If you missed Part 1 of our applicant tracking software FAQ, be sure to check it out here. Today we’re back to discuss five more things you should know about applicant tracking software (ATS). Many businesses have already experienced the benefits of applicant tracking software to improve the hiring process—from streamlining position posting, to easier applicant evaluation and communication, to finding better applicants faster. Realizing these benefits also means having a solid understanding of ATS capabilities and features.

We’ve answered five more of the most common questions about applicant tracking software features and functionality below: 

1. What does SaaS mean?

Software as a Service (SaaS), or web based, is a means of distributing software applications over the Internet. The applicant tracking software vendor hosts the software so users can subscribe to use the application rather than purchase and install the solution on their own computers. Web-based solutions allow users to access the application from any location with an Internet connection.

2. How much does an applicant tracking system cost?

The cost of an applicant tracking system can vary depending on the size of your organization, the number of locations and/or users and the number of positions you hire for on a regular basis. Some vendors may also require an implementation fee to get their solution up and running. Depending on these factors, a subscription-based online applicant tracking solution could cost between $200 and several hundred dollars a month.

3. How quickly will I see a return on my investment?

Many vendors can get applicant tracking software up and running quickly. But the faster you can provide information that’s key to your hiring efforts, such as benefits information and job descriptions, the faster a provider can integrate an applicant tracking solution into your website. The other factor is user adoption within your company—users have to take advantage of the solution and its features to experience the benefits. So after a successful implementation and user adoption, you can immediately begin receiving applications from more qualified candidates and experience shorter times to hire much faster and with less headaches than a manual, paper-based hiring process.

4. How will an applicant tracking system work with my current website?

Applicants can access your online careers page from your company website. When you post a job within your applicant tracking system, the posting automatically populates on your company’s careers page in the Hyrell system. Also, your Online Hiring Center can be customized to match the look and feel of your employment brand.  

5. Who has ownership of candidate information if I use an applicant tracking system? And how can I access that data outside of an applicant tracking system?

You, the subscriber, own all candidate data submitted through your applicant tracking system. With reporting and analytics functions, you can pull reports, export the data to CSV files and print reports as often as you want. Also, you can print any resumes or applications that have been submitted online.

Do you have any lingering questions about applicant tracking? Leave a comment below or contact Hyrell today to get answers and learn more.