Our friends at Hireserve share some thoughts on how to approach implementing and configuring a new Applicant Tracking System:
When you enter the implementation phase of your ATS, you can suddenly feel as though those around you are speaking in another language. Abbreviations abound, your supplier spouts technical jargon with the ease of ABC and you’re bombarded with multiple configuration options.
Often, the result is that you’ll lean heavily on your supplier to guide you through the implementation process – and this can mean that you won’t always get exactly what you need from the system. So how else could you approach the implementation of your ATS? And what should you expect from your supplier?
Scope out your implementation consultant
Your implementation consultant is going to be key to your configuration experience. Whether they’re a member of your ATS supplier’s team, independent or provided by your RPO, it’s essential they have a thorough knowledge of the system. A comprehensive understanding of all its features and how these will address your specific needs is vital.
Seek someone who'll take a consultative approach. They should work to understand your end-to-end recruitment process in order to confidently advise where the ATS could add value at each stage, and ultimately produce a tailored implementation plan that directly addresses your needs.
This can make the difference between a truly bespoke solution and a ‘one size fits all’ approach to your ATS project.
Work through the process together
Once your implementation plan has been agreed, your implementation consultant should work through all of the configuration options available to you and outline the potential advantages and disadvantages of each.
In doing this, they should be equipping you with enough knowledge for you to decide what will work best for your organisation. It would also be sensible to discuss, if you haven’t already, your ATS supplier’s approach to bespoke requests and flexibility when asked to reconfigure or create a new piece of functionality.
Taking a collaborative approach will ensure you can take the lead in terms of deciding what configuration options you want, rather than relying on your implementation consultant’s decisions.
Adopt an assisted build approach
Whilst this may be dependent on timescales, an assisted build can prove very effective. Essentially you are involved in the configuration of the system, as opposed to the implementation consultant undertaking the work before handing the system back over to you.
Taking this hands-on approach will enhance your confidence when administering the system so that subsequent training will be much more effective as you'll already have a working knowledge of the system and be more familiar with the build.
Although this approach takes a little more time on your part, training sessions will be less lengthy and should enable you to start using the system from a more knowledgeable, confident position.
Be clear on what you need from your system
Ultimately, the successful configuration of your ATS is going to be based heavily on your unique requirements and how your implementation consultant responds to these.
An over-reliance on the opinion of your ATS supplier could result in you not getting the best out of your system, or needing to reconfigure functionality a few months down the line.
Instead, push for a consultative approach from your implementation consultant, seek a tailored implementation plan and try to be as involved in the build and configuration process as possible.
We can’t promise your implementation process is going to be jargon-free…but we hope this guidance helps you to have a collaborative experience, tailored to you.
About Hireserve
Established in 1997, Hireserve creates leading recruitment software. Trusted by organisations across the UK and Europe, including CERN, Arriva and Cranfield University, Hireserve’s ATS is agile, intuitive and powerful.
To find out more, contact the Hireserve team on +44 (0)844 324 5027 or drop them a note at info@hireserve.com.
