A “virtual bench” is essentially a pool of specialized IT professionals that companies draw on when they have a technical skill set need. One or more of these professionals is brought in to offer their expertise, and once the project is complete, the professional goes back to the “bench.” Establishing and maintaining this workforce contingency is vital to any organization, with numerous strategic and operational benefits. If you have been hesitant to utilize these resources, here are some benefits that may help ease the decision process:
Cost Controls
Since everyone on your virtual bench agrees to work on a contract or temporary basis, they won’t receive benefits or lock into a long-term compensation plan. The overall cost is significantly less than bringing on a new full-time employee.
Strategic Agility
The best virtual benches are populated with highly-qualified professionals who have a wide range of specialized skills. Being able to draw on this diverse pool of expertise as needed allows you to seize a greater number of opportunities and nimbly adapt your core business model to serve more clients.
Efficient Staffing
Every member of your virtual bench will be carefully vetted before being added to the ranks. Once they are a part of the bench, you will maintain a relationship with them even when they are not being actively employed. This means when you need to add someone to your team, the process becomes quicker and easier than any alternative. Plus, if you ever need to add a permanent employee, you can look first to your virtual bench a find a qualified candidate faster.
Workforce Relief
Being able to draw on a virtual bench allows you to relieve the stress faced by your in-house IT team in meeting project deadlines on time and within budget. Many IT departments today are tasked with increasing number of projects with the same headcount. A virtual bench acts as a pressure valve that you can turn on as necessary.
To learn more about how a virtual bench can help your organization, contact Resolute Technologies today.