Redefining Contingent Workforce Management with Technology, Global Scalability, and AI: Insights from the 2025 CWS Summit North America

The contingent workforce isn't coming - it's here, and it's reshaping how the world's biggest companies operate. Last week, industry leaders gathered in North America to share the strategies that are defining this new reality.

Joao Martires, Chief Operating Officer at YunoJuno, moderated an impressive panel where expert insights were shared from Jenifer Andrasko, Executive VP, Leadership & Talent at Bain & Company, Kristie Aikens, Senior Program Director, Global FlexTalent at WPP, and Cindy Rullan, Compliance Director at YunoJuno.

The conversation explored how technology, compliance, and AI are reshaping scalable and agile contingent workforce strategies across global markets.

The rise of a new category

Joao Martires set the tone by reflecting on the limitations of traditional workforce solutions. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) remain important, yet something new is emerging.

“What we are seeing today is the emergence of a new vertical. The Freelancer Engagement Management System does not replace ATS, VMS, or MSP. It complements them by tackling underserved needs such as speed, quality, and global reach.”

This new category is designed to bring together contract creation, onboarding, compliance, billing, reporting, and analytics in one streamlined experience.

Technology as the enabler

The panel agreed that technology is no longer a supporting act, it is now the foundation of workforce strategy.

Jenifer Andrasko explained the scale of the challenge:

‍“Global compliance and risk management are not optional. Misclassification is a critical concern, and systems must move beyond compliance to proactively protect both the business and the talent.”

For Kristie Aikens, technology is also the enabler of scale: “Technology is no longer a bonus, it is the strategy. As an organisation supporting over 84 countries, we rely on it to optimise data and deliver actionable insights at scale.”

And for Cindy Rullan, the impact has been transformative. “Compliance has evolved from chasing paperwork to leveraging real time data. Technology allows us to verify classification and audit exceptions quickly, protecting both clients and contractors.”

Scaling with visibility and control

Scalability requires more than headcount. It demands consistency, visibility, and control. Kristie described her organisation's approach: ‍

“Once we establish a gold standard, we can rinse and repeat across other countries. That consistency is what allows true scalability.”

Jenifer pointed to the role of predictive planning. "Technology is enabling five year talent plans. We can now anticipate skill shortages across geographies and align sourcing decisions with long term business strategy.”

Together, the panel underlined how contingent workforce planning is moving out of the back office and into the boardroom as a core strategic priority.

AI in action

The final segment of the discussion looked at AI, with all speakers highlighting tangible use cases already in play.

Jenifer explained: “We are deploying AI to surface expertise more holistically. Structured data only tells part of the story. Unstructured signals like feedback, and credentialing are just as important.” Through a fraud lens, Jen also described use cases where agentic bots can be used to flag misrepresentation and protect intellectual property. 

Kristie highlighted how AI supports redeployment: “AI helps us track skills, past work, and agency history so we can redeploy trusted talent more efficiently.”

From a compliance angle, Cindy was clear-eyed:

“AI enables faster decision-making through accurate worker classification and instant risk identification. With proper governance, automation can handle the complexity of compliance at scale."

Takeaway

The panel delivered a candid view of what is working today and where friction remains. Technology and AI are already embedded in modern programmes, but success still depends on rigor, adoption, and strong partnerships.

Joao Martires closed with a clear call to action: 

“Every wave of technology is accelerating. AI is not just another tool, it is an inflection point. The organisations that embrace it with the right systems and partnerships will define the future of work.”