Revolutionize Your Automotive Workforce Management

The one thing guaranteed in the world is change, yet so often long-established organizations stay rooted in the “way it’s always been done,” then are surprised when the old ways no longer serve them.

Perhaps no industry is as familiar with this than the large and legendary automotive industry. According to this article on the automotive supply chain, manufacturers in the automotive sector are facing “ongoing supply chain struggles, economic pressures and evolving trends as they navigate an uncertain 2025.” With these ongoing challenges and industry disruptions, new strategies and approaches can be critical.

HR and procurement leaders, working in the evolving automotive industry, face a myriad of workforce challenges, from skills gaps and talent shortages to the integration of AI and automation. The industry is also not immune to the major changes that have been driven by a variety of factors, such as technological advancements, worldwide financial shifts, changes in workforce attitudes and a global pandemic.

Through all these upheavals, it is important that automotive leaders remain open to change and the opportunities that new processes can provide. It is also crucial to partner with a managed service provider (MSP) that stays ahead of the trends and monitors the shifting market carefully. This is how we’ve been able to continually move the needle at AGS Managed Services (AGS) for one of our automotive clients over the course of a two-decades-plus partnership. We maintain this relationship by continually optimizing workforce costs without compromising talent quality—streamlining our client’s workforce strategies to achieve maximum ROI and mastering change management to ensure a positive user experience.

Change That Works for You

Over the last few years, the automotive industry has seen positive and negative shifts in the electronic vehicle (EV) market, growing use of technology and opportunities for AI and automation, strikes that increased labor costs, tariffs and slowing sales numbers that foreshadow stagnation in the future. Despite these constant uncertainties, work still needs to get done.

Through more than 20 years of workforce management, AGS has developed a variety of processes that help industrial businesses maintain a competitive edge, find cost savings, incorporate innovative and effective technologies and source top talent for a variety of roles—all while managing these changes in ways that enhance user experience.

Cost-Saving Levers and Procurement

As businesses traverse volatile talent markets, it is critical that their MSP partner can help them mitigate costs and find savings. Through an extensive network of trusted suppliers, your MSP partner can negotiate competitive rates, reduce costs through rebates and determine right-shoring for the highest level of talent at the best value.

In addition, your MSP should have procurement services capabilities that can identify misclassifications in your SOWs that, once corrected, can yield millions in savings as well as streamline the supply chain, and deploy cost-saving levers for immediate and continued success.

AI, Automation and Acumen^®

AI-powered workforce tools, such as the Acumen^® Intelligent Workforce Platform, are essential for making smart hiring decisions and staying competitive. AGS’ data-driven approach can help automotive companies identify cost-saving opportunities in their contingent workforce and pinpoint inefficiencies, predict future talent needs and recommend strategies to optimize hiring processes. This leads to more informed decision making, reduced hiring costs and improved workforce productivity.

Similarly, Acumen enables the harmonization of workforce channels, and helps to identify opportunities for automation that frees your workforce from repetitive and uninspiring tasks to instead focus on more value-add work. By integrating AI-powered tools and partnering with experienced workforce leaders, heavy industrial and automotive organizations position themselves for getting work done today and preparing for the inevitable changes in the future.

Sourcing a Variety of Talent

The automotive industry has undergone a renaissance of sorts going from ‘car companies’ to ‘tech companies’, and along with that, an increased need for IT and computer software engineers, in addition to filling more traditional automotive roles. Providing new avenues for talent while maintaining support and performance for existing roles is the responsibility of a robust and nimble MSP program. When entering a new labor market, such as IT, automotive companies are now competing for talent with well-established and emerging technology brands. They need a partner that understands both industries, the rates, risks and regulations and the best locations for finding top talent.

An MSP should understand the true cost of an inefficient contingent workforce and develop flexible strategies that help source the right people to get the work done. They can streamline suppliers, modernize hiring processes and reduce redundancies to ensure that workforce goals are met, while staying cognizant of cost, efficiency and shifting business needs.

A Great UX Increases Adoption for Your Contingent Workforce Program

There are several factors in determining the right MSP partner for your business, including access to talent, technological advances, history of successful program strategies and the ability to build workforce programs that increase user experience. Having the knowledge, tools and abilities to move an organization forward is only useful if the program you create is implemented and adopted by the people in the organization.

AGS has experience creating easy-to-use dashboards and interfaces, as well as proven training processes. We centralize promotional videos and educational materials that support hiring managers and create a one-stop shop for workforce management. In addition, we maintain transparency with plans, strategy and training to build trust in the program and make sure to highlight ease of use and the value that can be delivered. We don’t just set up a program and train your team on how to use it, we explain why a particular strategy or tool was implemented. We are a partner along your workforce transformation journey.

The Future of Automotive Work

Manufacturers are starting to think about ways to modernize their contingent workforce and SOW management. They are recognizing that the status quo is no longer working for them, and building partnerships that create flexible, innovative and effective solutions is necessary to stay competitive and strategize for the future.

Going back to the earlier example of our long-term partnership with a major automotive industry leader, I believe the reason it’s been so successful for so many years is that AGS is consistently innovating and developing new ways to improve and enhance the program. It is essential that we do not become complacent and merely reiterate previous strategies, as this approach does not effectively serve our client. We are always analyzing and strategizing for potential cost-saving levers, increasing access to talent and implementing needed technological advances to keep their workforce plan up-to-date and effective, while always keeping an eye on the future. We are always analyzing and strategizing for potential cost-saving levers, increasing access to talent and implementing needed technological advances to keep their workforce plan up-to-date and effective, while always keeping an eye on the future.

By partnering with an experienced company such as AGS – with over 20 years’ experience with the motor manufacturing industry – automotive enterprises can implement strategic workforce planning, leverage AI-driven analytics and optimize their workforce strategies to achieve maximum ROI.