As companies face growing pressure to scale quickly and remain agile in a competitive labor market, managed service provider staffing is becoming a vital solution. The right MSP partner helps streamline contingent labor processes, control costs and improve compliance. But with so many MSP companies in the market, choosing the best fit for your staffing needs requires careful evaluation.
According to Staffing Industry Analysts, 65% of large companies use some form of outsourced workforce solutions, including managed service providers, to manage temporary labor efficiently (source). This growing reliance signals a major shift in how companies source talent and how important it is to partner with an experienced and strategic MSP.
Understand Your Internal Challenges
Before evaluating MSP companies, identify your pain points. Are you struggling with inconsistent talent pipelines? Are rogue spend and misclassified contractors creating compliance risks? Is your team spending too much time managing vendors manually?
Once you define your internal challenges, you’ll be able to identify the features and strengths your managed service provider staffing partner must bring to the table. A solid MSP partner won’t just fill orders faster, they’ll transform your staffing strategy.
Look for Industry Experience and Scalability
Not all managed services provider near me search results will lead to the right choice. You need a partner with a deep understanding of your industry. Whether you’re in life sciences, tech, manufacturing or government contracting, your MSP should understand the talent trends, compliance requirements and market rates specific to your space. Scalability also matters. As your contingent workforce grows, your MSP must be able to support more vendors, locations and reporting needs. Look for an MSP that has experience scaling programs across multiple regions and labor categories. At Suna, we work with businesses of all sizes to create scalable MSP programs designed to evolve as hiring needs change.
Prioritize Technology and Reporting Capabilities
Technology is a critical part of effective managed service provider staffing. Your MSP should offer a vendor management system (VMS) that gives you clear visibility into workforce spend, time-to-fill, candidate quality and more. Ask about integrations. Can their VMS sync with your HRIS or ATS? Are dashboards customizable? Do they provide real-time insights or delayed reports? An MSP without strong technology can’t give you the workforce intelligence you need to stay competitive. At Suna, our VMS technology, SWM was designed to improve visibility and simplify processes. It empowers clients to make data-driven hiring decisions.
Evaluate Compliance and Risk Management
Managing a contingent workforce comes with complex compliance challenges, from worker classification to co-employment risks. The best MSP companies take on the burden of ensuring that labor laws and tax regulations are followed across all engagements. Ask your potential MSP what processes they have in place for onboarding, classification and documentation. A strong compliance framework should include audit trails, regular policy reviews and real-time alerts for expired documents or contract violations. Suna’s compliance protocols ensure our clients avoid costly missteps and maintain control across their supplier base.
Ask About Supplier Management and DEI Commitment
Your managed services provider near me search should also lead you to a partner who can improve supplier diversity and performance. A robust supplier network gives you access to better talent. Your MSP should regularly measure supplier KPIs, provide coaching and ensure alignment with your company’s goals. Ask if your MSP has a strategy for expanding DEI in your contingent workforce.
Consider Candidate and Hiring Manager Experience
An overlooked but important piece of the managed service provider staffing puzzle is experience, for both hiring managers and contingent workers. A great MSP ensures your hiring managers get fast, qualified submissions and that your contingent talent feels supported throughout the assignment. Suna provides dedicated program managers and support teams who ensure hiring managers receive consistent service and workers stay engaged. We’ve earned high NPS scores across both client and vendor service programs.
Make the Right Choice with Suna
Choosing the right MSP company is not about finding the biggest or most recognizable name. It’s about finding a partner who aligns with your culture, understands your industry and delivers results through service, technology and strategic insight. At Suna, we build tailored MSP programs that help businesses achieve better compliance, reduce time-to-fill and increase supplier performance. Whether you’re just getting started with contingent labor or looking to optimize an existing program, we can help you create a staffing solution that works today and evolves with your goals.