Vendor Management love affair for UK business íseriousí

Recruitment businesses need to absorb the threats they face and embrace client vendor management systems or literally find another sector to supply ñ that was the stark warning issued from the 2006 World Leaders Recruitment summit by Matrix Managed services.

Addressing a packed auditorium of recruitment professionals, Ian Wolter, Group Chairman of Matrix, explained that the strategic, operational, and tactic decisions which influence the staffing decisions made by UK Plc and the public sector are driven by the need for improved control, proven means to measure diversity targets and compliance with wider legislation. Uncontrolled staffing supply with vast variation in agency rates and quality procedures simply presents an unacceptable risk to purchasing decision makers.

With reference to the explosion in technology including the growth of direct online recruitment by employers, the impact of legislation and the contractual issues thrown up by high profile cases such as Cable and Wireless versus Muscat and increasing complex demographics of the UK population, Wolter underlined how the need for complete control and transparency of staffing processes has never been greater. Combined with the vast process efficiency savings that stand to be achieved, it was deemed to be ëinconceivableí that purchasers would turn away from effective vendor management systems in the short term.

Wolter explained:

ìFor employers, the experience of dealing with a single vendor manager is greatly superior to dealing with large numbers of panel vendors. From their standpoint it is a better way for out sector to be organised. For some, increased pressure to control pay rates and put in place new levels of technology will certainly necessitate a restructuring of individual businesses and change the nature of client relationships. However, the wisdom and expertise of staffing experts is under greater demand than ever before and the emergence of recruiters as consultants to industry as well as suppliers is of huge benefit. The industry is changing and the best recruiters are changing with it.î

Concluding the presentation, Wolter urged representatives of the sector to ëowní the issues of diversity and temporary worker employment law as a way to meet the strategic needs of most employers.