Staffing Isn’t Dead—But the Old Playbook Is

Cheryl Tracz
Oct 8
3 min read

If you’ve been around contingent workforce management long enough, you’ve probably heard the whispers: “Staffing is dead.”

Let’s be clear: staffing isn’t dead. But the old-school, transactional model—tossing a requisition over the fence to a staffing supplier and hoping for résumés—is about as effective as using a flip phone to stream Netflix. It technically works, but it’s not going to get you very far.

Today, organizations need more than a vendor. They need a strategic contingent workforce approach that turns staffing suppliers into supplier partners and makes every dollar of contingent workforce spend count. That’s where Tracz Consulting comes in.

From Vendors to Strategic Workforce Advisors

The days of measuring success by “how fast did I get a résumé?” are over. Companies now expect more from their staffing partners:

Proactive talent strategies that connect to business goals
Supplier partner networks built for flexibility, scale, and speed
Supply chains optimized to stretch every dollar of contingent workforce spend
Actionable, data-driven insights instead of dusty dashboards
Expert consultation that raises expectations for both buyers and staffing suppliers04_Mon_1315_DallasA_Is Staffing…

At Tracz Consulting, we don’t provide staffing. Instead, we help:

Staffing partners reposition themselves as growth enablers instead of résumé shufflers
Enterprise buyers identify the right supplier partners—or optimize the ones they already have—to become true strategic allies.

Helping Staffing Partners Win (and Win Big)

Supporting staffing partners isn’t about vague pep talks—it’s about equipping them to compete and grow.

Operational Efficiencies – We’ve helped a mid-sized IT staffing supplier cut onboarding time by 40% just by redesigning process flows. Less paperwork, more placements.
RFP & RFI Success – One southeastern staffing supplier expanded into three Fortune 500 accounts after we revamped their RFP strategy. Translation: millions in new revenue.
Diversification – We helped a healthcare staffing supplier introduce a hybrid MSP-lite service, which quickly grew to account for 35% of total revenue.
Compliance & Risk Mitigation – From IC compliance to back-office headaches, we help staffing suppliers stop stepping on legal landmines before they explode.
Market Intelligence – Our SWOT and market analyses give staffing suppliers the competitive edge to lead instead of chasing.

Helping Buyers Elevate Their Contingent Workforce Programs

Enterprise buyers face their own challenges. Too many contingent workforce programs are still tactical: reactive, siloed, and expensive. In 2025, that approach isn’t only outdated but also dangerous.

Here’s how Tracz Consulting helps buyers move from tactical to strategic:

Program Optimization – A global manufacturing client reduced rogue spend by 22% after we optimized their supplier mix and streamlined reporting in their VMS.
Strategic Enhancements – A financial services buyer cut time-to-fill by 30% using our supplier strategy roadmap, all while boosting compliance.
Program Maturation – A life sciences client avoided swapping out their MSP after we restructured supplier engagement and improved reporting, which saved them money and political headaches.

Buyers who work with us don’t just manage contingent workforce spend—they turn it into a competitive advantage.

Why This Matters

Contingent workforce programs rarely fail because of staffing suppliers alone. They fail when the relationship is built on transactions instead of strategy.

By making supplier partnerships strategic, organizations can:

Cut hidden costs and wasted spend
Improve access to top-tier talent in competitive markets.
Build a flexible, scalable contingent workforce ecosystem.m
Turn supplier reviews into actual strategy sessions instead of awkward budget meetings.

Tracz Consulting bridges the gap between enterprise buyers and staffing suppliers, helping both sides get more from the relationship.

The Big Question

So, is staffing dead? Not at all. But the old playbook is.

The future belongs to organizations that treat staffing suppliers as true staffing partners—with clear expectations, measurable outcomes, and aligned goals.

And if you’re ready to turn staffing into strategy, Tracz Consulting is the contingent workforce SME that can help.