Most companies today are using some type of applicant tracking technology to make the recruiting process easier. As with most technologies, however, companies have some things they really like about ATS and others that they wish would be better.

A survey from Batrus Hollwegg International unveiled exactly what it is that companies like and what they wish would be different. The answers aren’t all that surprising, with ease of use and general intuitiveness at the top of the list for most involved.

The survey asked HR leaders in the hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare industries what they think are the best parts of ATS on the market and what features should be added. Respondents were asked to evaluate current and potential features from the viewpoint of candidates, recruiters, and administrators.

The results are as follows:

• For candidates, the most important features are the ability to upload a resume and have that information automatically copy to an application, as well as a fun and interactive application process. Lower on the list were having a mobile version of the ATS, the ability to add or edit information, and a paperless onboarding process.
• The most important options for recruiters are a dynamic search feature to easily find candidates for a specific position and integration with email to make scheduling interviews easier. A paperless onboarding process, the ability to re-profile candidates, and a mobile optimized ATS were viewed as less important.
• When it comes to administrators, the most important features are the ability to customize analytics reports and the option to easily integrate with job boards and aggregators. Lower on the list were the ability to track drop-off rates and send reminders, the ability to manage email content, and access to change user access levels.

Speaking of analytics, which have become important in so many aspects of recruiting these days, respondents said that turnover and sourcing reports are most useful, followed by assessment results, EEOC reports, and candidate drop-off reports.

So what can ATS providers do to improve their products? Some of the biggest changes respondents are looking for include: making it easier for recruiters and administrators to navigate the system, making the product more intuitive overall, and making it less time consuming to find information about potential candidates.

With constantly improving technology making it easier for companies to offer better ATS technology on a regular basis, it won’t be surprising if many of the features important to candidates, recruiters, and administrators get improved upon in the near future.

About the author: Writer and content creator specializing in everything from recruiting and applicant tracking to social media and technology.