Need for Efficiency Drives Talent Acquisition Technology Decisions

The need to improve efficiency drives the decision-making of many employers as they consider which new technologies to incorporate into their talent acquisition efforts.

A study of TA trends by the HCM research firm Aptitude Research – “Top TA Tech Trends in 2022” – identified a number of concerns on the part of technology customers, including support for DEI, AI matching of candidates to jobs, expanded internal mobility features, programmatic job advertising and greater candidate communication features.

Aptitude Research founder and Chief Analyst Madeline Laurano said 72% of companies plan to invest in new technology during 2022. As a result, talent acquisition leaders are under pressure to adopt the latest innovations in a short amount of time.

“Traditional providers are reinventing themselves, startups are emerging overnight and new categories are being created,” Laurano said. “Talent acquisition buyers have more opportunities, but they also face new pressures when considering remote work, candidate communication and employer brand.”

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The study found companies want their talent acquisition systems to be more than a workflow or a traditional ATS. They’re looking for systems that incorporate features for recruitment marketing, onboarding and internal mobility. “The modern talent acquisition system is an end-to-end platform that supports attracting, recruiting and hiring talent,” the study said.

On AI matching, TA providers have emphasized AI matching over the past year, while many have also invested in both candidate-centric and employer-centric matching.

Companies are looking closely at internal mobility as it relates to talent acquisition. While most providers offer basic capabilities such as dedicated career sites and personalized communication for internal hires, only a few providers go deeper with features such as skills frameworks, succession planning and career development.

In addition, employers want their TA stack to account for integration, data management and automation. “Companies that achieve the most success with their talent acquisition systems are paying close attention to this layer of technology,” the study said.

Of the companies using programmatic job advertising, 90% are either continuing to invest or plan to increase their investment this year. Unlike traditional job advertising, which can be slow and time-consuming, a programmatic approach solves immediate needs by offering greater efficiency.

“Companies state that the key driver for technology decisions is reducing time-to-fill and improving overall efficiency,” the study said. “By streamlining advertising and targeting the right candidates, the process of attracting and recruiting talent improves significantly.”

Aptitude also found that 42% of companies are either investing or planning to invest in conversational AI during 2022. “Candidate communication is a critical part of improving the candidate experience, especially in a remote world,” the study said.

By Mark Feffer

Mark Feffer is executive editor of RecruitingDaily and the HCM Technology Report. He’s written for TechTarget, HR Magazine, SHRM, Dice Insights, TLNT.com and TalentCulture, as well as Dow Jones, Bloomberg and Staffing Industry Analysts. He likes schnauzers, sailing and Kentucky-distilled beverages.