vendor management system is an Internet-enabled application that acts as a mechanism for businesses to manage and procure staffing services through third-party staffing suppliers (temporary help as well as, in some cases, permanent placement services) as well as outside contract or contingent labor. It often includes the management of Statement of Work (SOW) consultants and outsourced services within their scope of coverage. Features of a vendor management system include supplier management, order distribution, consolidated billing, risk mitigation, headcount tracking, and significant enhancements in reporting capability over manual systems and processes.