Why You Need Technology For Your Hiring Process

I recently read a study put out by Towers Watson called 2012 HR Service Delivery Survey. One of the major findings of the study was that change is coming for many HR companies and that hiring software is the driving force.

The study states, “To meet continuing pressures to be more efficient and effective, (HR) organizations are taking advantage ?of much that the constantly changing technology and delivery landscape has to offer. Advances such as software-as-a-service (SaaS) are simply impossible to ignore.”

Size Should NOT Matter

One of the reasons that SaaS providers should not be ignored is because no matter the size of your business, your workload, or your HR department, your organization can benefit from having hiring software. The size of your organization does not matter. Many HR professionals think that the benefits, learning curve, and price tag of software such as Applicant Tracking Systems are for the “big guys”. This study points out that many of the “big guys” are using the software but the price and the availability of the software have shifted to fit in the budget and usability of even your small to mid sized businesses. The study says, “Just 54% of organizations with fewer than 5,000 employees use technology in hiring. But HR professionals say automation can work even for companies with fewer than 100 employees.”

Efficiency, Synergy, Cost Savings, and Improvement

The driving force behind the need for change was divided among 8 different categories, with the bulk of respondents answering in four different categories. The first one was the “realization of further efficiency potentials”. 64% of those that are planning for changes this year feel like the reason for the change is to really push their HR departments to a more efficient model. No doubt about it, the economy and pressures from management to stay lean are contributors.

The next one was the realization of synergies. One definition of synergies offered by Google is, “The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects”. Separately HR can be a positive force in the workplace, but when HR can work with other organizations to promote the greatest good for the employee base, everyone wins.

The third highest answer was quality improvements. This relates directly to hiring because not only can we talk about the improving the quality of the hiring process itself but also improving the quality of the applicant pool and thereby improving the quality of the overall applicants hired. This will mean lower turnover rate, higher productivity and greater efficiency for your organization.

46% of respondents felt like one of the driving forces for change is cost savings. It seems like these days, everyone is trying to get more for less. This not a bad thing. Words like lean, efficient, value, and effective are all terms that are not just reserved for budget meetings anymore and are heavily used in every department these days. HR is no exception, in fact because HR departments are not driving revenue directly, we are finding ourselves in the cost categories and can be a target for cost reduction. It is important to be proactive and to consistently strive to keep costs low.

How ApplicantPro Hiring Software can help you

Statistics are important and can be useful when making your case. So, keeping with that idea, this study makes the case beautifully that you need an Applicant Tracking System. Every sized organization that is looking to become more efficient and effective while keeping costs low and synergy high needs an applicant tracking system. Our hiring software will keep you from inefficiently sifting through emails, resumes, paper applications, and help you dig in and find the right person for the right job from the right sized applicant pool with the smallest effort possible.

Click here to see our pricing or to talk to a representative today to learn more about how we can help you make the necessary efficient and cost saving changes that your HR department needs today.