The FMS Evolution: From Vendor Management to Strategic Workforce Platform
At CWS Summit Europe 2026, YunoJuno hosted a panel with some of the sharpest minds from across the industry to explore one of the most significant shifts in contingent workforce management: the evolution of Freelancer Management Systems (FMSs) from operational tools to strategic workforce platforms.
Moderated by Joao Martires, YunoJuno's Chief Operating Officer, the session brought together Kirsten Tolfree-Dart (Director, External Workforce, LSEG), Paul Labelle (Director of Strategic Sourcing, Omnicom), and Caitlin McFeron (Workforce Solutions Technology Analyst, SIA) to share real-world experience across AI adoption, data governance, workforce visibility, and the shift towards an integrated workforce strategy.
From the visibility challenge of independent contractors being saved in spreadsheets to a view on why the market is moving to scalable, governed FMS programs, the conversation reflected where contingent workforce strategy stands today and what needs to happen next.
What Contingent Workforce Leaders told us in 2026
Delegates who registered for CWS Summit Europe 2026 shared the challenges and priorities at the top of their agenda. Here’s what stood out.
- 55% say controlling costs is a top priority
Finance teams are under pressure to reduce contingent spend while maintaining program quality and access to the right skills. - 53% are focused on increasing efficiency
Manual processes, fragmented systems, and slow onboarding are costing teams time they no longer have. - 40% are working to optimize program performance
Leaders want better insight into what is working, what is not, and where to focus effort. - 29% are managing risk and compliance concerns
Worker classification, right-to-work verification, and global regulatory complexity remain persistent pressure points. - 27% need to demonstrate continued ROI and value
Many programs are still fighting for visibility and investment from senior stakeholders. - 24% flag talent acquisition as a core challenge
Finding and retaining the right contractor talent at speed remains a competitive issue, particularly for specialist skills. - 22% are working on program expansion and adoption
Scaling contingent programs across regions, business units, and new talent categories is a common next step. - 20% are focused on maximizing quality
Beyond cost and speed, the quality of talent decisions and the consistency of the contractor experience matter more than ever.
These priorities point to a consistent theme: the organizations making real progress are the ones building proper infrastructure first. Visibility, governance, and data quality are what make everything else, including AI, automation, and strategic talent decisions, possible.
YunoJuno is built for exactly this. A single platform that gives procurement, HR and finance teams the visibility and control to manage their contractor workforce compliantly, efficiently, and at scale.
Go deeper: independent research on the FMS market
In our custom research with Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), we explored how modern FMS platforms are transforming the way enterprise organizations source, manage, and pay their external workforce. The findings are practical, data-led, and directly relevant to the challenges delegates shared at the summit.
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