4 benefits of RPO you don’t get from staffing agencies

This blog was originally published in 2019 and has been updated for stats and relevancy.

Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is a form of business process outsourcing in which an organization transfers all or part of its recruitment function to an external provider. RPO providers can work as a company’s sole internal recruitment team or supplement their existing internal teams. Typically, they assume the company’s branding to ensure a consistent candidate experience. RPOs work in partnership to set long-term goals with their clients and value a long-standing relationship, rather than short-term, tactical results.

[Blog] Questions to ask when considering an RPO partnership

The four things that differentiate RPOs from staffing firms:

#1: RPOs acquire global best practices through extensive experience.

RPO providers have extensive experience accrued from transforming recruitment functions for multiple companies in different sectors and varied geographies. As a result, they bring leading-edge global best practices, which many in-house teams may not have experienced to the same degree. They leverage best practices gained through designing and integrating customized solutions to inform strategies and augment them into the most effective and efficient business-impacting talent programs. Simply put, RPOs act as change agents while staffing firms provide transactional services to fill requisitions.

#2: Continuous innovation and improvement ensures future success.

Continuous innovation is a critical component of most recruitment process outsourcing learning and development programs. RPO providers are always improving and updating their training programs to ensure their recruiters stay up to date with the latest cutting-edge talent acquisition and industry-specific trends. Staffing companies that use traditional recruitment tactics often focus on the day job and the here and now, rather than preparing for the future.

#3: A well-rounded employer brand attracts and retains talent.

RPO providers are well-versed in designing solutions that encompass well-rounded employer brand strategies. These work to attract passive candidates and retain employees while improving the candidate experience and increasing hiring manager satisfaction. Staffing agencies run the risk of diluting the employer brand because messaging can be inconsistent; RPOs, on the other hand, consult clients on how to enhance the perception of their employer brand while monitoring the client and their top competitors' brands for benchmarking. They then use the results to make improvements in external communications and recruitment marketing messaging. Recruitment process outsourcing providers can also leverage relationships with vendors, such as Glassdoor and Indeed, to further support the client’s local brand development.

#4: Strategic workforce planning and top talent increase revenue.

RPO providers can increase a company’s bottom line. While talent is not the only factor in delivering great results, it’s no coincidence that WilsonHCG clients saw unprecedented stock growth against the S&P 500 between September 2019 and September 2021. Companies partnering with WilsonHCG to deliver talent acquisition solutions saw an average stock growth of 73% over the two-year period, compared to an average increase of 41% by their key competitors during the same timeframe. The success WilsonHCG clients see is even more pronounced for customers that outsourced all or most of their hiring to WilsonHCG. These fully integrated companies reported an average revenue growth of 1.7% YoY last year (FY20) despite market volatility during the pandemic.