What is an applicant tracking system?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that lets organizations keep track of job applications and oversee hiring tasks like posting open positions or performing background checks.

An ATS also enables organizations to maintain employment records that are compliant with the government’s federal discrimination laws through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

How does an ATS work?

An ATS collects information from candidates in one of two ways: internally, from applications submitted directly to a company’s website, or externally, obtained through job board sites or other ATS integrations. With this data, recruiters can manage applications and candidates throughout the hiring or selection process.

What is the difference between an ATS and a recruitment CRM?

Simply put, recruitment candidate relationship management (CRM) software compliments the work of an ATS. The ATS acts as the database and main repository for information about applicants and jobs, whereas a recruitment CRM manages all aspects of the candidate-facing relationship. Recruitment CRM software like Yello enables recruiters to create thorough and transparent candidate records throughout every step of the candidate’s journey. This includes complete records of candidate communications backed up by recruitment marketing tools, powerful candidate search and filtering capabilities, and detailed information and activity about talent pipelines filled with active candidates, passive candidates, sourced candidates and candidates who have previously applied for positions.

By using a recruitment CRM, employers are able to reduce the amount of time it takes to fill new positions by building warm talent pools to pull candidates from. Typically, an ATS cannot assemble talent pipelines or talent pools, and lack robust functionality to proactively source candidates.

What is an ATS integration?

An ATS integration connects an ATS to other software solutions in order to share data between multiple systems. The ATS is often the hub of a recruiter’s tech stack, but many ATS solutions are designed for compliance and record keeping.

By the nature of their design, an ATS often lacks flexibility and modern communication tools like interview scheduling or video interviewing software to assist recruiting operations and effectively communicate with candidates.

Through ATS integrations, third-party platforms like Yello compliment the typical functions of an ATS with a powerful set of tools that allow recruiters to streamline the hiring process.

What are the benefits of an ATS integration?

ATS integrations build on supplement the capabilities of an ATS to improve the recruitment process. When integrated into an ATS, Yello’s candidate relationship management software offers better insights throughout the talent pipeline into each candidate’s journey. Information gathered in both the ATS and recruitment CRM can help put together detailed reports that allow recruiters to make better hiring decisions. Yello also acts as the recruiter’s system of engagement, feeding data back into the ATS for compliance purposes.

Because organizations cannot often easily migrate away from an ATS that’s already in use, ATS integrations can make the experience of using an ATS better. On top of building and managing better candidate profiles, ATS integrations with tools like Yello also offer recruiters video interviewing software, job boards software, modern application management like mobile-optimized job applications, recruitment event management capabilities and interview scheduling tools. Each of these tools can be layered on top of the existing application process in the ATS, which is often cumbersome and outdated.

What ATS does Yello offer integrations for?

Yello offers ATS integrations with all major systems that have an open API. Some of the most popular ATS integrations Yello works with include:

  • Taleo
  • Workday
  • iCims
  • SAP Successfactors
  • Greenhouse
  • ADP
  • Kenexa

Get to know the rest of your HR tech stack with our ongoing series to explore the tools and terminology recruiters use every day:

Recruitment Technology 101 Series
Online Recruitment Software 101

Q&A Series
What is a talent community?
What is a talent pipeline?