What is an ATS?

ATS stands for applicant tracking systems or applicant tracking software. An ATS serves as your recruiting and hiring hub and allows you to automate several parts of the process. It also helps you keep track of past and current applicants and communicate with them easily. 

The features offered vary significantly by product (e.g. Indeed ATS integrations may differ from others), but they can help speed up tasks such as creating job ads, application reviews, applicant data management, communication and scheduling.

What is an AI ATS?

Adding artificial intelligence to ATS programs expands the capabilities and makes automation possible. It uses AI to help speed up tasks like screening applicants and scheduling interviews. Artificial intelligence has a learning component to improve the results, and it’s more advanced when it comes to helping speed up tasks like evaluating resumes.

7 benefits of an AI ATS

When deciding whether to try new technology, comparing the pros and cons gives you a better sense of it. You can gain the following benefits by choosing an ATS with AI functionality:

1. Serves as the central command for recruiting

Your AI ATS serves as the central hub of your recruiting data and efforts. It’s easy for everyone involved in the hiring process to access information about applicants. Your team can perform almost all activities, from posting a job to completing new hire paperwork, within the ATS. This can prevent duplicate activities and help document the process.

2. Offers upgraded features

Any ATS can help you keep recruiting data organized, but one with artificial intelligence adds innovation to the process. It can help speed up resume screening, looking for experiences and skills that might not be represented by keywords.

3. Automates several functions

The automation component takes care of several tedious tasks related to hiring new employees. You can use AI to help speed up scanning resumes, conducting initial interviews, communicating with applicants and scheduling interviews. This can help create a smoother process for both your team and the applicants.

Automation can also help speed up your time to hire, which can help you land your preferred candidates. Job seekers applying to multiple positions might accept an offer quickly. If you’re using a slower recruitment process, you could miss out on the people you want on your team.

4. Saves your team time

Your hiring team likely has a lot to do. In a small company, they might handle multiple tasks, not just hiring or HR duties. Larger companies with higher-volume hiring needs keep their recruiters busy with lots of vacancies.

By moving some of those duties to the ATS, you give your staff more room for their other duties. They can spend more time interviewing candidates without feeling rushed, for example.

5. Improves results

Working with AI through your ATS could potentially help improve the results you get from your hiring. Doing it all manually can result in missed opportunities due to employees being rushed. 

6. Offers insightful analytics

Your AI ATS can give you insightful data about your recruiting and hiring processes. It can show things like time to hire, candidate engagement, and where your candidates are coming from. This can help you see where you can improve your procedures.

Better recruiting can enhance the quality of work from your new hires and how long they stay with your company. Increasing longevity can save you money on hiring costs down the road.

Drawbacks of AI ATS

It’s also helpful to look at the potential drawbacks of using AI in your ATS. Here are some possible issues:

• Less of a human touch: The software handles a large part of the process, so you might feel disconnected from the recruiting and hiring process.
• Comfort with technology: It takes some time to get used to new technology, especially if your hiring team prefers more traditional methods. You might meet some resistance among your staff if they’re not excited about innovation.
• Cost: Upgrading your ATS comes with some expenses to buy and implement the software. However, it has the potential to save you money overall in your staffing costs and improve hires.
• Possible misses: Even with the advanced screening, it’s still possible for AI ATS to miss applicants who would work well for your company.
• Regulations: You could face regulations on using AI in your business practices. Check on provincial and local rules before investing.

How to use it in your hiring process

Start by looking at your current ATS, if you have one. It could have AI features that you’re not currently using. Since you’re already familiar with the system, tapping into those functions can be an easy way to get started.

If you don’t already have an ATS with AI capabilities, start by finding one you like. Become familiar with the system and slowly transition various recruiting activities to it. Some things you can do with AI include:

• Create job descriptions.
• Promote your job ads.
• Help speed up screening applications.
• Conduct initial interviews.
• Schedule full interviews.
• Send important communications to applicants.
• Send automated responses to applicant inquiries.
• Make job offers.
• Complete new-hire paperwork.

AI ATS can enhance recruitment by automating tasks, saving time and improving hire quality through advanced analytics. While it may reduce human interaction and involve costs, strategic implementation ensures a balance between efficiency and personal touch, streamlining hiring and boosting candidate engagement.