By: Paula Wilmot, Vice President of Operations, MSP, EMEA, KellyOCG®
If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years working alongside organisations of every shape and size, it’s that no one’s journey is flawless. The pressure to keep up with change while adding business value is felt everywhere. When competing for critical talent, a workforce strategy that falls behind is more than an inconvenience; it is a fundamental business risk.
At the recent CWS Summit Europe, I had the privilege of meeting workforce leaders from around the region, including more than 100 who generously took part in our extended workforce benchmark survey.
The survey results speak to the issues all workforce leaders face, including AI and technology adoption, strategy execution, and bridging siloed processes. Everyone, it seems, is trying to chart a better path forward.
But where does that path begin? The survey results are a good start. They show that procurement, talent, and business leadership are better leveraging the extended workforce, but know they can achieve more.
Survey reveals slow progress on maturing workforce strategy.
Let’s start with the survey itself. Each year, the CWS Summit Europe brings together regional workforce decision-makers to learn and share perspectives. KellyOCG® surveyed 100+ procurement and HR/TA attendees on practices and challenges in technology, workforce strategy, and integrated total workforce management.
Respondents rated themselves on a scale of one to five on each issue's urgency and their process maturity. Their combined responses show that if you feel behind in your workforce process maturity, you’re not alone:
A deeper look at survey results reveals key gaps.
To explore each survey topic more deeply, I tapped a few peers at KellyOCG to share their perspectives on the gaps companies face and the practices to bridge them. Key challenges include:
Insight without action means nothing. The data is clear: Slow progress and hesitation are putting critical business performance and growth milestones at risk. In today’s market, waiting for the “perfect” workforce strategy is not an option.
Many companies are moving decisively to close these gaps: integrating technology, embracing unified talent management, and executing bold strategies. These organisations will capture the talent edge that drives innovation and outpaces competitors.
The stakes have never been higher. Still sitting on the sidelines? Now is the time to jump in and move your workforce function forward. Take action now or risk getting left behind.
