How a Healthcare Consumer Brand Transformed Its Creative Operations With MBO’s Contingent Workforce Solutions

12

Days time-to-engage compared to 23 days in previous system

23%

Reduction in creative spend resulting from consistent rate-setting and more cost-effective talent

98%

Compliance pass rate due to stronger compliance and classification standards

Challenge

Achieving Transparency Into Independent Workforce Engagement

A major healthcare consumer brand known for bold marketing and innovative thinking was struggling to manage a rapidly growing network of independent talent across its creative and marketing teams. More than 400 independents supported everything from product launches to social campaigns. What began as a flexible way to access top talent had evolved into a fragmented, inefficient, and increasingly costly system.

Without centralized oversight, teams set their own budgets and rates, often paying very different amounts for similar work. Leadership lacked a clear view into total talent spend and performance, making it difficult to see who was delivering real value. As a result, tracking outcomes, controlling costs, and effectively reengaging high-performing talent became increasingly challenging.

The client’s needs were clear: better visibility into how independent talent was sourced, managed, and reengaged, along with easier tracking and reporting. They also wanted more convenient access to the right talent and stronger compliance standards—without sacrificing the flexibility that made independent talent so valuable in the first place.

GATE

Solution

A Structured, Centralized Contingent Workforce Program

MBO Partners was a natural fit as their talent solutions provider, building on our existing relationship with the organization’s parent company and our deep understanding of both the independent workforce and the client’s specific needs.

Early on, it became clear that many contributors didn't fit traditional "creative" roles. Some were building tools, platforms, or systems—yet all played a critical role in driving innovation. A one-size-fits-all approach wouldn't work. The client needed a more flexible, tailored structure that allowed them to match each worker to the right engagement path, rather than forcing everyone into the same option.

MBO helped the client streamline its contingent workforce program by reviewing existing independent contractor relationships and, where appropriate, transitioning some workers into more compliant payroll solutions. Our solutions support multiple engagement paths—freelancer, independent contractor, and payroll—and we partner with both clients and talent to determine the best fit for each role.

In just six months, the client moved from ad hoc freelancer management to a structured, centralized program that integrated sourcing, onboarding, classification, and payment processing into a single cohesive system.

Key elements of the program included:

Centralized sourcing: All creative engagements flowed through one program, making it easier to identify top performers and put them to work quickly.

Standardized rates, contracts, and IP terms: Consistent pricing and compliant agreements brought clarity to intellectual property ownership—a critical foundation for high-visibility work like rebrands.

Improved visibility and oversight: Real-time dashboards gave leadership a clear view into spend, project progress, and talent performance which enabled smarter sourcing of cost-effective contributors for similar work.

Compliance built in from day one: Proper classification was embedded into the program from the start, not treated as an afterthought.

A stronger creative community: A curated network of vetted creatives helped maintain consistency in messaging and execution.

Results

Strengthened Workforce Visibility Supporting Cost Reduction and Regulatory Compliance

With the implementation of the program, organizational leadership gained real-time visibility into creative spend and performance, which made it easier to allocate resources strategically and plan with confidence. The program also strengthened cross-functional alignment, bringing procurement, legal, and business teams together around shared standards and a clearer view of talent needs.

During the program’s first year, the client saw measurable gains in terms of talent access, cost savings, and compliance:

Time-to-engage was cut nearly in half—from 23 days to 12—thanks to pre-vetted talent pools, clearer administrative processes, and a more streamlined onboarding experience.

Creative spend dropped 23%, driven by more consistent rate-setting, reduced duplication across teams, and the ability to match projects with more cost-effective talent.

A 98% compliance pass rate gave legal and procurement greater confidence in how work was classified and managed.

Meanwhile, creative and marketing teams moved faster and more consistently, supported by a trusted network of vetted talent and clear engagement standards. With less time lost to administrative overhead, internal stakeholders could focus on high-impact work.

In the end, MBO Partners helped transform creative operations into a compliant, data-driven program without sacrificing the speed and convenient access to talent that teams rely on.

Industry

Healthcare

Number of employees

5,000

Company revenue

$264M

Areas served

5 Countries

12