Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) allow recruiters to realise cost and time efficiencies in their candidate attraction and selection process.
They allow electronic processing of job applicants – posting out paper application forms is so last century! And with postal strikes not uncommon, who knows when these will arrive. An ATS can speed up the whole process – making it easier for good candidates to apply, making it quicker for you to filter out the bad ones.
There are a myriad of ATS options out there, so where do you start? Well, first you need to consider where the issues are with your current process – where can efficiencies be made? Do you wish to reduce your cost-per-hire by building up a speculative applicant pool to better manage your candidate sources? Do you wish to reconsider your media spend and focus on those media that are actually working? Or do you simply want to stop stuffing envelopes with paper forms?
Of course for most businesses it’s a combination of all of those elements and many more – but having a clear idea of where’s realistic to start is important, because the last thing you want to do is try and run before you can walk. Not least because running an all singing all dancing ATS can be hugely expensive.
Traditionally, ATS’ have only been deployed at large businesses, that can afford the huge price tags (an extreme example perhaps, but the EU are currently considering a $35M ATS implementation). SMEs often don’t get a look in, and many ATS vendors aren’t interested in servicing the smaller client. There are over 100 ATS vendors, each with different prices, price structures, proclaimed specialities and levels and depth of functionality. ATS’ are popping up all over the place, with many of the newer ones built on the latest technology, meaning things are much simpler, more flexible and robust than before. However, only a handful have managed to provide a sensible offering for SMEs, that keeps the cost down but gives them the functionality they need to become more efficient and start to really deliver a demonstrable ROI.
If any of the following sound familiar, now might be the time to consider an ATS:
- Inability to accurately assess which candidate sources are actually working
- Desire to build up a speculative applicant / talent pool
- No or inefficient online application processes that deter better candidates
- Overwhelmed by (or fear of) response to adverts
- Missed opportunities with free options like search engines / social media
- Poor visibility across the recruitment process
- No easily accessible historical data or access to candidate details
- You know there’s a better way than excel!
ROI is today’s currency of success for any business and all parts of that business. Without clarity and integrity of MI (management information) to work from, then your recruitment activity is at best hit and miss – and at worst massively inefficient and ineffective. Isn’t it time to ensure your recruitment is working at and for the heart of your business?
Guest post by Adam Gretton | Commercial Director | www.harbour-ats.com
About HARBOUR® ATS
HARBOUR® ATS is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) built for today’s business needs and considering today’s Internet – for both candidates and employers. Flexible, quick to deploy and with high integrity ROI reporting, this is Applicant Tracking as it should be. Try our entry-level system HARBOUR® instant ATS for less than £500 – and be live within 24 hours. To contact us, call 0844 736 2739 or email adam@3dmarcomms.com.
