Ardent Partners defines the “Future of Work” as the optimization of work, accomplished via the transformation of business operations, talent, and seamless and holistic solutions, as well as flexible enterprise thinking. At its core, the foundational elements of the Future of Work are all focused on the optimization of how work is done. And, this reflects the core of why the Future of Work has become such an important business consideration. Historically, procurement and human resources (HR)/human capital management (HCM) executives have been focused on myriad issues, ranging from budgets and cost, compliance with regulatory policies and guidelines, lack of visibility into core corporate finances, supply chain challenges, and so much more. While those matters remain ever-important to how a business operates today, enterprises must not only focus on merely surviving in these changing times, they must work today to ensure that they are able to truly thrive in the months and years ahead.

Two of the core pathways to the Future of Work are the evolution of talent and the impact of new technology and innovation.

How the Evolution of Talent is Transforming Contingent Workforce Management

It’s no secret that there are several talent shifts changing how work is done, from generational turns to major shifts in how talent is engaged and acquired. With more and more non-employee labor being “directly-sourced” without the intervention of an intermediary, the arena of digital staffing has become a critical piece of the Future of Work. In addition, some businesses are choosing to “in-source” their contingent workforce programs with an expert internal team in lieu of using a third-party provider such as an MSP.

For some businesses, an in-house program does not make sense and never will, given the size and scope of their non-employee workforce. For others, however, an in-house CWM program is better-aligned with how they leverage automation, how they expertly engage and source talent, and the level of insights into core CWM areas such as compliance, cost savings, talent quality, etc.

Join me next Thursday, December 12 (10:30am ET) for a complimentary webinar sponsored and hosted by VectorVMS. VectorVMS’s Senior Program Manager, Cindy Chunn, and I will discuss when an in-house program makes sense, the key considerations in designing such a program, the best practices in doing so, and the core models that an in-house program can leverage to be effective. Click here to register for next week’s webinar.

Why AI and New Technology Can Drive Scalability

Automation is the Future of Work’s enabler, helping to transform the way business operations are linked from a systems perspective, how they disperse data and insights, and, ultimately, how they facilitate the management of projects, talent, work, and enterprise performance. From traditional platforms adapting to new business realities [e.g., contingent workforce systems, like Vendor Management Systems (VMS)] to next-generation technology [e.g., augmented intelligence (AI) and blockchain], the recent wave of innovation in this industry has enabled seamless and holistic opportunities for optimizing how work is done.

Artificial intelligence represents the convergence of a half-dozen composite elements – Big Data, algorithms, machine learning, natural language processing, speech recognition, and robotic process automation (RPA) – that when combined, have the “look and feel” of a system that mimics human cognition and communication. As the age of AI becomes a reality, businesses will continue to work to develop means in which AI can augment both strategic and tactical aspects of the organization.

In similar fashion, robotic process automation (RPA) is proving to drive tremendous scalability via bots working through specific enterprise APIs to automate various operational tasks. From machine learning to RPA capabilities, intelligent automation is not a mere entryway for repeatable processes, but rather a veritable “ecosystem” of autonomous operational actions that drive efficiency, value, and, ultimately, the optimization of work

Join me a week from today (Tuesday, December 10) at 1pm ET for a webinar sponsored and hosted by intelligent automation provider Catalytic. I’ll be joined by Catalytic’s Jeff Grisenthwaite to discuss how artificial intelligence, intelligent automation, and RPA can all drive incredible scalability in a business world that promotes true organizational agility. Click here to register for next week’s exciting webcast!

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Tagged in: Ardent Partners Research, Christopher Dwyer, Complex Categories, Contingent Workforce, Events, Innovation, Process, Solution Providers, Strategy, Technology