Understanding the Differences Between RPO and RTO in Recruitment

Reimagining talent acquisition: RPO or RTO?

Recruitment plays a crucial role in the success of any organisation. To streamline the hiring process and attract top talent, businesses often turn to recruitment solutions such as Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Recruitment Technology Outsourcing (RTO). While these two approaches share a common goal of enhancing recruitment efficiency, they differ in their strategies and focus areas.

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) is a strategic approach where an organisation outsources some or all of its recruitment processes to a specialised external provider. RPO providers take on responsibilities such as sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding candidates, while aligning their activities with the client’s talent acquisition goals.

RPO offers several key features and benefits. These include scalability, cost efficiency, access to specialised expertise, improved candidate quality, enhanced employer brand, streamlined processes, and reduced time-to-hire. By partnering with an RPO provider, organisations can focus on their core competencies while leaving the recruitment process in the hands of experts.

Focus Areas of RPO: RPO providers typically offer comprehensive recruitment solutions that cover the entire talent acquisition lifecycle. This includes candidate sourcing, talent attraction and engagement, candidate assessment and screening, interview coordination, offer management, and onboarding support.

Recruitment Technology Outsourcing (RTO) involves outsourcing the technological aspects of the recruitment process to a specialised provider. RTO providers leverage technology platforms, tools, and systems to streamline and automate various recruitment functions, such as applicant tracking, candidate assessment, interview scheduling, and data analytics.

RTO offers several key features and benefits. These include improved process efficiency, enhanced data management and analytics, increased scalability, reduced administrative burden, and access to advanced recruitment technologies. By outsourcing their recruitment technology needs, organisations can leverage cutting-edge tools and systems without the need for extensive in-house resources.

Focus Areas of RTO: RTO providers primarily focus on the technological aspects of the recruitment process. This includes implementing and managing applicant tracking systems (ATS), recruitment marketing platforms, video interviewing tools, online assessment platforms, and data analytics solutions. They ensure that the recruitment technology ecosystem is optimised for efficiency and effectiveness.

Understanding the Differences

Scope and Approach: The scope and approach of RPO and RTO differ significantly. RPO focuses on outsourcing the entire recruitment process, including candidate sourcing, screening, and onboarding. On the other hand, RTO is centred around outsourcing recruitment technology and leveraging advanced tools and systems to streamline specific recruitment functions.

Service Delivery Model: RPO typically operates under a fully managed service delivery model, where the provider takes ownership of the end-to-end recruitment process. RTO, on the other hand, may involve a more modular approach, where organisations can choose specific technology solutions based on their needs and integrate them into their existing recruitment infrastructure.

Ownership and Control: In RPO, the provider assumes ownership and control over the recruitment process, acting as an extension of the client’s HR or talent acquisition team. In RTO, the organisation retains control over the recruitment process, while the provider supports the technological aspects and offers expertise in implementing and managing recruitment technology solutions.

Technology Integration: RPO providers may leverage technology platforms and tools as part of their service delivery. However, RTO providers have a primary focus on recruitment technology and ensure seamless integration of tools, systems, and platforms to optimise the recruitment process and enhance efficiency.

Scalability and Flexibility: RPO offers scalability by providing dedicated resources and infrastructure to handle fluctuating recruitment needs. RTO, on the other hand, provides scalability through technology solutions that can be easily scaled up or down based on changing requirements. RTO also offers flexibility in adopting specific tools and technologies based on the organisation’s preferences.

Troi providing embedded recruitment for H&B

Choosing the Right Approach

Factors to Consider:
👉 When deciding between RPO and RTO, several factors should be considered. These include the size and complexity of the organisation, recruitment volume, internal resources and expertise, budgetary constraints, desired level of control, and technology infrastructure.

👉 Evaluation of Organisational Needs:
It is crucial to evaluate your organisation’s specific recruitment needs, including the volume and frequency of hiring, the need for specialised expertise, the desired level of control and ownership, and the existing technology infrastructure. This evaluation will help determine whether RPO, RTO, or a combination of both is the most suitable solution.

👉 Alignment with Business Objectives:
Consider how well each approach aligns with your organization’s broader business objectives. Evaluate whether RPO or RTO can contribute to achieving your talent acquisition goals, such as attracting top talent, reducing time-to-fill, improving candidate quality, enhancing employer branding, or optimizing recruitment processes. Choose the approach that best supports your strategic objectives.

Embedded recruitment solutions based in London

Combining RPO and RTO: Best of Both Worlds

Troi takes a unique approach by combining the strengths of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Recruitment Technology Outsourcing (RTO) to deliver comprehensive and tailored recruitment solutions. Our integrated approach allows us to leverage the benefits of both RPO and RTO, offering a holistic and efficient recruitment experience.

By seamlessly integrating our RPO services with advanced recruitment technology, Troi creates synergies that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your talent acquisition processes. We bring together expert recruitment professionals with cutting-edge technology tools, resulting in a streamlined and data-driven approach that maximizes your recruitment outcomes.

Our experienced recruitment professionals possess deep industry knowledge and expertise, enabling them to understand the intricacies of your industry and roles. Combined with our state-of-the-art recruitment technology, Troi provides a powerful and data-informed approach to talent acquisition. We leverage advanced tools for sourcing, screening, and assessing candidates, ensuring the highest standards of quality and efficiency.

We’ve helped over 150 clients globally surpass their growth targets by hiring and retaining incredible talent and we want to help you do the same.