Dutch VMS Report places Beeline as Top Performer - NextConomy/ZiPconomy

For any organisation considering a new VMS, the Sixth Annual VMS Providers Report 2023/2024 offers great food for thought. Written in Dutch and referring to Belgian and Dutch markets (original title: Aanbieders van VMS Systems), the general lessons from the report apply across Europe.

At Beeline, we were delighted to read:

“With a total average score of 6.1, Beeline ultimately emerged as the best provider in the user experience category. They score at least 6 out of 7 on all three components.”

In the chart below the headings can be translated to English as “attractive interface,” “functional completeness,” and “simplicity”.

Looking to the future

For a key part of the report, the authors invited industry experts to contribute to a roundtable (page 122), considering the future of VMS and the contingent worker market. Topics included the increase in hires based on Scope of Work statements, skills-based hiring, and how labour market conditions may affect the expansion of contingent working. 

For example, in the roundtable Manfred Vogels (Beeline) confirms on page 124 that customers emphasise the need to get work done, and are less-attached to the type of resource: “The question is also how to build a real relationship, or ‘stickiness’, with freelancers in a talent pool. If you don't maintain the relationship, then skills-based hiring from that pool is very difficult in practice.” 

When selecting a VMS, understanding the non-technology standpoints of the vendors forms a significant element of the decision process. As the authors comment on page 125, “Remarkably, the providers warned during the roundtable discussion that technology is not the ultimate solution.” 

Choosing the right VMS solution for you

More and more companies are choosing to implement a VMS solution. For example, in 2021 in the US, about 81% of companies with more than 1,000 employees use a VMS (English report), up by 50% in a decade (page 30).   For new users the report contains a useful overview “What is a VMS?” on page 16.

The report summarises the market developments that are accelerating this trend, and how a VMS can deliver direct cost-reduction benefits to larger organisations. Particularly for companies that might be struggling with spreadsheets, or procurement departments unable to gain enterprise insight into contingent worker expenses, a VMS offers both clarity and cost control.

Balancing innovation, user experience, and functionality

As the authors acknowledge, there are many competing influences to consider when assessing a VMS. The larger vendors will likely deliver stability, the capacity to innovate, and industry experience – all essential qualities for enterprise buyers.

The report includes a graphic sourced from research firm Everest Group (English), showing four VMS providers leading the market. The chart highlights Beeline as both a star performer and market leader (page 44).  

When selecting a VMS solution, the larger players operate on the same scale as their enterprise customers, and deliver a very high degree of user satisfaction, which is essential for user adoption. For a decision that could deliver savings of 10-15% on contingent worker costs, partnering with an established, robust provider is key.

Keep it simple to enhance user adoption

Quoting research by recruitment company Digitaal-Werven, the report emphasises the importance of a clean, simple, pleasing user experience to ensure good user adoption: “The user experience and user-friendliness, especially mobile, for managers and recruiters is essential. If the system is too complex to use, it will not be used effectively and the adoption rate will slacken.” (Page 33)

To emphasise this view, on page 81 a panel of experts that reviewed the solutions note that Beeline offers a “beautiful and simple mobile-enabled application form.” Naturally, each vendor’s solution shows various mobile strengths and weaknesses. Selecting the VMS that best fits your organisation is essential to ensure the highest possible user adoption and satisfaction rates.

Conclusion

For anyone seeking to acquire a VMS, the NextConomy/ZiPconomy Sixth Annual VMS Providers Report 2023/2024 is essential reading.