High Volume Recruitment: How to Manage Large Numbers of Temporary Workers Efficiently
In times of growth, seasonal demand, or project surges, organisations often rely on a flexible workforce to remain agile. Temporary workers — sourced through staffing agencies or managed in-house — provide this essential adaptability. But what happens when the number of contingent workers grows significantly?
Across Europe, over 23 million people work on temporary contracts, representing around 12% of the total workforce. In countries like the Netherlands, this figure exceeds 20%, highlighting the critical role that temporary staffing plays in ensuring labour market flexibility.
This sheer scale demonstrates the complexity of managing high volume recruitment — particularly when assignments are short-term, vary by department, or require coordination across multiple suppliers.
So how can businesses manage this complexity effectively, without overloading their HR or procurement teams?
What Does High Volume Recruitment Really Mean?
A company is typically considered to be managing high volume staffing when it is regularly coordinating:
- A large number of temporary assignments across various job functions
- High-intensity recruitment over a short period, often due to seasonal fluctuations
- Numerous short-term missions that require rapid turnaround
- Multiple staffing agency relationships with inconsistent processes
This situation places increasing pressure on internal teams and systems. As the number of temporary workers rises, so do the risks — from administrative overload to compliance errors and higher operational costs.
The Risks of Poorly Managed Temporary Staffing
As volume increases, so do the challenges:
- Time-consuming admin tasks and contract management
- Difficulty sourcing the right candidates quickly
- Duplicated or inconsistent data across spreadsheets and email threads
- Incomplete time tracking and rota planning
- Compliance risks from missed documentation or procedural errors
- Reduced visibility over spend and performance metrics
- Burnout or high turnover within HR and procurement teams
Without proper tools and processes, teams end up operating in reactive “survival mode”, struggling to maintain service quality under increasing pressure.
How to Manage High Volume Recruitment More Effectively
The key to success lies in moving beyond manual processes. For businesses facing high or fluctuating temporary staffing needs, relying on email, spreadsheets and phone calls simply isn’t scalable.
To stay in control and ensure cost-effective operations, companies should:
✔️ Adopt a Digital Staffing Management Solution
A Vendor Management System (VMS) such as Pixid VMS centralises temporary staffing processes — from job requisition through to placement, time tracking, and invoicing.
✔️ Automate Routine and Repetitive Tasks
Automating tasks like shift scheduling, contract generation, and compliance checks reduces manual input, limits risk and frees up time for strategic decision-making.
✔️ Gain Real-Time Visibility and Control
Dashboards and reporting tools provide immediate oversight of active assignments, spend, and workforce coverage, enabling better forecasting and faster decisions.
✔️ Improve Supplier Coordination
A VMS makes it easier to collaborate with multiple staffing providers via a single, standardised process — reducing errors and boosting responsiveness.
✔️ Ensure Regulatory Compliance
Automated alerts and document checklists help avoid critical mistakes, such as missed contract signatures or misclassified roles.
The PIXID Perspective
Managing a growing volume of temporary workers means controlling processes and automating recurring, time-consuming tasks. To do this, you need a digital interface to track all your temporary workers. At Pixid, we understand the realities of managing a contingent workforce at scale. Our cloud-based solution enables businesses to streamline temporary staffing operations — without sacrificing flexibility or control.
With Pixid VMS, organisations can:
- Scale high volume temporary staffing quickly and efficiently
- Reduce legal risks and administrative burden
- Improve coordination between HR, procurement, and staffing suppliers
- Maintain compliance and cost control — even at peak times
To find out how we can help your organisation or agency with a contingent workforce at any scale, please feel free to get in touch and one of our team will be happy to advise you.