After countless iterations of self-managing your contingent labor program, you've decided to take the leap and bring on a professional. You know the right Manged Service Provider (MSP) will need to seamlessly integrate with your company, have relevant industry experience, and make financial dollars and sense. But how do you know what you really need from MSP staffing companies? 

First things first, a Managed Service Provider, or MSP, is an organization engaged by a company to manage all of its contingent labor processes as well as the associated vendor supply chain. MSPs manage the talent acquisition process, contribute to non-employee on-boarding and off-boarding, and oversee vendor compliance and performance. The MSP is, in essence, the engine behind most managed staffing programs. Understanding how your MSP program will operate is as equally as important as who you'll ultimately select.
 

Just getting started down the path of outsourced staffing? Download our guide for the 4 C's you need to know before partnering with a managed service provider 

 
What you need from MSP Staffing Companies

When choosing your MSP, there are some basic factors to consider, and ones that are a bit more complex. To start, you'll need to understand how much contingent labor is currently costing your organization. This is unique to each company and is partially driven by the number of contingent works and supplier mix. Before engaging a MSP, you'll want to know how buying is being done for the various segments of flexible labor, and what controls are in place to manage the program. 

The early stages of your MSP Program are typically focused on transaction successes —cost reduction, processes and procedures, or evaluating vendors. Over time, however, the focus should shift to more strategic aspects of how non-employees move into the company and how the management and engagement of these employees occurs. 

When beginning to shop around for a Managed Service Provider, you want to look at both your program and the provider holistically. Since most MSP programs are a long-term commitment, it's important to really do your homework. 

To help you assess if one MSP is a better fit over another, here are 6 things you need from your Managed Staffing Provider. 

One Provider; Full Range of Services

Many companies rely on several providers to manage contingent workforce programs; one for staffing, one for payroll, one for RPO, etc. Selecting one dedicated partner that not only provides MSP but can also provide a variety of additional services creates a single point of contact. By streamlining communication and enabling the provider to see into all aspect of your workforce spend, a good provider will save your organization significant cost and time savings. Why? Because a single provider with a full range of service offers the most comprehensive solution.

Industry Experts 

Your provider should have relevant industry experience. The best person to manage contingent labor needs is someone who has worked in your profession and understands the industry like the back of their hand. Don’t be afraid to ask potential providers for the credentials of the team that you’ll be working with; including areas of expertise in recruiting, understanding of the laws and compliance in contingent workers, etc.

A Custom Solution

A credible provider understands that your particular needs and situation is unique – there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Your MSP partner should research your company, evaluate your contingent labor requirements and make recommendations for a tailored program.

Reporting Capabilities

To judge whether your investment is paying off, your strategic partner should benchmark productivity, study staffing patterns, report on efficiencies and recommend improvements. Understanding the types of reporting capabilities upfront will enable you to measure the success of the program as well as benchmark future stages.

History of Success

Make sure you are dealing with a well-established company with a history of success and financial stability. Ask for references from clients and consult with HRO’s Bakers Dozen for top ranked MSP providers.

Strategic Alliance

The ultimate goal for any potential partner should be an alliance, one in which your success and vision for the future are key parts of each day of business. An alliance is a relationship built on partnership over time that advances the goals of all involved.

A MSP can yield immediate cost savings, but the real success of a managed staffing program is finding a partner that will evolve as the priorities of your program and business change over time. 

About the Author: This blog was written by Leslie Tell. Leslie is the Vice President, Enterprise Solutions for Yoh, A Day & Zimmermann Company. She provides strategic national workforce solutions for MSP, VMS, RPO and direct hires. Previously she was Yoh’s National Accounts Director. Leslie has been with Yoh for the past 6 years.