What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) helps organizations optimize their recruitment process and improve the candidate experience. With features like candidate sourcing, pre-employment assessments, and scorecards, an ATS transforms the hiring process while enhancing both the organization's image and the applicant’s journey.
Why is an ATS important?
An ATS is becoming indispensable in modern recruitment, with 99% of Fortune 500 companies already using it. Its key benefits include:
Automating repetitive tasks like resume parsing, candidate sourcing, and tracking applicant progress.
Improving hiring quality, with 79% of recruiters acknowledging its impact.
Speeding up the recruitment process, as 86% of recruiters agree, significantly reduces time-to-hire.
ATS vs. CRM: What’s the Difference?
While both ATS and CRM assist in recruitment, their focus differs:
ATS (Applicant Tracking System): Handles administrative tasks such as managing applications, scheduling interviews, and tracking candidates through the hiring process.
CRM (Candidate Relationship Management): Focuses on the pre-hiring phase by building talent pipelines, sourcing passive candidates, and maintaining personalized communication to strengthen employer branding.
In essence, an ATS manages the application process, whereas a CRM builds and nurtures relationships with potential candidates.
Can Small Businesses Use an ATS?
Absolutely! ATS tools are not just for large organizations. With AI-driven tools and remote work becoming more prevalent, small businesses are increasingly adopting ATS. In fact, 36% of small and medium-sized enterprises have already integrated ATS into their recruitment process.