Staffing firms are spending more on technology than ever before, yet many leaders still struggle to connect those investments to measurable recruiting results. From AI-driven tools to automation platforms, the promise of efficiency is everywhere—but proving return on investment remains a persistent challenge.

That challenge was front and center during a breakout session at the 2025 TechServe Alliance Executive Summit, where staffing leaders shared real-world experiences on what it takes to turn technology investments into meaningful outcomes.

Adoption Starts With Leadership and Culture

Matthew Marini, President of Technology Staffing at Paladin Consulting, Inc., stressed that technology success begins with setting expectations from the top.

“Nothing we do is the same year over year,” Marini said. “The things we worked on three or five years ago are gone. You need to set the tone as a leader that your business is going to change.”

According to Marini, when teams understand that change is part of the organization’s culture, adoption becomes far easier. “If that’s the culture you set,” he added, “adoption will come much easier.”

Making the WIFM Clear for Every Team

Brian Vesce, CEO at RefAssured, Inc., emphasized the importance of aligning technology decisions across departments by clearly answering one key question.

“I’ve always followed the philosophy of WIFM—what’s in it for me,” Vesce explained. “If you can get each business unit to understand that, you’ll be far more successful with adoption.”

Vesce noted that leaders should push vendors to explain how tools impact recruiting, sales, and operations alike. “As soon as you get alignment in each of those groups,” he said, “it becomes much easier to define success and get commitment up front.”

Simplicity, Incentives, and Ease of Use

Beyond alignment, simplicity plays a major role in whether technology delivers value. Marini was blunt about what works—and what does not.

“If it’s a complex workflow with nine steps, it’s not happening,” Marini said. “Make it stupid simple.”

He also highlighted the role of incentives in driving consistent behavior. “If there is a financial benefit tied to the behavior you want,” he noted, “you’re never going to have to talk about it again.”

Measuring What Actually Matters

When it comes to proving ROI, Roger Kipe, President at Capstone IT, Inc., cautioned leaders against relying on surface-level metrics.

“I just want to see contribution go up when we implement a new tool,” Kipe said. “If it’s not making us better, faster, or stronger, then get rid of it.”

Kipe shared that his team regularly evaluates whether tools justify their cost and is willing to cut technology that is not being used. “They weren’t using it anyway,” he explained. “So I dumped it and saved the money.”

Feedback Loops and Continuous Improvement

Mariah Szarek, Director of Recruiting at Benchmark IT, highlighted the importance of maintaining strong feedback loops internally and with vendors.

“We talk about the tools every single week,” Szarek said. “How are they performing? Are we actually using them? What needs to change?”

She added that consistent feedback not only improves adoption but strengthens partnerships. “It gives us the opportunity to continuously improve the product together,” Szarek explained.

Technology as a Business Differentiator

From a growth standpoint, Danny Ashraf, Chief Revenue Officer at Leoforce, encouraged leaders to think beyond internal efficiency.

“Your tech stack should be part of how you differentiate with customers,” Ashraf said. “It should support speed, quality, and cost—and you should be able to talk about that.”

Ashraf also warned against oversimplified attribution models. “There isn’t a single tool that owns one hundred percent of a placement,” he noted, emphasizing the need for realistic measurement.

Across the discussion, one theme was consistent: technology alone does not drive results. Leadership clarity, cultural alignment, disciplined measurement, and continuous feedback are what ultimately determine whether tech investments pay off.

Actionable Takeaways

For leaders and team members looking to improve operational efficiencies and technology adoption, consider the following actionable takeaways:

• Cultivate a Culture of Change: Encourage adaptability among team members by fostering a supportive culture around technology adoption.
• Communicate the WIFM: Frame the benefits of technology in ways that align with employees’ personal and financial goals.
• Simplify Technology Use: Aim for simplicity in technology implementation to enhance user experience and drive adoption rates.
• Leverage Feedback Mechanisms: Regularly engage with stakeholders to gather feedback and adjust tools as needed.
• Measure What Matters: Focus on relevant metrics that align with business outcomes, avoiding distractions from vanity metrics.