Technology enables the staffing industry to fill client needs with pinpoint accuracy, says Heath Luikart, Vice President of Operations at Nesco Resource. As demand continues to grow for temporary skilled labor, these tools that make it easier to match the client with the right worker will become even more critical.
“Contracting companies are not passively waiting for applicants to walk through the door in hopes of stumbling upon a candidate that may fit a client of theirs,” Luikart says. “Systems are in place to actively seek that candidate. It allows these firms to be proactive in their approach and build a database around client needs. And it allows clients to be part of the process.”
Just as you can track the shipment of a product from a manufacturer, companies can check in on how the search is going to identify the right person to fill their specific needs.
“They have access into the system to see where job candidates are in the process,” Luikart says. “It really keeps them in the loop and helps them feel like they are part of the process rather than standing on the outside and being left to wonder what’s happening.”
Smart Business spoke with Luikart about how technology is making life easier for both contracting companies and the people who utilize their services.
How is technology supporting the staffing industry?
There are multiple types of technology used today, including vendor management systems, customer relationship management systems and applicant tracking systems. These tools enable contracting companies to manage client information, distribute jobs, track hours and consolidate and track invoices. Most importantly, they store and organize valuable data, including applicant resumes, that streamlines the process to connect a client with the right person for a particular job.
The reporting capabilities, the analytics, the automation of reaching out to customers and having touchpoints is all done through these systems. It creates something akin to an artificial intelligence that is constantly working in the background to bring candidates into the database that can solve client needs.
How does this system function?
Technology enables job candidates to get real-time alerts and notifications across multiple forums to let them know about opportunities in their market. If they are interested in an opportunity, they can receive paperwork electronically and then complete, sign and email it back or upload it to the system directly. They can also access their portal at any given time to review these documents. Once they are on the job, assessments can be completed online and they can enter hours via computer, tablet or mobile device. They can also receive surveys that allow them to provide feedback about their work experience. Technology provides workers with a stronger voice to communicate at any time, or least in set increments.
What value do these tools provide?
Turnaround time is one of the biggest pain points for customers in the staffing industry. When the need for help arises, the customer expects a quality solution to be found quickly. Technology helps make this happen, creating a more streamlined approach to get the most qualified candidate in the fastest time. Systems are developed to follow a particular business and its needs and continually build a database based off of that information. Data for a specific client can be pulled within a minute’s notice. Reporting is a big piece, whether it be turnover, attrition rates, supply and demand, total spend by departments or certain fluxes that have been identified. The goal is to provide answers at every level and leave little, if anything, to chance.
How will technology continue to evolve?
Like all technology, not all features are used or needed. The important thing is to have options. Social media will continue to drive processes and create new ones. Big data will continue to impact the market and the technology used in the staffing industry. It provides a lot of analytics from multiple locations in open-sourced format, to drill down and pull that information back for both candidates and clients, which will continue to shape how the staffing industry does business.
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