What is the Difference Between ATS and CRM?

An applicant tracking system is a software that focuses on easing the hiring process. Generally, the work starts when the software receives the resume of the candidate. There is no major play of ATS before the applicant applies and sends their resume to the company. 

However, the recruitment CRM software plays a big role before the company receives any resumes. It works on the company receiving resumes from good candidates. To understand this further, we will have to understand the concepts of ATS and CRM separately. 

What is an Applicant Tracking System?

An applicant tracking system is software that focuses on easing the hiring process of the candidates for the company. It tracks the candidate after they have applied for the post in the company. It sorts the applications, ranks the resumes based on their compatibility with the post and rejects the under-qualified resumes. 

The applicant tracking system builds a model profile based on the information fed by the recruiter. Unlike recruitment CRM, the ATS works on the evaluation of the resume based on the model profile created by it. It helps the recruiter manage the overall process of hiring. From sorting resumes to the onboarding process of the candidate. 

What is Candidate Relationship Management?

Candidate relationship management or CRM is software that manages the communication, interaction and engagement between the recruiters and potential candidates of the company. The main task of this software is to provide the company with a good and quality candidate database. CRM recruitment pays its full attention to building a great database of candidates.

A candidate relationship management also works in further communication with the candidate. This includes communication with them related to interviews, tracking the progress of candidate selection and even emailing them. It helps the candidate retain their interest in the company and pushes them to keep on trying to strive to get a post in the company. 

Similarities Between ATS and CRM 

It is impossible to say that both the software are completely different. Following are the points that show their similarities- 

• Both recruitment CRM and ATS manage the work related to resumes, which saves the recruiters valuable time. 
• Both conduct various works for the recruiter related to the hiring process. 
• The recruiter can search for a resume in both the software by their names. 
• Both the software allow the recruiter to see the status of the candidate’s hiring process 
• The recruiter can share notes with their other teammates with the help of both software.
• Both merge the resumes of the same candidate into one, and if the software receives two same resumes, it simply rejects one. 
• Both provide analytical and detailed reports on the hiring strategy of the company. 

Difference Between ATS and CRM 

With the above points, one might put the ATS CRM under the same umbrella. We cannot deny that some features of both the software are very similar to each other. But the following points make them differ from each other: 

• The main aim of the applicant tracking system is to ease the overall hiring process for the company. Whereas CRM aims to maintain the candidate relationship and database. 
• In ATS, the active candidate database is approached, whereas in CRM, both the active as well as passive candidates are approached if they possess relevant skills on resumes. 
• Many times, ATS faces issues while integrating with various other software and applications. On the other hand, CRM integrates with other software quickly. Rarely any integration issue is raised when it comes to recruit CRM. 
• CRM has client management capability. It can handle client databases as well as the business side efficiently. Whereas an ATS only focuses on the hiring process. It does not have client management skills. 
• ATS mainly focuses on clerical work when it comes to the hiring process. CRM, on the other hand, aims for effective candidate engagement and interaction. 

What Should You Choose for Your Business? 

The biggest question that any recruiter faces is choosing the candidates they should hire. For that, should they choose CRM or ATS? Well, it depends: 

Choose CRM for the following reasons:

CRM Stores Both Candidate and Client Data

The main aim of a recruitment CRM is not only to store and create a candidate pool for the recruiter. It aims at seamless and effective communication in all walks of the business. Hence, it not only stores candidate data but also client data, development, and interactions. 

Focuses on Acquiring Talented Candidates 

CRM focuses on managing relationships between the candidates who are already in the pipeline or streamlining the company. We are talking about the talented and potential candidates who did not get selected but have the potential. The recruitment CRM maintains their engagement so these gems are not lost. 

Convenient Emailing System

Unlike ATS, the CRM can automatically log in to the email and calendar list and mark the important dates as needed. The recruiter may fall short of time while continuing conversations with the candidates. CRM sends emails to the candidates for further checkups and communication. It also sends reminders to candidates regarding interviews and similar. In this way, the recruiter needs not to pay attention to every single conversation. 

Choose ATS for the following reasons:

Eases Every Step of Hiring 

Unlike recruitment CRM, ATS participates in every step of the hiring. This helps in making all the steps, from posting the vacancy to onboarding the candidate, easy and speedy. 

Job Profile 

The applicant tracking system builds its model job profile based on the information fed by the recruiter. It needs no help from the recruiter to make this model profile. Also, it creates appropriate posts for vacancies that will be posted on various sites over the internet. This post is apt and up to the mark, which avoids unnecessary confusion.

Track the Candidate 

Unlike in recruitment CRM, the recruiter can track every moment of the candidate related to the vacancy. The recruiter can even observe if some candidate is dropping off from the process with the reasons behind it with an applicant tracking system. 

Stores Candidate Resumes

The ATS can store the information of the candidate even if they do not get selected. This is useful for the future reference of the company. It also allows the candidates to give feedback to the company and store this feedback. The company can work on this feedback from the candidate if needed. 

Interview and Communication 

Like recruitment CRM, the ATS can also send emails and reminders to the candidates regarding the interviews and further process. The only difference between these two is CRM focuses on overall engagement, whereas the applicant tracking system communicates when needed, before or after the interviews only. 

Why Choose Both of Them? 

Rather than choosing one, why not integrate both and choose it? We will give you reasons which will convince you to choose both of them-

• Why choose between a speedy hiring process and good candidate engagement when you can choose both? With recruitment CRM, the recruiter can manage the communication and relationship of the candidates, whereas, with the help of ATS, they can ease the overall process. So, it is better to use both by integrating them with each other. 
• Recruiters can utilise highly functional software and a one-stop solution to their hiring process if they combine both these software. An integrated CRM and ATS will allow the recruiter to streamline the hiring process while ensuring the whole process is kept organised from the start to the end. This will lead to reduced time on resume screening, no duplicate data entry, quick responses to the candidates and an improved hiring process. 
• Both the recruitment CRM and ATS form a database of candidates. Integrating it will help in accessing the data in one place together. The recruiter will not have to jump[ from one software to another to verify the candidate and check the database. 
• With the good sides of both the ATS and CRM, the best candidates will be chosen as the recruiter will have more information on them from both software. This will lead the recruiter to the cream of the crop among the candidates. 

Final Thoughts 

In this world of fast tech, it is always better to be safe than sorry. With the help of integrated ATS and recruitment CRM, the recruiter can be saved from duplicate candidates. Also, this integration will help the recruiter provide a fabulous candidate experience. This will help in the long-term relationship between the company and the candidate. The recruiter should always remember that goodwill is also built by the words of the candidates it interviews. So providing a good engaging experience to them will surely help elevate the reputation of the company. It is not at all difficult to confuse the ATS with recruitment CRM and vice versa. With the help of this blog, you can easily differentiate between these two.

We, at Pitch N Hire, provide you with the goodness of both worlds, that is, the ATS as well as CRM. We will provide you with hassle-free talent acquisition and an elevated recruitment process. Let us help you redefine your hiring experience. So, book a free demo today for one of the best experiences in ATS and recruitment CRM.