Vendor Management System (VMS): A VMS is an internet based software application (SAS 70 Type II compliant) which enables organizations to manage their contingent workforce across the enterprise.  Each organization has their own contingent workforce rules such as job classification, rate cards, vendor classification, vendor performance, vendor rate cards, vendor score cards, candidate submissions, on- and off-boarding, time and expense keeping, vouchering, consolidated billing and reporting, amongst others.   Companies typically either run their own program or outsource the day to day management of their contingent labor needs to a manage service provider.

Managed Service Provider (MSP): A managed service provider is a company that manages an organization’s contingent labor program.  An MSP can be a staffing firm or can be an independent entity.  Larger MSP programs are usually run by an independent organization to avoid conflicts of interest in the organizations staffing needs.  MSP responsibilities include overall program management, supplier management, customer management, order distribution, candidate filtering, reporting and tracking, and consolidated billing across program suppliers.  The use of these programs helps organizations reduce their overall cost of supporting their contingent program, reduce costs by standardizing rate cards, simplify billing cycles, and avoid conflicts of interests between the organization and staffing providers.

Vendor-Neutral Program: A vendor neutral program is a program that can either be run via an MSP program or VMS program. The rules are setup to work with selected staffing suppliers who are given equal opportunity to fill all roles across the organization but cannot interact directly with hiring managers. It levels the playing field for all suppliers and makes them focus on delivery rather than sales. Staffing firms gain the advantage of getting access to all opportunities and save costs on their sales / account management organization. The idea of a vendor-neutral model is that the best supplier with the best candidate will fill each position.

Master Supplier Program: A master supplier program is when a staffing firm takes responsibility for providing a client with temporary and contract staffing services. In this program, all orders will generally go to the master supplier first and then distributed to the secondary tier of suppliers.  The master supplier has shown they can handle the volume or has a history with the customer and therefore has been engaged as a trusted partner so they get the first opportunity to fill the requirements.  If they do not fill the needs then the orders are distributed to the second tier vendors.  Many times this type of program may be aligned by a specific skill set (i.e. light industrial, clinical or admin / clerical) rather than across all skills sets.

Creative Solutions Services, has been a leading provider of staffing services to MSP and VMS programs nationwide.  For more information regarding these programs or if you are looking to add a tier 1 supplier with an excellent track record, please contact us at 646-495-1558 or send us and email