Realising that using contractor management software will save your firm time and money is one thing, working out which one to buy is a whole different ball game. There are many options available offering different features and benefits. The question is, how do you come to a decision, especially if you’re new to contractor management software?

Contractors may form a valuable addition to your workforce, however, the unfortunate truth is that their work is more likely to be risky to your business. By having high-risk work conducted by your contractors, you are likely to feel an impact on your overall costs due to increased safety measures and training.

Contractors are a valuable resource; they can enable you to hire project-specific expertise and meet varying workload demands. However, managing contractors, especially if your business works with a large number providing various types of services, can be an ongoing and complex task.

Choosing the right contractor for your business or project might seem like an easy task at first glance. The contractor in question may have come highly recommended, they might provide services at a very competitive price, or they might be available at the perfect time. However, there are many more things that you need to consider before you let them turn up on site.

If you engage contractors, you’re no doubt aware of the increased risks they bring to your business. They are less familiar with your day to day processes and safety practices, than your employees and are often not subject to the same controls. However, to date, some contractors have been more high-risk than others.

Contractor compliance is a complex part of contractor management that ensures contractors and suppliers are adhering to the specific requirements of their clients. As an organisation that engages contractors, you need to have a robust compliance program in place to minimise the financial and legal risks of working with contractors.

When it comes to managing your contractors, it’s no secret that successful engagement outcomes are driven by strong relationships. In spite of your differences, both on and off-site, you need to work together cohesively if your project is to run smoothly.

Managing contractors, especially when you engage a large number of them, can be a complex and challenging undertaking. It is essential that your legal obligations are met, and that you keep a record of all relevant documentation required to prove this. At a minimum, you need to ensure they are competent, licenced and insured.

In this day and age, risk management is considered by many an essential skill for every leader. Identifying risks, assessing risks and simply facilitating a risk management culture within an organisation are vital. Standards, controls and tools all have an important place, as they show that organisations and their people are focused on risk.

When a serious safety incident occurs in your workplace, what happens next is vital. Your workers need to understand safety protocols and have the capability to carry out a safety response plan that will attend to injured workers, secure the site and ensure the incident is correctly reported and communicated.

On the surface, achieving contractor compliance might seem fairly straightforward. Surely all you have to do is make sure that all contractors are working as they should in line with your organisation’s requirements. Simple right? However, if you’ve ever hired contractors, then you’ll know that compliance management is far from simple.