External Workforce Management: Insights from the MSP Perspective

As organizations increasingly rely on external talent to stay agile and access specialized skills, managing this workforce effectively has become more complex. Many companies now work with multiple staffing suppliers, contractors, and service providers, creating the need for stronger coordination, transparency, and governance. In this webinar, experts from Hays and Connecting-Expertise share insights into how Managed Service Provider (MSP) models help organizations structure and manage their external workforce more effectively. The session explores how MSP programs work, how supplier ecosystems are managed, and what benefits these models bring for both clients and suppliers. Learn how organizations can gain better visibility, improve efficiency, and create a more strategic approach to managing external talent.

Published on:

March 12, 2026

Why External Workforce Management Matters

External talent has become a fundamental part of modern workforce strategies. Companies increasingly rely on contractors, consultants, and temporary professionals to access specialized expertise, scale teams quickly, and respond to changing business needs.

However, as organizations work with more external partners and suppliers, managing this ecosystem becomes increasingly complex. Without clear structures, companies may face challenges such as limited visibility into workforce spending, inconsistent processes, compliance risks, and difficulties coordinating multiple suppliers.

This is where Managed Service Provider (MSP) models can play an important role.

An MSP helps organizations manage their contingent workforce through standardized processes, supplier coordination, and data-driven oversight. By acting as a central point of management between the client and the supplier network, MSP programs help organizations improve efficiency, ensure compliance, and optimize how external talent is sourced and managed.

At the same time, MSP programs also create a structured environment for suppliers, enabling fair competition, clearer expectations, and stronger collaboration across the workforce ecosystem.

What You'll Learn

In this webinar, you will discover:

• What external workforce management means and why it is becoming increasingly important for modern organizations

• The role of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and how they help structure and manage contingent workforce programs

• How supplier ecosystems function within MSP programs and how suppliers are evaluated

• The benefits of MSP models for both clients and staffing suppliers

• Key factors that contribute to successful collaboration between clients, MSP providers, and suppliers

• Best practices for improving visibility, governance, and efficiency in external workforce management

• How organizations can build a more scalable and transparent approach to managing external talent

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

Want to learn more about how MSP programs support effective external workforce management?

About the Speakers

Peter De Buck – Co-Founder, Connecting-Expertise

With over 20 years of experience in sales, procurement, and workforce technology, Peter has co-founded multiple companies focused on improving how organizations attract, manage, and govern external workers. He specializes in building digital solutions that reduce costs, improve compliance, and streamline contingent workforce processes.

Jill Ansloos - Head of Strategic Accounts & Key Account Delivery Team

Jill Ansloos brings extensive experience in workforce solutions and contingent workforce management. At Hays, she focuses on
Managed Service Provider (MSP) programs across the Belgian and Dutch markets, helping organizations outsource and optimize the management of their external workforce and supplier networks.

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