Randstad Group enables internal data innovation with Google Cloud Data Managed Services.

The snapshot

Randstad Group, a global HR services leader, partnered with Devoteam to optimise its data platform on Google Cloud, aiming for unification, standardisation, and efficiency.

The project transitioned Randstad Group from internal software development to a service-oriented model with distinct “run” and “change” teams, enhancing continuity and cost-efficiency for “run”, and flexibility for “change”.

Devoteam provides 24/7 managed services, ensuring platform maintenance, data pipeline functionality, and Looker Studio dashboard usability, resulting in predictable costs and operational continuity for Randstad Group.

About the Customer

Randstad Group is a global leader in the HR services industry, with a mission to become the world’s most equitable and specialised company in connecting talent with opportunities.

They operate in 39 markets across 4 regions (Northern Europe, Southern Europe & LATAM, North America, and APAC). Randstad Group facilitates employment for approximately 700,000 talents and handles around 350,000 permanent placements annually. The company has 40,000 employees. Randstad Group has a long history in the HR services sector, focused on understanding client needs and delivering scalable solutions.

The Challenge

Randstad Group’s primary challenge was evolving its data platform management from an internal staffing approach to a service-oriented model.

The organisation faced the challenge of optimising its current Google Cloud-based data platform, which suffered from inefficiencies, high costs, and unclear operational structures. A critical and ongoing challenge was maintaining business continuity across service, personnel, and functionality to ensure continuous availability.

The Goal

Randstad Group wanted to establish streamlined operations and an efficient and cost-effective managed services model for their data platform on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The setup had to ensure 24/7 platform maintenance and business continuity.

They aimed to transition from an internal DevOps approach to a service-oriented structure. This involved clearly differentiating and separating “RUN” (routine platform maintenance and operations) from “CHANGE” (new feature development and strategic projects) activities. The ultimate goal was to free up internal resources for these strategic activities.

Specifically, the goals also included:

Proactively maintain data pipeline functionality: The smooth functioning of their data ingestion and processing pipelines was crucial and was handled in a proactive manner instead.
Guarantee Looker Studio dashboard usability: They needed to ensure the accessibility and proper functioning of their data visualisation dashboards plugged into the BigQuery data warehouse.
Manage costs effectively: The Randstad Group sought more flexibility and lower, more controlled costs associated with data platform management.

Our primary goal was to ensure our global data platform ran flawlessly around the clock with predictable costs. This would free our internal experts to focus entirely on innovation and leveraging data to drive business value.

Jürgen Vanoverschelde,
ICT Application Manager Randstad

The Solution

To address Randstad Group’s requirement for a streamlined, cost-effective, and operationally sound platform, Devoteam implemented a managed services model that separated “RUN” and “CHANGE” activities. This critical structural transformation immediately freed internal Randstad Group experts from day-to-day platform management, allowing them to focus entirely on strategic innovation and accelerating time-to-market.

This shift supported Randstad Group’s strategic move to centralise services for greater cost efficiency and global reliability. The core solution utilised their existing Google Cloud infrastructure, including BigQuery and Looker Studio, keeping the data platform architecture largely unchanged, while fundamentally transforming the operational model.

Devoteam ensured continuous, flexible support through a hybrid delivery model:

24/7 Operational Excellence: The Managed Services team took on the crucial “RUN” role, providing continuous, 24/7 monitoring and maintenance – for example, managing the BigQuery data warehouse.
Local Innovation: A local team in Belgium handled “CHANGE” implementation, collaborating with Randstad Group to develop new features, such as a new data integration feature, before smoothly handing them over to the Managed Services team for ongoing maintenance.

The managed services team integrated directly with Randstad Group’s existing ticketing portal to maintain a seamless user experience.

This dual-team structure enabled efficient implementation of new features, smooth knowledge transfer, and continuous platform operation. Early indicators of success included predictable costs and operational continuity.

The Methodology

Devoteam employed a phased methodology centred on collaboration, knowledge transfer, and a hybrid support model:

Initial setup and collaboration: Close collaboration between the local Devoteam team in Belgium and Randstad Group’s team to understand needs and define “RUN” and “CHANGE” activities.
Knowledge transfer and onboarding: Transferring knowledge to the Managed Services team, ensuring they were prepared to handle “RUN” activities. The local team collaborated with the Managed Services team to build the operational model.
Hybrid support model: Implementing a hybrid support model, with the local team handling initial setup and the Managed Services team providing 24/7 support.
Phased transition: A phased handover of “RUN” activities to the Managed Services team to minimise disruption.
Continuous improvement: Regular evaluation of the managed service performance and identification of optimisation opportunities.
Architectural safeguard: The managed service enforces Randstad Group’s architectural principles, preventing deployments that deviate from their data architecture.

The Result

The implementation of the Managed Services solution led to a more structured and efficient data platform operation, with a clear separation of “RUN” and “CHANGE” activities. This transition positively impacted the way of working of Randstad Group’s employees by reducing the burden of 24/7 platform management, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives.

This implementation achieved several key results:

Predictable costs and cost savings

Randstad Group achieved a predictable cost model for data platform management, enabling better budget planning and resource allocation.

Operational continuity and reduced downtime

The 24/7 support ensured continuous platform availability, effectively minimising downtime and disruptions. The responsibility for “RUN” activities was successfully transferred.

Efficient resource allocation and increased efficiency

By outsourcing “RUN” activities, the Randstad Group freed up internal resources to focus entirely on “CHANGE” activities, such as new functionalities and projects, resulting in faster innovation cycles and overall increased efficiency.

We didn’t have to think about the “RUN” anymore, and we could focus on increasing business value and innovation.