Staffing and Contingent Workforce Management Tips and Advice | Bridge VMS

Choosing an Adaptive Workforce Management Platform: Bridge VMS vs. VNDLY

Written by Matthew Cook | Jun 18, 2024

Between managing hundreds to thousands of contingent workers, reducing staffing costs, and implementing reliable processes, managed staffing providers (MSPs) need tools that make it easy to meet these complex needs. 

When it comes to contingent workforce management, vendor management systems (VMS) like Bridge VMS are exceptional at simplifying processes such as project risk management, process control implementation, or negotiations because of their robust statement of work (SOW) infrastructure. However, not all VMS systems meet all of the unique challenges MSPs face when staffing shift-based roles—for instance, Workday’s VNDLY was built specifically for end-user customers, but not MSPs. 

And that’s where Bridge VMS comes in. 

So, what are the differences between VNDLY and Bridge VMS? 


Bridge VMS meets dynamic workforce scheduling needs

VNDLY primarily supports a traditional staffing model for assignment workers wherein their schedules are fixed, with little to no variability. Typically, larger companies with bigger budgets allocate their spend on such long-term staffing commitments. 

However, VNDLY’s model is not feasible when staffing workers by shifts, which tends to be more flexible in industries where worker demand and availability can vary daily, weekly, or monthly. So, a staffing company that uses VNDLY may face challenges sporadically scheduling additional workers for shifts mid-week if workers cannot fulfill these shifts at the last minute. 

Unlike VNDLY, Bridge VMS can handle complex shift and scheduling needs in these industries using its built-in features, such as assignment management, shift modification, real-time data monitoring, and more.


Bridge VMS supports complex global financial structures

Managing contingent workers distributed across geographies requires understanding financial complexities of processing payroll and other related transactions end-to-end. For instance, legal and regulatory requirements in certain locations may stipulate:

  • Paying statutory costs (such as taxes or legal fees) within a defined timeline
  • Implementing the right payment fee structures
  • Disbursing commissions on specific schedules

These requirements may vary significantly depending on geography. As legal guidance changes, staffing providers must remain fully aware of the complexities of operating in the different markets. Unlike Bridge VMS, VNDLY’s interface was built to handle the simpler transactions within the financial structures of the United States and not the complex ones in Europe. 

Operating in the U.S. may only require aligning workers’ pay rates with the variations in state taxes but that may not be the case in Europe. 

On the other hand, Bridge VMS’ interface streamlines workforce management within these complex European financial stacks, making it a great option for companies operating in geographies like the United Kingdom and those in the U.S.

 
Bridge VMS is MSP-centric


Unlike VNDLY, which caters to the needs of Workday customers and not MSPs, Bridge VMS is built for MSPs. In general, an MSP hopes a VMS platform will streamline administrative processes, ultimately increasing revenues. Using VNDLY, an MSP may not get that return on investment (ROI) but can do so with Bridge VMS because the latter can handle complex workflows.


For example, an MSP tasked with hiring, onboarding, or offboarding workers is most interested in streamlining these processes to keep the talent pipeline flowing and minimize staffing gaps. These workflows are simple when managing long-term assignments for higher-end workers, scheduled over several months. 


However, the complexity kicks in when implementing these workflows for shorter-term shift-based schedules alongside those for the longer-term workers. A platform like VNDLY, designed for only one type of workflow or the other but not both, will be unable to handle such complexity.


A prime example of such a workflow is a facilities management company whose higher-end white-collar workers operate alongside blue-collar ones to keep facilities running 24/7. Doing so with VDNLY would be challenging. However, Bridge VMS’ built-in controls make it much easier for an MSP to handle staffing management for both shift-based and assignment workers.


Workforce management for the future


Bridge VMS is a leading vendor management solution for MSPs looking to navigate their complex workforce management needs, regardless of geography or workforce size. Unlike VNDLY, Bridge VMS keeps the MSP in mind to ensure processes function smoothly end-to-end, improving long-term efficiency and maximizing ROI.