Contingent labor management cost savings with direct sourcing

Contingent labour management expansion

When our client's UK MSP programme expanded to include the United States, we agreed to also implement a direct sourcing service.

Seamlessly integrated into the client's external workforce hiring process, this solution brought a more efficient approach to their talent attraction and retention ambitions.

Our goal was to accelerate time-to-fill, reduce agency spend, and save costs for our customer. In its first year, Pontoon's model delivered over $250K in cost savings—growing to nearly $1M annually by year four.

Building a resilient talent pool of contingent workers

Pontoon's team sourced, screened, and recruited candidates to support our client's contingent workforce hiring.

To accelerate delivery, we introduced new KPIs for the US team—targeting the submission of three qualified candidates within 24 hours of receiving a requisition. This benchmark helped drive responsiveness and accountability across the recruitment process.

We leveraged tailored outreach strategies and Pontoon Analytics to identify and engage suitable candidates quickly, using data insights to refine targeting and improve conversion rates. Candidates who passed the initial screening were shortlisted for hiring manager review, ensuring only the most suitable profiles advanced.

To support long-term hiring needs, we needed to build a talent community—enabling us to re-engage high-potential candidates for future roles and reduce time-to-fill for recurring positions.

Almost $1M client cost savings per year

Our direct sourcing approach delivered rapid and measurable results.

In the first six months, our client saved $23.5K in recruiting costs, averaging $1.5K per worker. By the end of year one, 20% of requisitions were filled through direct sourcing, generating $256.4K in annual savings.

Thanks to our solution, savings grew to $649K in year two with a fulfilment ratio of 24.4%. By year four, total savings reached $992.6K, while fulfilment climbed to 38.2%.

Recruitment efficiency also improved significantly. 78% of requisitions received resumes within 48 hours, and 100% received three resumes within 72 hours. Direct candidates had a submit-to-offer time two days faster than agency candidates and achieved a 15% offer rate, nearly double that of agencies (8%).

Beyond metrics, Pontoon’s direct sourcing model fostered stronger relationships with hiring managers. Our team gained deeper insights into requisitions, enabling more tailored candidate submissions and enhancing stakeholder satisfaction.