From Cost Pressure to Clarity: The Story Behind ManpowerGroup’s 20% Savings

Introduction

There is a subtle yet potent power inherent in clarity.

For ManpowerGroup Portugal, clarity didn’t come through sweeping transformation - it arrived through a careful, measured partnership, one cost category at a time.

For over 60 years, the organisation has maintained a consistent presence within the employment sector. Through its three brands (Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions), it assists thousands of organisations and individuals by attracting, developing, and retaining the requisite talent for their success.

However, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company recognised the necessity to undertake the same process: to pause, reflect, and reassess its operations.

With costs rising and uncertainty intensifying, ManpowerGroup Portugal engaged ERA Group in early 2020. A bold move, especially in a time when face-to-face meetings were impossible. The teams worked entirely remotely for the first two years, forging a partnership built on trust, transparency, and collaboration through one of the most volatile periods in recent history.

Yet, even an organisation proficient in facilitating adaptation for others must occasionally pause to reflect upon its own strategic direction.

And so began a journey with ERA Group.

Navigating the Complex Landscape

Like many long-established organisations, ManpowerGroup Portugal had accumulated complexity. Legacy contracts. Familiar suppliers. Processes that had served them well - but not always efficiently.

Energy, telecommunications, fleet management, facilities, insurance, and fuel cards… all were essential. All were becoming progressively more costly.

The pertinent question was not whether action was required, but rather how to initiate the process.

For Rui Teixeira, Country Manager at ManpowerGroup Portugal, ERA’s low-risk model aligned perfectly with a culture rooted in responsibility and trust.

“We had ambitious goals from the beginning. Energy, fuel, and technology costs were increasing sharply, and we knew we needed to optimise some of our cost structures.” — Rui Teixeira, Country Manager, ManpowerGroup Portugal

Engaging the Optimal Partner

Choosing the right partner is never just about capability - it’s about trust, risk, and fit. For ManpowerGroup Portugal, the decision to work with ERA Group wasn’t taken lightly. But the model, the mindset, and the method made it a natural choice.

“The decisive factor in choosing ERA was their ability to help us in a truly cross-functional way. We needed support in reviewing costs, identifying better suppliers, or renegotiating contracts - especially in categories like telecoms, energy, facilities, insurance, and tech. There’s a certain effort involved, yes. We’re a business with 12,000 employees and a large operational footprint, so the process requires time and information-sharing. But the fact that there’s no upfront investment brings great comfort.” — Rui Teixeira, Country Manager, ManpowerGroup Portugal

What was most salient was ERA’s commercial model: no savings, no fee. This instilled in the team the confidence to engage fully, collaborate comprehensively, and prioritise outcomes over risk exposure.

ERA Group didn’t arrive with one-size-fits-all fixes. Instead, they navigated the terrain carefully - like seasoned hikers choosing the right trail.

They meticulously reviewed contracts. Engaged with operational teams. Benchmarked performance. And where opportunities were identified, decisive action was taken.

Their experts facilitated the securing of improved pricing, more competitive service terms, and in certain instances, more astute technology integrations that yielded an impact extending well beyond the balance sheet.

By the time the dust had settled, ManpowerGroup Portugal had achieved annual savings of approximately 20% across a broad range of operational categories.

Not through expedient measures – but through clear strategic insight.

ERA’s methodology upheld critical considerations: supplier relationships, service quality, and internal operational continuity. They identified avenues for enhancement without causing disruption.

This was not merely cost-cutting. It represented strategic cost intelligence.

For Rui and his team, the intrinsic value resided not solely in the financial savings achieved – but in the meticulous manner of their delivery. Characterised by professionalism. By precision. And by genuine partnership.

“We got exactly what we needed: specialist support in areas outside our core, and better cost structures for our operations. And it wasn’t just about what was saved - it was about how it was delivered. One thing that really impressed me was how quickly ERA understood our business and our operational needs - and how they balanced that with what the market could offer.” — Rui Teixeira, Country Manager, ManpowerGroup Portugal

This was not a short-term endeavour. It represented a collaborative journey – founded on strategic insight and propelled by mutual trust.

And while the first phase has come to a close, the path ahead is wide open. More opportunities lie just around the bend. And with ERA walking alongside them, ManpowerGroup Portugal knows it’s a trail worth following.

A Resolute Endorsement

“We identified and cultivated numerous advantages throughout this project,” Rui observes. “And I can assert with conviction, having already endorsed ERA to other entities, that I shall persist in doing so.”

This represented not merely a financial success – but a strategic triumph. A partnership that fortified operations, unveiled new value, and positioned the business more robustly for future challenges.

“This project was a real example of what a true partnership can achieve - even in extraordinary circumstances. We began during the lockdown. We didn’t meet the Manpower team in person until two years in. But despite market volatility, inflation, and fleet shortages, we stayed aligned. We truly became an extension of their team - and that mutual trust was key to achieving results.” — João Porto, ERA Group Expert

Concluding Remarks

This case study with ManpowerGroup Portugal is just one example of how our collaborative, insight-led approach delivers measurable results - even in the most uncertain times.

Furthermore, the collaborative engagement is far from concluded.

Whether you’re navigating market volatility, rising costs, or evolving operational challenges, ERA Group can help you see the path forward - clearly.