---
title: Should you have an MSP or self-manage your contingent workforce?
description: Should you have an MSP or self-manage your contingent workforce?
image: https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hubfs/Assets2017/Self-manage.jpg
---

AGS Blog Header

Toggle navigation 

[![Allegis Global Solutions](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hubfs/ags/logos/AGS-Logo_reversed.svg) Global Workforce Management Solutions - Allegis Global Solutions](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/)

[Skip to Content](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/should-you-have-an-msp-or-self-manage-your-contingent-workforce#main-content)

- [Research](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/research)
- [Advisory and Transformation](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/advisory-and-transformation)
- [Managed Services](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services) toggle menu 
    - [Managed Service Provider (MSP)](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/managed-service-provider) 
          - [Contingent Workforce Supplier Management](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/managed-service-provider/supply-chain-management)
          - [Direct Sourcing Solutions](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/managed-service-provider/direct-sourcing)
    - [Procurement Solutions](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/procurement-solutions)
    - [Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/recruitment-process-outsourcing)
    - [Direct Sourcing Solutions](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/direct-sourcing-solutions)
    - [Capabilities](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/capabilities) 
          - [Acumen](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/capabilities/acumen)
          - [Ignite Consulting](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/capabilities/ags-ignite-consulting)
          - [Partners](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/capabilities/partners)
    - [Industries](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/industries) 
          - [Consumer and Industrial Products](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/industries/consumer-and-industrial-products)
          - [Healthcare](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/industries/healthcare)
          - [Life Sciences](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/industries/life-sciences)
          - [Financial Services](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/industries/financial-services)
          - [Information Technology](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/managed-services/industries/information-technology)
- [Insights](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/insights) toggle menu 
    - [Blog](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/)
    - [Podcast](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/insights/podcast)
    - [White Papers](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/insights/white-papers)
    - [Case Studies](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/insights/case-studies)
- [About](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us) toggle menu 
    - [News & Events](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/news-and-events) 
          - [Press Releases](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/news-and-events/press-releases)
          - [Awards](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/news-and-events/awards)
          - [Events](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/news-and-events/events)
          - [AGS In The News](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/news-and-events/in-the-news)
    - [Careers](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/careers)

- [Contact Us](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/contact-us)
- [Locations](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/locations)
- [Search Site](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/search)
- Select Language
  
  Americas
  
  [English](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/en)
  
  APAC
  
  [English](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/en-au)
  
  EMEA
  
  [English](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/en-gb)

### Stay Ahead of What’s Happening in Your Industry by Subscribing to The AGS Blog 

Be the first to know about trends shaping the workforce industry. When you join, you’ll get a free digital copy of “The Universal Workforce Model™: An Outcome-First Guide to Getting Work Done.” Coauthored by industry thought leaders Simon Bradberry and Bruce Morton, this book takes you on journey to harmonized workforce management.  

![UWM_Spread (1)-min](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hubfs/UWM_Spread%20(1)-min.png "UWM_Spread (1)-min")

- [Blog Homepage](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com)

# Should you have an MSP or self-manage your contingent workforce?

February 17, 2020 [![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bruce%20Morton-1.jpg?width=40&name=Bruce%20Morton-1.jpg) By Bruce Morton](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/author/bruce-morton) [Contingent Workforce](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)

![Image credit: shironosov via iStock](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Assets2017/Self-manage.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=Self-manage.jpg)

To engage an MSP or not to engage - that is the question.

Managing your contingent labor workforce must be a high priority if you wish to operate with peak efficiency and ensure you are continually able to fulfill your labor needs.

It therefore begs the question of whether it is better to manage this workforce yourself or to partner with a professional [Managed Service Provider](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/en-gb/solutions/contingent-workforce) (MSP). Here at Allegis Global Solutions (AGS), we believe it is important for all organizations to consider this question and understand what it takes to manage a contingent workforce effectively.

## 6 ways to gauge readiness for managing your contingent workforce

If you believe you have what it takes to follow the self-management route, you must consider the factors that come into play when overseeing the contingent labor workforce. It is therefore imperative that, before any decision is made, you must be confident of having the necessary resources and know-how to excel in the following areas:

1. **Program transformation and implementation** - Having the required knowledge of best practice and critical contingent workforce guidance to ensure proper adoption of the program
2. **Program delivery and operational excellence** - Ensuring processes and sufficient resources are in place to provide consistency in operations and oversight to deliver long-term global operational excellence
3. **Talent technology leadership** - Understanding the importance of the vendor management system (VMS) and having the correct experience/technical expertise to manage system integrations, configuration, application, utilization and system updates
4. **Supply base management** - Allocating responsibility for your staffing supplier community, including supply-base assessment, performance management and metrics, supplier optimization, vetting and sourcing
5. **Business intelligence and market trends** - Ability to access program data and formulate comparative program analytics, as well as to evaluate the market to ensure access to the right talent
6. **Mitigation of risk** - Having processes and resources in place to determine the appropriate classification for your contingent workers. How do you ensure and track compliance for contingent workers and proactively mitigate the overall risk associated with the use of contingent labor?

Ultimately, to properly manage contingent labor force, organizations require significant expertise in each of these fields. It can therefore be both daunting and time-consuming to maintain these processes in-house, and this is where understanding the benefits of the MSP come into play.

## So, what are the advantages of having an MSP?

When taking on dedicated support services from AGS for contingent labor workforce management, our clients can be assured they will receive support in both their day-to-day operations and in a range of strategic aspects involved in the long-term undertaking of this complex task.

The advantages of MSP support include:

- A full spectrum of technological support to ensure up-to-date analysis of all aspects of contingent workforce management
- Business intelligence offering labor market analyses, rate card consultation, talent mapping, and comparative analytics
- Specialist oversight to conduct operational audits and monitor contractual obligations
- Supplier assessment, optimization, sourcing, vetting and performance management
- Liaison between VMS technology teams supporting system integrations, data governance and operational support
- An operational excellence advisor to identify potential gaps in processes/performance
- Thought leadership, strategic program support and innovation

Indeed, figures published in [Ardent Partners](https://ardentpartners.com/) 2016-17 State of Contingent Workforce Management Report showed that only half (53%) of best-in-class organizations are currently able to convert contingent labor data into usable intelligence. However, for organizations that leverage a professional MSP, these are benefits that are part-and-parcel of the service.

The measure of an effective MSP is therefore not simply in the cost and resource savings through the streamlining of these essential workforce management processes. It also comes in the form of reassurance that all of a company's contingent labor workforce needs are being met, and will continue to be met, both today and in the future.

*John Thornton, Director of Human Capital Solutions, and Deana Svoboda, Director, Sales Support at AGS also contributed to this blog.*

![subscribe](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hubfs/subscribe.svg "subscribe")

### Insights to Stay Ahead

Stay up to date with the latest trends shaping the talent industry. Get weekly insights delivered straight to your inbox.

[Sign me up](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/should-you-have-an-msp-or-self-manage-your-contingent-workforce#open-subscribe-form)

Search

Search

### Related Articles

[![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20Australian%20Organisations%20Turn%20AI%20Into%20Workforce%20Advantage_Hubspot%20Image.png?width=370&name=How%20Australian%20Organisations%20Turn%20AI%20Into%20Workforce%20Advantage_Hubspot%20Image.png)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/australian-organisations-turning-ai-into-workforce-advantage)

[Contingent Workforce](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)

##### [How Australian Organisations Are Turning AI Into a Workforce Advantage](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/australian-organisations-turning-ai-into-workforce-advantage)

May 22, 2026 [![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Julie%20Jenkins%20Headshot%20for%20newsletter-1.png?width=25&name=Julie%20Jenkins%20Headshot%20for%20newsletter-1.png) By Julie Jenkins](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/author/julie-jenkins) [Contingent Workforce](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)

Workforce management has seen many innovations, but few have delivered large‑scale transformation. AI is emerging as a notable...

[![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Innovative%20Strategies%20for%20Harnessing%20Freelance%20Talent.png?width=370&name=Innovative%20Strategies%20for%20Harnessing%20Freelance%20Talent.png)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/innovative-strategies-for-harnessing-freelance-talent)

[Contingent Workforce](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)

##### [Innovative Strategies for Harnessing Freelance Talent](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/innovative-strategies-for-harnessing-freelance-talent)

January 08, 2026 [![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rob%20Marley-1.jpg?width=25&name=Rob%20Marley-1.jpg) By Rob Marley](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/author/rob-marley) [Contingent Workforce](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)

For most organisations, short-term critical talent is generally untracked and unmanaged inside HR and procurement programmes....

[![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Future%20of%20the%20Extended%20Workforce%20How%20a%20Tech%20Ecosystem%20Can%20Transform%20Talent%20Strategies-1.png?width=370&name=The%20Future%20of%20the%20Extended%20Workforce%20How%20a%20Tech%20Ecosystem%20Can%20Transform%20Talent%20Strategies-1.png)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/the-future-of-the-extended-workforce-how-a-tech-ecosystem-can-transform-talent-strategies)

[Contingent Workforce](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)

##### [The Future of the Extended Workforce: How a Tech Ecosystem Can Transform Talent Strategies](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/the-future-of-the-extended-workforce-how-a-tech-ecosystem-can-transform-talent-strategies)

December 10, 2025 [![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/JoAnne%20LI%20Profile%20Pic.jpeg?width=25&name=JoAnne%20LI%20Profile%20Pic.jpeg) By JoAnne Estrada](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/author/joanne-estrada) [Contingent Workforce](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)

Utilizing technology to engage the extended workforce is nothing new. However, a growing reliance on independent contractors,...

### More topics to explore

- [Contingent Workforce (83)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/contingent-workforce)
- [Talent Acquisition (76)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/talent-acquisition)
- [Industry Trends (65)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/industry-trends)
- [Workforce Technology (32)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/workforce-technology)
- [Procurement Management (17)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/procurement-management)
- [Universal Workforce Model (16)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/universal-workforce-model)
- [Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (5)](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/topic/diversity-equity-inclusion)

Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share. [Share on facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/should-you-have-an-msp-or-self-manage-your-contingent-workforce&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [Share on linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/should-you-have-an-msp-or-self-manage-your-contingent-workforce&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [Share on twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/should-you-have-an-msp-or-self-manage-your-contingent-workforce&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/should-you-have-an-msp-or-self-manage-your-contingent-workforce&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)

![](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bruce%20Morton-1.jpg?width=160&name=Bruce%20Morton-1.jpg)

 Written by [Bruce Morton](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/author/bruce-morton)

 Bruce Morton has more than 40 years of experience in the human capital industry and is well known as a global workforce design and talent acquisition expert. He has designed, implemented and managed some of the largest resourcing solutions across many different parts of the globe. Bruce has been recognized as HR Thought Leader of the Year by HRO both in EMEA and the US, appeared on the 2022 SIA Staffing 100 list and recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from TALiNT Partners for his significant impact in moving the industry forward. In addition, he is a published author, having written “Redesigning the Way Work Works” and co-authored “The Universal Workforce Model™: An Outcome First Guide to Getting Work Done.”

<https://twitter.com/BruceTalent> <http://www.linkedin.com/in/brucemorton>

![subscribe](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hubfs/subscribe.svg "subscribe")

[Subscribe](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/should-you-have-an-msp-or-self-manage-your-contingent-workforce#open-subscribe-form)

## About Us

We’re the leading provider of workforce solutions. Meet Allegis Global Solutions.

[About Us](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us)

## Contact Us

A smarter way to work begins with a conversation. Let’s talk.

[Contact Us](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/contact-us)

## Careers

Passionate about bettering the world of work? Join us.

[Careers](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/careers)

## Locations

Global perspective, local focus. Search office locations in your country.

[Locations](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/about-us/locations)

[Linked In](https://www.linkedin.com/company/allegis-global-solutions)[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/careersatags/)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AllegisGlobalSolutions)[Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTInYlMRroczeQlnxRWQwEQ)[Podcast](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/workforce-insights/podcasts)

 ©2026 Allegis Global Solutions, an [Allegis Group](http://www.allegisgroup.com)Company. All rights reserved.

- [Privacy Notices](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/privacy-notices)
- [CA Notice at Collection](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/ca-notice-at-collection)
- [CA Notice at Collection (for Employees and Job Applicants)](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/en/ca-notice-at-collection-for-employees-and-job-applicants)
- [Sitemap](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/sitemap)
- [Cookie Notice](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/cookie-notice)
- Manage Cookies
- [Terms and Conditions](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/terms-and-conditions)
- [Code of Conduct](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/code-of-conduct)
- [1095-C Request](https://www.allegisgroup.com/en/1095-c-request)
- [Mandatory Notices](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/mandatory-notices)
- [Employees](https://allegisintranet--simpplr.vf.force.com/apex/simpplr__app?u=/)
- [India Employees](https://allegisintranet--simpplr.vf.force.com/apex/simpplr__app?u=/site/a14Rf000003qoVFIAY/dashboard)
- [Canada Accessibility Notice](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/canada-accessibility-notice)
- Your Privacy Choices

[![Allegis Global Solutions - The Human Enterprise](https://blog.allegisglobalsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ags/logos/AGS-logo-tagline.png?width=356&height=121&name=AGS-logo-tagline.png)](https://www.allegisglobalsolutions.com/)