After months of research and building a business case, you have now appointed your chosen ATS supplier and it’s time to implement the system. But what does this process entail? We explore three of the most common customer fears ahead of our implementations and the truth behind them. (Spoiler alert: There’s no reason to worry.)

Myth No. 1: Despite sign-off on the system, it’s still going to be very hard to get buy-in across my whole organisation.

The truth: No supplier can weave a magic spell over hiring managers who harbour reservations about an ATS, but they should support you to develop a process to bring these colleagues round. One of our favoured solutions is to roll out the system in phases; beginning with a pilot group of managers who can provide feedback and produce their own success metrics, user guides and case studies to ‘win over’ other recruiters within the business. The system can be rolled out stage by stage until eventually everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.

Ask your supplier: Can they accommodate a phased roll-out across your organisation? Make sure they are confident in putting together a schedule and can ensure consistent and quality training.

Myth No. 2: I’m afraid the implementation will cause huge disruption to my working days.

The truth: Cloud-based solutions such as WR-Fusion do not require any on-premise installation, so most systems can be configured remotely. However, your team’s involvement will still form an essential part of the implementation process. Any reputable supplier should manage this carefully to minimise disruption. We recommend to customers that, over a typical three month implementation, they should need to set aside five days at most, including time for a kick-off meeting, a training session and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) – plus a few phone calls in in between. Your supplier should plan this well in advance and around your existing priorities, to ensure it’s as smooth a process as possible.

Ask your supplier: How has your ATS supplier prepared for your implementation? Have they explained your involvement and time commitments upfront?

Myth No. 3: Once the implementation begins, I won’t be able to make any changes.

The truth: An Applicant Tracking System needs to be agile in order to support its users over a long period of time, and your supplier also needs to be open to change. The implementation should be underpinned by a comprehensive plan but it must also be flexible, as you and your team may realise you need certain functionality tweaked throughout the process. You should be able to discuss any requests with your supplier. Your updates may not always be possible during the implementation, but a good supplier will work with you to find an alternative solution.
Ask your supplier: How will they respond to un-anticipated requests? Do they offer an accommodating and proactive attitude?

We can’t tell you what every implementation from each supplier out there is like, but the above demonstrates how we believe every implementation should be for our customers – straightforward and stress-free. Is your ATS supplier making this a reality for you?

Established in 1997, Webrecruit partner Hireserve creates leading recruitment technology for clients across the world, from multi-national businesses and not-for-profit organisations to SMEs.