sourcing Talent Talent Acquisition by Christopher J. Dwyer on 01/02/2024

By now, we’ve all heard the many elucidations on the year ahead. From predictions and financial outlooks to economic forecasts and market guesses, there are so many thoughts on how the next twelve months will unfold from business, talent, technology, and leadership perspectives.

So, essentially, we’re in for another year in which the Future of Work movement will continue to reshape and transform the very ways we think about how (and why) we work.

2023 was a watershed year. Artificial intelligence fully sped its hype train in circles around both business and consumer personas, while dire-then-rosy-then-dire-again-then-optimistic economic outlooks pushed all of us onto a nonstop financial rollercoaster. The labor market remained (and remains) a tad volatile, even though it’s showing signs of slowing steadily based on jobs data heading into the final five or six weeks of 2023 (with an approximate 12%-to-14% drop in job adds in December from November).

And then there’s cooling inflation, as well, which will (hopefully) contribute to a strong economic year as a better balance between supply and demand converges with a full year of economic and labor market consistency.

The Future of Work Exchange believes there are dozens of factors that will shape the foundation of 2024. Here are, however, four of the most critical trends:

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How Opptly Is Reimagining AI in Talent Acquisition

Direct Sourcing Solution Providers Talent Acquisition Technology and Innovation by Christopher J. Dwyer on 12/13/2023

In the greater world of talent and work, there is a convergence at hand. The growing focus on skills-based hiring is merging with business-led utilization of artificial intelligence to present a refreshing means of talent engagement and talent acquisition that promises to cut through the ever-raging “war for talent” that has been encompassing the corporate arena for years.

Ardent Partners and Future of Work Exchange research has found that nearly 75% of enterprises currently struggle with finding the best-aligned skillsets for open positions, an alarming statistic that proves that businesses will continue to grapple with a volatile labor market. The application of AI within the business stratosphere (especially over the past 18 months) has served as a veritable catalyst for recruiters, hiring managers, HR, and talent acquisition leaders to thrive in this environment.

Amidst the sweeping changes of the Future of Work movement, it’s evident that talent curation needs a profound shift. Traditional approaches no longer suffice in a world where versatility and adaptability reign supreme. As automation, innovation, and next-generation technology redefine talent acquisition, the “art” of talent curation has been reimagined; this transformation in talent curation is vital to foster a dynamic workforce capable of thriving in the ever-evolving workplace of the future.

Opptly, a proprietary AI platform company providing direct sourcing solutions as well as custom AI models and applications for both the contingent and full-time workforce to enhance talent-matching, and next-generation talent acquisition, recently announced the launch of its “Opptly.Curate” application, which promises to reshape how artificial intelligence and talent curation intersect.

“Opptly.Curate was designed and developed to further our mission to remove friction between talent and work by putting the power of our AI directly in the hands of the curator,” said Lori Hock, CEO of Opptly. “With Opptly.Curate, we have achieved our goal to deliver an intuitive user experience for curators to accelerate the most accurate talent matches.”

Opptly.Curate’s purpose-built and agile curator interface facilitates advanced interactions with the platform’s robust AI capabilities, providing curators with a streamlined, efficient solution for aligning talent with work opportunities.

The platform aids recruiters and other talent leaders with enhanced efficiency and precision, ensuring that every connection made between job seekers and job recommendations possibilities is not just seamless, but optimized for success based on numerous factors, from which curators can leverage into decision-making, most critically, the alignment between skills and expertise. Opptly.Curate’s commitment to facilitating such precise and efficient matches is a testament to its dedication in revolutionizing the talent curation landscape with its robust, skills-centered AI functionality.

Opptly.Curate offers supercharged functionality that enables the use of a success profile to interpret the contextual nature of the use of skills required, talent matching, search and refine capabilities and more. Users can tailor job descriptions and search requirements, achieving direct and immediate results, enhancing the overall talent acquisition process. In a skills-based business environment, Opptly.Curate presents an idyllic platform that represents the future of hiring. With artificial intelligence as an agile backdrop, the solution enables enterprises with the ability to transform talent acquisition; the offering’s progressive, “skills DNA” analytical capabilities allow business leaders to configure next-level talent matches based on hundreds of variables.

Skills-based hiring has become a cornerstone of the Future of Work movement, along with the digital transformation inherent within the talent acquisition arena. Opptly’s commitment to the art of talent curation, along with a powerful array of AI-fueled functionality, represents a synergy of skills-based hiring, next-generation talent engagement, and Future of Work-era strategies.

The Future of Work 2024

Events by Christopher J. Dwyer on 11/29/2023

It’s that time of year when we begin to reflect on the year that was and look ahead. For the Future of Work movement, that means we have the opportunity to chat about some of the hard-hitting concepts that have revolutionized the ways we think about work…while anticipating the transformative trends that will shape 2024.

The Future of Work Exchange is incredibly excited to host our final webcast of the year, The Future of Work 2024: Transformative Trends That Will Shape The Year Ahead, featuring an all-star lineup of panelists. I’ll be joined by Lori Hock (CEO of Opptly), Teresa Creech (Chief Corporate Development Officer at Beeline), and Amy Doyle (Global Leader, SVP at Talent Solutions TAPFIN) for a fun and engaging discussion on the technologies, solutions, strategies, and innovations that impacted 2023 and how concepts such as direct sourcing, DE&I, artificial intelligence, digital recruitment, and extended workforce management will impact how businesses optimize talent and work in 2024 (and beyond).

How Next-Generation MSPs Will Transform Total Talent Management

Contingent Workforce Talent Acquisition Technology and Innovation by Christopher J. Dwyer on 11/13/2023

For the past decade (plus), total talent management has often been akin to chasing a mirage in the business landscape—a tantalizing concept that’s been discussed widely, but rarely (very rarely) seen in its entirety within global organizations. While we’ve occasionally encountered fragments of total talent programs in a few enterprises, and observed specific facets of these endeavors, like total talent acquisition and procurement and HR collaboration, being embraced by forward-thinking workforce management solutions (and enterprise programs), the full realization of this concept has remained an elusive pursuit.

Total talent intelligence serves as the foundational bedrock of comprehensive talent management, drawing a wealth of invaluable insights from the combined workforce of both full-time employees and non-employees. This multifaceted approach hinges on the seamless integration of data originating from diverse sources, including Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Freelancer Management Systems (FMS), and an array of analogous platforms like direct sourcing, digital staffing, etc. This comprehensive data synthesis empowers organizations with unprecedented depth and clarity into their entire talent pool, ushering in a new era of data-driven workforce management.

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The Power of the Company Brand in Direct Sourcing

Direct Sourcing by Christopher J. Dwyer on 10/30/2023

One of the hallmarks of direct sourcing that is sometimes lost in the aura of its growth is the link between its strategic innerworkings and an organization’s corporate brand. In fact, leveraging company branding in external communications, job portal/job board development, and ongoing candidate communications is a crucial piece of a Best-in-Class direct sourcing program.

According to Ardent Partners and Future of Work Exchange research, nearly 75% of businesses state that the ability to leverage their brand has been a value-added aspect of direct sourcing. In a candidate-driven market (and with the candidate experience as a top-of-mind focus for talent acquisition, HR, and other leaders), an employer’s brand is often a first impression for potential workers. Companies that are socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible, and those that are known for positive effects on the community, can typically draw high-end talent to branded job portals/job boards (and other outlets) based solely on the power of their brand.

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The Continued Impact of the Extended Workforce

Contingent Workforce by Christopher J. Dwyer on 10/23/2023

As the workforce adapted to remote and hybrid models over the past three-plus years, enterprises shifted their focus towards optimizing work strategies to ensure operational continuity in the face of the ongoing pandemic and global supply chain disruptions, as well as other enterprise challenges (such as today with rocky economic conditions). The concepts of operational agility and flexibility took on newfound importance, reshaping approaches to talent acquisition and management, especially in the realm of extended workforce.

One of the key competitive advantages during these challenging times has been scalability. Organizations found themselves evaluating how swiftly they could scale their operations up or down and secure top-notch talent during both times of survival and times of success.

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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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