The market for talent management has evolved from one that largely focused on a single function, such as recruiting, to a more mature one that considers the many facets of talent. Both senior-line management and HR executives are considering how talent strategies might affect business outcomes such as improved customer satisfaction. To answer such a question, one needs to think about all facets of talent. Improving customer satisfaction may entail choosing the right job candidates from a "success profile" formed from assessing those doing the job well today. It may mean that key skills are lacking and need to be improved, or it may mean sharpening retention strategies for high performers.
The market for recruiting/talent acquisition solutions is very mature, but we have just recently begun to enjoy the benefits of the formal linking of recruiting with the other talent management functions. While there are standalone systems from vendors that offer only recruiting, this IDC MarketScape looks at recruiting offering from vendors offering a broader suite. There is a market for standalone solutions but IDC's research points to greater buyer interest in integrated talent solutions.
