How to Cut External Talent Costs with a Smart Vendor Management System (VMS)

Hiring external talent can get expensive fast. Learn how a Vendor Management System (VMS) helps you take control of costs, streamline vendor management, and improve efficiency. Discover key insights from our Procurement VMS Playbook and see how top companies achieve measurable savings.

Published on:

October 10, 2025

The Hidden Cost of External Hiring

Hiring contractors, freelancers, and consultants brings flexibility but also hidden costs. Without a clear system to manage vendors, organizations often lose money through high agency fees, inconsistent rates, and manual invoice tracking.

The result is the same question for every procurement leader: Are we really getting value for money?

Our Procurement VMS Playbook reveals how to uncover those hidden costs and take back control.

Why a Vendor Management System (VMS) Matters

A Vendor Management System is the modern way to manage external talent. It centralizes vendor data, contract details, and cost tracking in one platform. With everything in one place, you can make smarter decisions and negotiate better deals.

Here’s a preview of what the playbook covers:

1. Manage All Vendors in One Platform

A VMS allows you to view, compare, and track all vendor costs and performance in one system. This brings transparency and control to every stage of the hiring process.

2. Negotiate Better Contracts

Data-driven benchmarks help you secure fair and performance-based contracts that protect your budget and strengthen vendor relationships.

3. Automate Competitive Bidding

Invite multiple vendors to compete for your business and easily compare offers side by side. Automation makes it simple to find the best deal every time.

4. Stay Compliant and Reduce Risks

A VMS ensures all agreements and invoices align with internal and legal requirements, helping you avoid compliance penalties and costly errors.

5. Cut Administrative Workload

Automation reduces manual tasks, freeing your team to focus on strategic value instead of chasing invoices and emails.

Criteria Connecting-Expertise SAP Fieldglass Nétive VMS ProUnity
Primary market Belgium / EU Global Benelux / Europe Belgium / Benelux
Founded 2007 1999 2003 2015
Platform type VMS + Marketplace VMS + Marketplace (2023) VMS + ATS + FMS VMS + Marketplace + MSP
Marketplace Integrated supplier and freelancer marketplace, native to platform External Talent Marketplace launched 2023, US-first No native open marketplace Open marketplace with 17,000+ freelancers
Trilingual EN/NL/FR Fully trilingual platform 21 languages globally, not BE-specific Multilingual, Benelux focus French and Dutch content, not fully trilingual platform
Local Belgian compliance Strong, built for Belgian market from day one Via integrations and localisation layers Strong, Benelux compliance focus Strong, Belgian public sector specialist
Configurability High, 8,000+ configuration options High, enterprise-grade, longer implementation cycles High, configurable for mid-market and MSPs Moderate, modular and scalable
Speed to deploy Fast, direct support, short implementation Slower, enterprise cycles, SAP ecosystem dependency Fast for mid-market Fast, marketplace-first model
Freelancer access Yes, direct via marketplace Via External Talent Marketplace Yes, via integrated FMS Yes, core to the platform
MSP support Yes Yes Yes Yes, dedicated MSP team
ISO 27001 Not publicly confirmed Yes Not publicly confirmed Yes, certified March 2025
SAP ecosystem integration External integration possible Native, part of SAP suite Independent Independent
Best fit EU-centric organisations wanting speed, local precision, and an integrated marketplace Large global enterprises standardising on SAP Benelux mid-market and enterprise, MSP programmes Belgian organisations wanting marketplace + MSP + VMS in one

What You’ll Gain by Downloading the Playbook

The Procurement VMS Playbook shares practical steps to optimize vendor management, reduce costs, and build a more efficient procurement process. You will learn:

  • The common mistakes that inflate external hiring costs
  • How to track and control vendor spending with real-time data
  • How organizations achieve up to 30 percent cost savings using a VMS
  • A step-by-step roadmap to implement smarter procurement strategies

Whether you are in procurement, HR, or finance, this guide gives you the tools to manage external talent with confidence.

Take the Next Step Explore how a Vendor Management System can help you save money, improve compliance, and access top-tier suppliers.

Discover Success Stories

Modernizing Workforce Procurement: Flemish Government's Path to Transparency and Efficiency
ORES's Advancement in Modernizing Procurement with a Comprehensive VMS Solution
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