A study by recruitment process outsourcing and talent management consultancy Ochre House has shown that 90% of organisations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region have no talent pipelining activity.

Paul Daley, director of the company for the region, says: “The results of this research are cause for concern, particularly in an ever-changing business environment. It is increasingly difficult to plan for future business needs and as such there is a universally recognised need to develop and engage with a wider talent pool.”

An Ochre House event in Hong Kong found that the lack of pipelining came down not just to the capabilities of in-house recruitment departments, but also to the support made available by agencies, says Daley: “There are few RPO [recruitment process outsourcing] suppliers in Asia who aren’t part of a bigger headhunting firm. It is not in the interest of headhunters to help with talent pipelining as they do not get a fee until a placement is made, so that external support is not there.”

Daley adds: “Many of the clients we work with see significant results from the pipelining activities we recommend to them. With the right dedication and guidance organisations in APAC can benefit from this too.”