Deliveroo Success Shows Procurement's Role in Maximising ROI
YunoJuno, regarded as a leading freelancer engagement and management system, is partnering with procurement consultancy Zero9 in a bid to help CPOs unlock strategic value from agile workforce models.
In a recent event designed for CPOs, hosted in collaboration with leading food delivery platform Deliveroo, the firms showcased how procurement is in a unique position to change the complex talent landscape into a competitive advantage.
The flexible workforce revolution
Research co-presented by Zero9 Managing Partner Angharad Kenward and YunoJuno COO Joao Martires highlighted that today's global workforce is increasingly embracing flexible working arrangements, encompassing interim roles, fractal positions, advisory services, management consultancy and permanent employment.
"We are witnessing a revolution in how value is created and at the heart of this change is the flexible workforce," says Runar Reistrup, CEO of YunoJuno.
"Global workforce leaders are shifting towards flexible working models that are now integral to organisational success.
"The challenge lies in striking the right balance between permanent staff and contractors to stay competitive. This presents an opportunity for procurement leaders to drive agility, accelerate ROI and harness the power of platforms like YunoJuno."
The findings highlighted how those companies leading the way are already benefitting from strategic flexible workforce deployment.
Amy Head, Head of Non-Tech Procurement Categories at Deliveroo, adds: "We wouldn't have been able to deliver our cost-out programme and complete the level of transformation that we've experienced over the last two years without a flexible team."
Applying a cost-benefit lens to the discussion, Deliveroo went on to state with confidence that, "ultimately, far greater ROI was achieved from this flexible model."
A framework for procurement success
While 'flexible', 'contingent' and 'agile' workforces offer significant commercial benefits including speed, scalability and specialist knowledge, many organisations struggle to capitalise on their full potential due to internal frictions, complex onboarding and compliance processes, and outdated programmes.
The research responded to these challenges with a three-pillar framework for procurement success, from Organisational (defining an agile talent strategy), Operational (integrating the supporting infrastructure) and Individual (attracting agile talent through meaningful positioning).
Key findings reveal that procurement leaders can drive maximum value by:
Moving beyond cost-only metrics: Rather than focusing solely on day rates, successful organisations measure true business impact including delivery against objectives, skills transfer and speed to value.
Earlier strategic involvement: The research shows procurement is often brought in too late in the talent acquisition process, limiting the opportunity to define requirements, build the right commercial model and ensure smarter outcomes.
Embracing workforce evolution: With Gen Z prioritising portfolio careers and fractional working becoming mainstream, organisations must design for agility to attract top talent.
"Procurement is the perfect function to lead the charge in agile workforce management: commercial, connected and used to working with complexity," adds Angharad.
"This is procurement's space and now's the time to own it."
