On paper, staffing looks like a commodity: you need people, vendors supply CVs, the lowest markup wins. In practice, the gap between a vendor and a partner shows up within a quarter — in attrition, compliance exposure and management overhead.
A vendor sends candidates. A partner sends candidates who were assessed against your actual role requirements, briefed on your workplace, and supported through onboarding. The difference is measured in 90-day retention, and it dwarfs any markup saving.
A vendor invoices you. A partner shows you the payroll behind the invoice — every PF deposit, every ESI contribution, every statutory register — because compliance failures by your staffing supplier become your liability as principal employer.
When you evaluate staffing proposals, ask three questions: How do you assess candidates? Show me your compliance documentation process. What is your associate attrition rate? The answers separate partners from vendors faster than any rate card.