The Freelancer Management System (FMS) has moved to the center of contingent workforce strategy. At CWS Summit North America 2026, YunoJuno hosted a panel examining that shift through a live enterprise program.
Moderated by Joao Martires, Chief Operating Officer at YunoJuno, the session brought together Paul Labelle, Senior Director, Category Management, Contingent Labor at Omnicom Group, and Bernie Caputo, President at AtriumWorks. Together they walked through the contingent workforce ecosystem built by Omnicom, AtriumWorks, YunoJuno and other partners.
The conversation set out what it takes to move an enterprise extended workforce from spreadsheets and fragmented, manual processes to a single connected ecosystem with full visibility and control.
Panel takeaways
The FMS is the front door to the extended workforce
The FMS now extends well beyond vendor oversight. Leading enterprises position it as the front door to their extended workforce: the single point through which talent is engaged, onboarded and managed. The result is one connected view of contingent work across every team and geography.
Complementary layers deliver the strongest outcomes
The FMS provides the data and control layer, delivering visibility, compliance and consistent process across the program. The MSP adds the strategic layer, translating that data into sourcing decisions and program guidance. Together, the two layers give enterprises both operational control and strategic direction.
High-value contractors are driving adoption
Organizations that rely on high-value independent contractors are adopting FMS to accelerate go-to-market and shorten time-to-value. For these businesses, the speed of engaging specialist talent has a direct impact on commercial performance. A compliant, efficient engagement process has therefore become a strategic priority.
Media & Advertising, Technology and Professional Services lead adoption
Adoption is strongest across Media & Advertising, Technology and Professional Services. These sectors share a reliance on specialist, project-based expertise, and their programs offer a clear indication of where the wider market is heading.
The model is already delivering value
Omnicom shows this model operating in a live, multi-partner environment. The insights shared by Paul Labelle and Bernie Caputo confirmed that the next generation of contingent workforce strategy is already in place and delivering value for the enterprise.
What this means for workforce leaders
The organizations making the strongest progress are building ecosystems in which the FMS, MSP, AOR and EOR each play a clearly defined role. The technology operates seamlessly in the background, and the end user experiences a single, consistent journey.
As expansion continues, the same model can be applied country by country, providing a blueprint for scaling a connected contingent workforce program globally.
What contingent workforce leaders told us in 2026
Delegates who registered for CWS Summit North America 2026 shared the challenges at the top of their agenda. Efficiency and risk led the list.
- 51% are focused on increasing efficiency. Manual processes and fragmented systems are slowing teams at a time when the business expects speed.
- 47% are managing risk. Worker classification and compliance remain front of mind, and several delegates flagged identity and candidate fraud as an emerging concern.
- 44% are working on program expansion and adoption. Bringing new business units, regions and worker types into the program is the next major step for many.
- 41% say controlling costs is a priority. Leaders need clear evidence of where spend is going and where savings can be found.
- 41% want to optimize program performance. Better insight into what is working, and where to improve, is shaping the agenda.
- 33% need to demonstrate continued ROI and value. Programs continue to build the case with senior stakeholders.
- 24% are focused on maximizing quality of talent and the contractor experience.
- 18% flag talent acquisition as a core challenge, particularly for specialist skills.
In Europe, cost control led the list; North American leaders placed efficiency and risk first. The common thread is consistent across both regions: visibility, governance and good data are the foundation for everything else, from rate harmonization to scaling globally.
Building the connected ecosystem
YunoJuno is built for exactly this. A purpose-built solution that gives Procurement, HR and Finance teams the visibility and control to manage their contractor workforce compliantly, efficiently and at scale.
Speak to our team to find out how YunoJuno can support your contingent workforce program.
