50% of senior executives plan to increase their contingent talent recruitment over the next 12 months. 1
AI adoption, skills-based hiring shifts and talent shortages. These are three of the priorities workforce leaders in APAC regions are navigating this year, according to market research.
If you’re also part of the 50% who are planning to increase the use of contingent talent, then you’re going to need a powerful workforce programme. One that uses a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to help you cut through complexity and scale your operations.
Read on to discover fluff-free insights from our MSP experts and other talent leaders that will help you build a game-changing contingent workforce.
Six no-nonsense strategies for APAC leaders.
Does your programme encompass all non-permanent workers across your APAC operations? If your answer is no, why not?
An effective MSP should manage all forms of contingent workers while adapting to local market nuances. Without an MSP, you’ll be missing significant efficiency, insights, and data analytics and subjecting your organisation to continued risk by not knowing who is in your business for how long and doing what!
As one APAC procurement leader noted, “The fragmented nature of APAC markets means many companies are missing visibility across 30-40% of their external workforce spend."
With unified programme data, you can collaborate with HR to map talent skills across your entire APAC contingent workforce. This regional perspective empowers strategic decisions on whether to buy, build, or borrow talent in each market. As one HR Director explains, “Understanding where your contingent talent sits across APAC allows you to leverage regional strengths—like technical expertise in India or project management capabilities in Australia.”
This is particularly important for organisations operating within the APAC region. Recent market insights reveal that finding the right talent with the right skills is among the biggest priorities for APAC workforce leaders in 2025.
Your contingent workforce management technology should provide comprehensive reporting and advanced workforce analytics that support the day-to-day requirements of your programme. The KellyOCG Helix platform delivers real-time data and strategic insights tailored to each market's unique characteristics—from cost benchmarking in Singapore to compliance tracking in Australia.
Has your programme's operating model kept pace with the digital transformation happening across APAC? Regional leaders tell us that automation is crucial for streamlining operations and improving efficiency. They also shared with us recent research that accelerating digital transformation initiatives and adopting AI technologies are some of their top workforce priorities for 2025.
This is why you should leverage technology to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and improve user experience. HR tech is advancing at a phenomenal pace, and those harnessing it are also reaping significant rewards. As one technology sector procurement leader shared, “We reduced onboarding time by 40% after implementing AI-driven processes that accommodate country-specific requirements."
A successful APAC workforce programme balances value for money with high-quality experiences across culturally diverse markets. To achieve this, you’ll need a programme with mechanisms in place to deliver long-term financial sustainability and create value with initiatives that are aligned with your evolving business strategy.
This is why it’s critical you choose an MSP partner that offers you flexible solutions tailored to your specific needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Market feedback indicates that attracting and retaining top industry talent remains a critical priority for APAC workforce leaders in 2025. To make this a reality, you’ll need a programme that is truly user-friendly for hiring managers across multiple countries and cultures. This poses the question: Are you offering a guided buying programme that drives efficiency, adoption, satisfaction, and compliance?
The right MSP solution simplifies buying processes with localised experiences that enhance compliance and satisfaction, ultimately helping you attract and retain the best talent across the region.
Transform your contingent workforce programme today.
In today's competitive talent landscape, transforming your contingent workforce programme is vital for achieving strategic goals like cost efficiency, compliance and access to specialised skills. Now is the time to invest in a solution that can deliver measurable results across APAC's diverse markets.
Whether you're just starting your journey, or looking to modernise an existing programme, KellyOCG can help. We bring 25+ years of MSP experience with true regional expertise—operating in 23 languages with local teams across the region.
No fluff, just fit for your APAC contingent workforce needs.
1. KellyOCG Re:work Report 2024