Why the Best Vendor Management System Is the One Real Users Recommend

Choosing a Vendor Management System (VMS) is one of the most important decisions you can make for your contingent workforce program. But here’s the truth most buyers forget: Real user recommendations should guide your decision.

What Really Matters When Choosing a VMS: Why Real User Recommendations Should Guide Your Decision

When the stakes are high - data, cost savings, vendor performance, hiring speed, compliance -the smartest buyers don’t just follow the crowd or choose the platform that's the biggest. They do what they would do in their personal life:

They ask for referrals.

Because when you’re looking for a realtor, a painter, a contractor, or a financial advisor, you ask the people who have actually worked with them, right?

So why should selecting a VMS be any different?

Why the Best Vendor Management System Is the One Real Users Recommend

Every VMS provider can claim to be “the best.” They can list impressive features, promise better visibility, and talk about automation, dashboards, and savings.

But there’s only ONE metric that reflects the true experience of using the software: Net Promoter Score (NPS)

How likely are real users to recommend this VMS to a friend or colleague?

This question cuts through the noise.
It gets to the heart of trust, satisfaction, and real value.

And this is where the VMS industry reveals something surprising.

The Industry Average NPS for VMS? -28

According to SIA's 2025 Workforce Solution Buyers Survey, the VMS industry average NPS is -28.

That means most VMS users aren’t just “not thrilled.”
They’re unhappy enough that they would NOT recommend the system they use.

Imagine hiring a realtor whose customers would never recommend.
Or a contractor who leaves most clients frustrated.
You wouldn’t do it.

Yet companies make this exact mistake with VMS platforms every day.

So What Should You Actually Look for in a VMS?

Here are the qualities that matter far more than size, brand recognition, or market dominance.

1. Real User Satisfaction (Start With NPS)

If users don’t like the system, they won’t use it.
If they don’t use it, you won’t get:

Visibility
Adoption
Cost savings
Speed
Compliance
ROI

Always ask:
What is your NPS?
How likely are your customers to recommend your VMS?

This one question will tell you more than any demo ever could.

2. Ease of Use (Because Adoption Drives ROI)

The #1 factor that determines whether a VMS delivers value is adoption.
And adoption only happens when a system is:

Intuitive
Fast
Simple
Easy for frontline users
Easy for hiring managers
Easy for vendors
Easy for partners

If your stakeholders hate logging into the system, your VMS will fail - regardless of features.

3. Exceptional Customer Support

A VMS touches every part of your contingent workforce program.
When you need help, you need it fast.

The questions to ask:

How fast is your response time?
What are your SLAs?
Do you fix issues quickly?
Do you actually listen to user feedback?

Support isn’t a “nice to have.”
It’s a deal-breaker.

4. Does the VMS Deliver What It Promises?

Look for:

Honest communication
Clear timelines
Reliable delivery
No surprises
No overselling
No complicated implementations
No unwieldy processes

A system that over-promises and under-delivers is worse than no system at all.

5. High Adoption = Better Results

A VMS only works when people use it.
And when adoption is high, you get:

Faster time-to-fill
Better vendor performance
Cleaner data
Improved compliance
Better cost control
Higher hiring manager satisfaction

This is why ease of use + user satisfaction = your strongest predictors of ROI.

So Why Is Conexis One of the Most Highly Recommended VMS Platforms?

This is where your NPS matters - and tells the full story.

While the industry sits at –28, Conexis has an NPS of +71.

That means your users don’t just “like” the system - they actively recommend it.

And that only happens when a VMS consistently delivers on the things that actually matter:

1. We Deliver What We Promise

Conexis was built with a simple mission:
Make contingent workforce management easier, not harder.
Our clients tell us over and over that we’re transparent, reliable, and focused on their success.

2. We Offer Exceptional Customer Support

Our SLA says it all:

1-hour guaranteed response time
80% of issues resolved within 3 hours

Our support team is empathetic, knowledgeable, and obsessed with customer success - and our users feel it.

3. We Are the Easiest-to-Use VMS on the Market

Conexis was designed using systems design science - built specifically to reduce friction and increase adoption.

The result? Users don’t struggle. They move faster. They get better results.

And that turns into real referrals.

4. We deliver Hand-On Expertise

Our Leadership Team brings extensive 'hands-on' experience in the Contingent Workforce Industry, particularly in Procurement and Talent Acquisition roles. We bring a tailored senior solution to every client to help you succeed.

Before You Choose a VMS, Ask One Simple Question

Would your current users recommend you?

Ask for referrals.
Ask to speak to real users.
Ask for their NPS.
Ask what everyday users - not just executives - think about the system.

Because at the end of the day…

The best VMS is the one real users highly recommend.

And there’s no stronger indicator of that than a Net Promoter Score - especially when the industry average is negative.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a VMS isn’t about picking the biggest name or the flashiest brand.
It’s about choosing the system your users will love, trust, and use every day.

Because a VMS only delivers value if people actually enjoy working with it - and that’s why real customer feedback matters more than anything else.

Before you make a decision, talk to current users.
Ask for referrals.
Look at NPS.
And choose the VMS that real people would recommend to a friend.

Additional Information

Read SIAs 2025 Workforce Solutions Buyers Survey

We recommend you read SIA's annual Workforce Solution Buyers Survey, According to SIA, global adoption of Vendor Management Systems (VMS) by companies with more than 1,000 employees has grown from just over 50% in 2009 to 78% in 2024 and to 83% in 2025. Organizations were asked how likely they were to recommend various workforce solution suppliers and calculated net promoter score (NPS).

According to SIA, NPS for VMS Providers in 2025 was -28

With continuing skills shortages, the data suggested, there is a need to drive program adoption by offering a positive experience at scale for both staffing suppliers and contingent workers. Yet, the gap between client expectations and the VMS platforms in the industry are low.

More about NPS

What is a Net Promoter Score?

The NPS serves as a globally acknowledged gauge of customer satisfaction and loyalty, offering valuable insights into a provider's commitment to exceptional customer service and product quality.

This metric holds substantial importance for software providers, including those in the Vendor Management System sector, serving as a valuable tool in evaluating whether a provider is poised to meet your expectations and deliver a positive customer experience.

Calculation of the Net Promoter Score involves a straightforward question posed to customers: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our company/product/service to a friend or colleague?". The net promoter score is calculated by subtracting the percent of respondents scoring 0-6 from the percent scoring a 9 or 10.

Why is NPS important?

In the realm of Vendor Management Systems (VMS), surpassing the industry average in Net Promoter Score (NPS) typically indicates elevated customer satisfaction levels. This achievement is often linked to factors like robust features, user-friendly interfaces, and, notably, exceptional customer support.

If your user doesn't like your system, or finds it slow, too complicated or not easy-to-use, they will not use it and look for workarounds. This affects adoption rates and benefit realization.

Why NPS is important when choosing a VMS

The choice of VMS provider holds immense importance in impacting your company's operational effectiveness, financial outcomes, strategic vendor partnerships, and capacity to accomplish your workforce objectives.

A vendor management system plays a pivotal role in your business by streamlining and automating processes related to managing your contingent workforce, thereby reducing administrative burdens and freeing up valuable resources.

It provides your business with essential visibility and control over your contingent workforce, ensuring that you meet workforce targets, stay within budget, and effectively mitigate risks.
Additionally, it enables you to effortlessly track vendor performance metrics to ensure that your vendors are meeting their agreed-upon service levels and maintaining quality standards.

It is essential to recognize that not all VMS providers are equal. When choosing a VMS provider, it is crucial to consider various key factors, such as the provider's expertise, experience, level of customer service quality, and dedication to ongoing innovation.

A crucial metric is the provider's Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Discover the Power of Conexis VMS

Conexis VMS is purpose-built for organizations seeking to manage their contingent labor spend effectively. Here’s why we're the right choice:

Fast Deployment: Get up and running in weeks, not months
Transparent Pricing: Flexible pricing with no hidden costs
White-Label Ready: Customize the platform with your brand
Real-Time Insights: Make faster decisions with built-in analytics
Audit-Ready Compliance: Store contracts, worker data, and rates in one secure hub

About Conexis VMS

Conexis is an award-winning Vendor Management System built for organizations that want the power of enterprise software without the complexity or cost.

Leveraging the latest technology, Conexis delivers the expertise, reliability and security of enterprise systems, while offering the flexibility, user friendliness and tailored, personal service you require. Learn more about our Company and why organizations Choose Conexis VMS.

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