These days, applicant tracking systems are a part of every organization. In today’s fast-paced, technology-oriented, and data-driven work world, you can’t help but minimize human intervention. Even during the employee onboarding process. However, that doesn’t mean that the software is stealing the job of your HR managers and department. It’s only simplifying their tasks by lifting an otherwise heavy burden off their shoulders. So, what are we talking about here? In this complete guide, you will learn why you need applicant tracking software and a lot more about how it can ease your HR processes. So, let’s begin.
Applicant Tracking System Vs CRM: The Difference
So far, what we described about applicant tracking system software sounds a bit similar to CRM, or customer relationship management software. Right? Both are used for hiring, though, and many organizations use both ATS and CRMS. However, there’s a difference between the two. So, for starters, let’s get right into it.
| Applicant Tracking System (ATS) | Customer Relationship Management Software(CRM) |
| Used during the hiring process, and has features including resume parsing, candidate screening, and evaluation tools. Only tracks job candidates who have applied. | Used to target potential applicants who haven’t yet applied. Provides you with features, including email marketing, to connect you to potential clients. |
| Only gives you data that the candidates have input themselves. (More reactive) | Allows you to put the data you discovered about the candidates. (More proactive) |
Read Also: How to Calculate Labor Costs: A Step-by-Step Guide
Why Use An Online Applicant Tracking System?
Make your workday more productive
Time tracking and work management can help you reach your goals
faster.
The best online applicant tracking system software can be very useful for any type of organization. It allows human resources to recruit the best talent, so integrating the wrong one can cause various issues and waste time and money too. So, have a look at the following advantages of having the best applicant tracking software features:
1. Find and Draw Eligible Candidates
According to Shane Malik, Senior Recruiter at Ducknowl, numerous companies are unable to reach or connect with the most relevant job seekers. Likewise, many others are skipping the important information to find the most suitable applicants on different online platforms.
The best applicant tracking system for small businesses helps you resolve or face all these challenges. Therefore, it helps you better understand the experience, status, and work behavior of a candidate and target precise job seekers in the outlets and media they operate most.
2. Improve Applicant Engagement
Recruiting and hiring applicants can never be easy, as it takes a lengthy procedure and a systematic strategy. You can easily lose a good candidate because of slow response, time, and inadequate engagement within the interview agendas. The best applicant tracking system software helps you organize things better and makes it effortless to collaborate with the most suitable candidates.
3. Enhance Efficiency and Reduce Expenses
Applicants proceed gradually through the recruiting method because of the inadequate manual techniques, insufficient teamwork among the recruiting team, and poor contact with critical hiring stakeholders. This process is a waste of time and costs to hire. A productivity monitoring software in India builds possibilities to automate manual operations, improve visibility into the hiring process for the human resources team, and enhance options for communication all over the applicant campaign.
4. Optimize the Onboarding Method
The best workday application tracking system also helps in the onboarding procedure, as it keeps a tab on employees who have taken the job. It helps managers to know about their work behavior and processing, and the complete details they ought to begin constructing an influence from their first day, boosting overall productivity and retention.
Features of Applicant Tracking Software
Here are some of the top features of applicant tracking system software that can help you recruit the best candidates for your organization:
1. Career Page Hosting
Multiple applicant tracking systems let you handle the display of your organization’s website for available jobs from its medium. It provides various options for a manageable creation.
2. Customizable Job Applications
What we like about a Workday application tracking system solution is that it allows you to create custom job applications. You can add fields, including resumes, questions, skill tests, confirm contact details, and much more, to ensure that you get as much candidate information as needed.
3. Job Distribution
Job distribution is the best option to enhance connections with top candidates. This feature of an applicant tracking system helps to select the best fit as per your requirements and choose the top talent.
4. Receiving and Sorting Applications
The applicant tracking system software in India contains the feature of receiving and sorting the applicants as per your requirements. It removes the less qualified candidates from the list and selects the best ones.
5. Resume Storage
The online applicant tracking system stores all the resumes obtained during recruitment, even after the vacancy is full. It holds every resume and provides it whenever needed.
6. Interview Schedulers
The workday application tracking system allows you to converse with your applicants through messaging, as the chatbot available in the software helps you further. You can use it to convey anything you require, ask questions, and schedule interviews.
7. Social Sharing
Almost every applicant tracking system has been designed by keeping social media in mind. This software automatically posts your job positions on different social media platforms with just a click for connection enhancement.
8. Job-Specific Filters
One of the most useful features of applicant tracking system software is the capability to apply job-specific filters. This ensures that you only shortlist skilled candidates for further interviews and consideration. For this purpose, the ATS software provides you with keyword filters.
How Does an Applicant Tracking System Work?
Your applicant tracking system will help you from A to Z in your employee onboarding process. From writing job ads to making offers, it will simplify everything. For example, integrating with major job boards, organizing applications, and allowing candidates to create profiles. In short, it monitors all the activities happening around a candidate during the recruiting process, which includes:
- You create the job requisition and probably approve it through the ATS.
- You post the job application.
- Candidates apply for the job. ATS systems are capable of even rejecting candidates based on their answers.
- The system will then parse resumes and may rank new applications.
- You can then select candidates from the system for further interviews. Rejected applicants will get an automated refusal email.
- During the interview, you can add notes in the ATS for future reference.
- You can use ATS to send an offer letter to the selected candidate.
- If the candidate is selected, the ATS marks them as hired. These candidates can sign policies, complete forms, and learn more about your organization through the system.
How can Applicant Tracking Systems Enhance the Onboarding Process?
Applicant tracking system software solutions are used by employers to track applications submitted, resumes viewed, and applicants scouted. The purpose of an applicant tracking system is to speed up the hiring process and automate data input, thus improving the efficiency of a recruitment team by ensuring that each member of staff has a clear view of what steps take place in the hiring decision-making process.
Benefits of an Online Applicant Tracking System for Candidates
In this fast-growing, competitive world, every industry is in the race to get the best candidates. Therefore, the applicant tracking system is the best option to hire the best candidates. Here are some of its advantages.
1. Enhanced Candidate Experience
Almost every job applicant wishes to have a frictionless digital understanding at the time of their job hunt. The applicant tracking system automates the various factors of job searching by delivering self-service interview scheduling, auto-fill online applications, and effortless, compatible contacts covering almost every recruiting group.
2. Greater Efficiency in the Hiring Process
The top benefit of a workday application tracking system is that it can help dodge adverse problems, get employed quickly, and create a lot of optimistic communication for the designation.
3. Immediate Impact After the Hire
An applicant tracking system not only helps in recruiting and hiring but also presents multiple means to simplify the onboarding approach. It causes the evolution from applicant to full-time worker to a better aspect.
Advantages of an Online Applicant Tracking System for Organizations
When it comes to hiring today, all candidates have to do is fill out online forms, which is the easiest way. Thus, recruiters are getting tons of applications every day, which makes manual management a burden. The best applicant tracking system software helps recruiters and employers in different ways. Let us explain with some advantages.
- Speed up your recruitment process.
- Improve the quality of hire.
- Elevate candidate experience
- Lower cost per hire
- Facilitate collaborative hiring
- Boost employer brand
- Redefine recruiting metrics
- Assist in finding candidates
- Easy interview scheduling
- One-click job posting to multiple job boards
- Reduce time-to-fill
- Mitigate bias
How To Select an Online Applicant Tracking System?
Before selecting an applicant tracking system, it is essential to go through the multiple options available in the market and select the best-fit software solution as per your business requirements. Here are some prerequisites to follow.
1. The Best Customer Support
When it comes to using a new ATS solution, at that time, you may have multiple doubts or questions in your mind. Therefore, before selecting the best workday application tracking system, you should know its functions and provides you with the best customer support.
2. Customization and Configuration As Per Your Requirements
Look for applications that can be customizable easily as per your organizational needs, as every recruitment organization has its own specifications. An applicant tracking system that can fulfill all our recruitment essentials in a stroke will be the best fit.
3. Manage and Schedule Interviews
It will be easier for anyone to schedule and manage an interview with a good workday application tracking system. An organized interview means no hustle on your side and a positive feedback response from the candidate. The software will let you add many small features to the interview, like scorecards, interview supplies, etc.
4. Valid Reports and Dashboards
Even after the completion of interviews, there could be confusion or disagreement among the team about candidates. However, reports and analytics can help you overcome this hurdle. Choose an employee time tracking software that provides robust KPI reports for future use.
5. High Security
While dealing with vital data, you must require a robust and top-notch safety system. When selecting your applicant tracking system, check its security system thoroughly and if it meets all the standard tight security features.
6. Flawless Relationship Management
The best online workday application tracking system in India helps you manage your relationships with your candidates appropriately and expressively.
Top 10 Applicant Tracking Systems
Even after knowing the selection process, selecting an applicant tracking software for your organization can be overwhelming. Below are the top applicant tracking system software in India to help you select the best fit for your organization.
- DeskTrack
- Bullhorn
- Greenhouse
- BambooHR
- iCIMS Talent Cloud
- Jobvite
- Oracle Taleo Cloud
- SmartRecruiters
- SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone
- Workable
1. DeskTrack
DeskTrack is the best applicant tracking system that you will ever find. More than software for tracking applicants, it’s the most intuitive and customizable employee monitoring, time tracking, productivity monitoring, and project management software integrated system for your in-office, on-field, and remote teams.
Key Features:
- Create job applications from the user-friendly form within seconds.
- Post to 100+ job boards
- Track applicants and application status in real-time
- Intuitive dashboards for your HRs
- From recruiting to onboarding, there are features to optimize the process.
- Monitor the performance of the candidate after onboarding till offboarding with employee monitoring features.
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Best overall | $5.99/user/month | 5/5 |
2. Bullhorn
Bullhorn is known as one of the best application tracking system solutions. This online applicant tracking software can help you capture leads, review applications, and hire the right candidate.
Key Features:
- AI & staffing automation
- Staffing experts-backed support
- Inclusive CRM
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Recruiting agencies | Quote on contact | 4.1/5 |
3. Greenhouse
Greenhouse, as an applicant tracking system, is a leading Enterprise Application Software that helps in the processing of varied applications successfully. It provides a unified user interface for the end-user and helps them to maintain their resumes and make online applications.
Key Features:
- AI recruiting
- Talent sourcing
- Integrations
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| HR professionals and recruiting teams | Quote on contact | 4.5/5 |
4. BambooHR
BambooHR is the leading workday application tracking system designed to help recruiters and hiring managers manage their workforce.
Key Features:
- Automated hiring
- Digital offer letters and e-signatures
- In-depth analytics
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Streamlining HR tasks | Quote on contact | 4.6/5 |
5. iCIMS Talent Cloud
iCIMS is a leading enterprise recruitment software and applicant tracking system. It’s the most comprehensive recruitment management software on the market and provides you with everything you need to effectively recruit, manage, and optimize talent.
Key Features:
- Reporting and analytics
- iCIMS copilot
- Integrated CRM
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Advanced AI analytics | Quote on contact | 4.3/5 |
6. Jobvite
This applicant tracking system software provides a wide range of software plus services that help you manage your recruiting process. Their technology platform allows you to get new hires and improve the productivity of your organization.
Key Features:
- Automate recurring tasks
- Configure processes and improve collaboration
- Detailed insights
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Midsize to enterprise-level businesses | Quote on contact | 4.1/5 |
7. Oracle Taleo Cloud
It is an online talent management tool and applicant tracking system that helps companies find, hire, and manage their employees, including accounting staff, sales representatives, lawyers, and financial accountants.
Key Features:
- Configurable
- Complete candidate sourcing features
- Candidate screening tools
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Executives, line managers, and HR teams | Quote on contact | 3.8/5 |
8. SmartRecruiters
SmartRecruiters’s applicant tracking system software suite is a complete, one-stop shop for recruitment and HR. It combines everything you need to find, hire, manage, and pay the best candidates from all over the world.
Key Features:
- Customizable
- Integrations
- AI-powered features
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Organizations with at least 50 employees and a large number of job acquisitions | Quote on contact | 4.2/5 |
9. SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone
SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone is an employee management suite and applicant tracking system that helps you manage your workforce, improve performance, and improve engagement.
Key Features:
- Workforce agility
- Collaboration and communication
- User-friendly experience
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Employee engagement | $5.14/month | 4.8/5 |
10. Workable
Workable is a workday application tracking system that helps you track employees and their working time, increase productivity, and avoid overtime pay.
Key Features:
- No-code careers page builders
- Multi-language hiring
- API access
| Best For | Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| AI sourcing | $299/month | 4.4/5 |
Read Also: What is Employee Development: A Complete Guide
Must-Know Trends in Application Tracking Systems
From printing hiring requirements via posters and newspaper commercials to digital job applications and posts, application tracking has come a long way, adapting to the evolving market needs.
1. AI-Driven Screening
And of course, skill matching. These days, AI can also parse the semantics along with the literal meaning of text. It can efficiently match the relevant skills and resume to your requirements and shortlist the right candidates. That too, within seconds.
2. Hiring Bias Reduction
Applicant tracking software solutions these days come with tools to reduce hiring bias. For example, it can hide the names of the candidates from the recruiters, ensuring that hiring is purely based on skills and not gender or cultural bias.
3. Mobile Accessibility & Optimization
Now, there is no need for you to be in the office to track applicants. If you use the latest hiring software, you can post and track job applications from anywhere and at any time via mobile accessibility and optimization.
4. AR & VR Integrations
This is for making virtual previews and interviews feel like in-person hiring. The upgrade is useful for those who are still not comfortable living virtually.
5. Blockchain for Verifying Candidates
Blockchain brings security, transparency, and authenticity in candidate credential verification.
6. Better Social Media Recruitment
Other than popular business and recruitment media platforms, you can also find the relevant skills for your open position on public social media platforms. The right application tracker software integrates with the doom-scrolling applications you use, from where you can directly or via recommendation, contact the relevant person for the job.
7. Cloud-Based Software
This one provides you with an entire ATS while saving storage space and money for you. Also, did we mention that it’s very secure as well?
Why is DeskTrack the Best Online Applicant Tracking System?
DeskTrack is, without a doubt, the best applicant tracking system and workforce management software. There’s a reason why it’s used across 100+ countries. More than an applicant tracker, this employee monitoring, project management, productivity monitoring, and time tracking software provides you with the most intuitive features.
You get this and many other features to take charge of your teams. So why choose the rest when you deserve the best?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the Meaning of Application Tracking?
Ans. Applicant tracking is the process of tracking a candidate who has applied for a position in your organization. What you basically track is the status of their application, the candidate’s eligibility, hiring stage, onboarding phase, etc.
Q. What is an Applicant Tracking System?
Ans. Applicant tracking software systems are digital platforms that help you simplify and automate the entire employee onboarding process. These applications collaborate with job boards to help you make more connections and post better job applications. With their plethora of features, they lift the burden off your HR managers and department.
Q. What are the Features of Applicant Tracking Software?
Ans. There are many tools, functionalities, and features of applicant tracking software. These key features assist you throughout your entire employee onboarding process.
- Career Page Hosting
- Customizable Job Applications
- Job Distribution
- Receiving and Sorting Applications
- Resume Storage
- Interview Schedulers
- Social Sharing
- Job-Specific Filters
Q. What are the Benefits of Applicant Tracking Software?
Ans. Other than simplifying the hiring process, there are many other benefits of applicant tracking software.
- Speed up your recruitment process.
- Improve the quality of hire.
- Elevate candidate experience
- Lower cost per hire
- Facilitate collaborative hiring
- Boost employer brand
- Redefine recruiting metrics
- Assist in finding candidates
- Easy interview scheduling
- One-click job posting to multiple job boards
- Reduce time-to-fill
- Mitigate bias
Q. Which are the Best Applicant Tracking Software Solutions?
Ans. To help you get the best-fit applicant tracking software solution for your business, we shortlisted the best 10 options for you.
- DeskTrack
- Bullhorn
- Greenhouse
- BambooHR
- iCIMS Talent Cloud
- Jobvite
- Oracle Taleo Cloud
- SmartRecruiters
- SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone
- Workable
Thank you, so much for sharing a useful info.
Nice blog very informative and thanks for sharing