At Avionté CONNECT 2025, the staffing industry came together not just to talk about the future, but to shape it. Described by many as a “watershed moment,” it felt less like a conference and more like a movement – bringing customers, partners, consultants, and industry leaders together under a shared mission.
The staffing industry is at an inflection point. AI, shifting client expectations, wage pressures, and regulatory change are reshaping how agencies operate and compete. But at this year’s CONNECT, leaders didn’t just discuss these challenges; they collaborated on solutions, exploring how technology, strategy, and community can transform staffing agencies into true Workforce Solutions providers with deep expertise and multiple ways to deliver value.
The sense of community and collaboration we experienced at CONNECT wasn’t just inspiring – it was essential. In an industry facing unprecedented change, the partnerships, shared insights, and collective energy weren’t just nice to have; they were the foundation for navigating the challenges ahead.
This year’s CONNECT theme, “Elevating Performance and Delivering Results in Times of Change”, couldn’t have been timelier. Our industry is at an inflection point. Staffing looks different today. Agencies are experiencing a tightening labor market coupled with softening demand, shifting employer expectations, and a more precarious legal landscape.
We’re navigating tech disruption, wage inflation, the rapid evolution of AI, shifting immigration policies, and evolving expectations from both employees and clients. In this environment, only uncertainty is certain.
“The industry is facing a perfect storm. There are a variety of external threats that are descending upon the staffing industry and changing it for good. I’ve had multiple conversations with staffing leaders who tell me: It’s not coming back to the way it was!”
Tom KosnikPresident of Visus Group, Inc. and 2025 CONNECT speaker
But CONNECT made one thing clear: facing change alone is a liability. Facing it together is a strength. The greater sense of connectivity and partnership we experienced wasn’t coincidental; it emerged because everyone in that room is grappling with the same fundamental challenges. And in that shared experience, we found strength.
The staffing professionals who came to Minneapolis weren’t discouraged by disruption – they leaned into it. They saw opportunity in technology, in smarter workflows, in data-driven insights, and in the kind of two-way partnerships that drive lasting impact. They understand that while these changes will profoundly alter how staffing operates, uncertainty doesn’t have to be the enemy. For those prepared, it’s fuel for growth.
Conversations throughout CONNECT kept circling back to one central question: What’s your agency’s secret sauce? In other words, what’s your moat?
As explained by Christopher Ryan, Avionté’s Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, during his CONNECT opening keynote address:
“When people hear the word ‘moat,’ the first thing they might think of is a castle, surrounded by crocodile-infested waters. The moat keeps you safe because no one can attack your castle and take it away. A business ‘moat’ serves a similar purpose: It’s the part of your business that is most secure from competition. It’s your competitive advantage – your secret sauce.”
In a time of unprecedented change, staffing agencies need more than piecemeal technology add-ons. They need a moat – one that protects, differentiates, and evolves with client needs. The right technology should do more than keep them afloat; it should protect their business, strengthen their position, and set them apart from the competition.
Agencies that will thrive are those that can leverage technology to confidently answer yes to these critical questions:
The answer isn’t just having the right technology. It’s about evolving from a talent vendor into a true workforce solutions provider. Staffing agencies must position themselves as partners who anticipate client needs and deliver solutions before challenges even surface. But only those prepared with the right tools and strategies will be positioned to lead the market and shape the future of staffing.
So, here’s where the conversation got exciting: AI and technology aren’t just tools – they’re the foundation for building that competitive moat. But only when built on the right foundation.
For the past three years, Avionté has been developing AviontéBOLD to be AI-native from the ground up. That means every piece of data flowing through our system is:
Avionté’s core foundation allows our developers to unlock powerful capabilities like predictive talent matching, intelligent job descriptions, automated interviews, and biometric timekeeping – not as isolated tools, but as part of one integrated ecosystem that serves as a single source of truth, holding all your data in one place.
But here’s the bigger truth: technology is only half the equation. The real differentiator is who you choose to partner with. These partnerships that we build – with our clients, with our technology providers, with each other – become the bedrock of our success.
As Odell Tuttle, Avionte’s Chief Technology Officer, stated during his keynote address:
“AI can multiply the value of human expertise, but only if it’s thoughtfully applied. Our job is to understand the relationship between humans and technology, and how that relationship shapes your workflows, your performance, and your growth – now and 10 years from now. We have to design for more than just functionality. We think about the interfaces between people and machines. Because if we want AI to be useful – not just powerful – we have to make sure it’s aligned with how your business runs. That’s why we don’t start with features. We start with outcomes.”
At Avionté, our success is measured by the success of our clients and by our shared commitment to embrace innovation and collaboration. That philosophy – our partnership in action – was evident throughout CONNECT, from main stage presentations to breakout sessions, at the Experience Center where attendees engaged directly with the tools and solutions shaping their work, and even in the spontaneous hallway conversations.
As we reflect on CONNECT 2025, one message rings clear: the only thing that’s certain right now is uncertainty. But if you’re prepared with the right strategies, solutions, and partnerships, change transforms from threat into opportunity. The staffing professionals who joined us in Minneapolis understand this –they’re not just adapting to change; they’re positioning themselves to lead it and actively shape what comes next.
Yes, the challenges are real. But with the right mindset, the right technology, and the right community, we’re not just surviving this transformation – we’re driving it.
To everyone who brought your energy, your insights, and your commitment to Minneapolis: thank you. The spirit of partnership and community you created is the foundation of what we’re building together.
What we experienced at Avionté CONNECT stands as the groundwork of what we’re building together: a network of agencies ready to turn uncertainty into opportunity, challenges into growth, and individual success into collective triumph.
Because, at the end of the day, we’re not just in the staffing business. We’re in the business of building communities where everyone can thrive. At Avionté, one thing always holds true: when you win, we win – and we’re here to ensure our customers not only succeed but lead and excel.
Want to see how a modern staffing platform can help your staffing business be more efficient? Schedule a free consultation call today.
