Should Recruitment Agencies Invest in New Software
Even though technology has advanced significantly, we still hear about new clients having a bad experience with recruitment software providers. It’s been said that 39% of recruitment agencies would invest in new technology, and 38% would prioritise better management tools, if they could afford it.
One of the most important stages of the sales process is maximising the value of recruitment software demonstrations. These demonstrations provide a live, interactive opportunity for an agency to assess whether a recruitment CRM aligns with its unique business needs and offers the functionality essential for finding qualified candidates.
Taking the time to thoroughly evaluate the right software for you during this phase ensures that your investment supports the long-term goals of the business.
Top 5 Steps
This 5-step guide aims to provide you with the knowledge of how to prepare before buying recruiting software, and what to expect during the software demo process. This will maximise the value of the demo and make sure ensure that you’re confident when it comes to making a buying the best recruiting software for your businesses needs.
Step 1 - Create A Steering Committee
The first step is to form a steering committee comprising ‘subject matter experts’ from each department or business function of your agency. These experts bring valuable insights to the discussion and contribute detailed input on the essential functionalities required for the recruiting process.
The steering committee plays an important role in gathering and consolidating all business, operational, and user requirements. Making sure you have an understanding of your needs before exploring the recruitment agency software market.
This step is essential, as identifying the best recruitment software solution requires clarity on your specific priorities and goals for the recruitment process and candidate management.
The committee will also be responsible for creating a shortlist of suitable software solutions and partners, participating in product demos, and providing valuable feedback to guide your business through the decision-making process.
Step 2 - Shortlist Recruitment Software Providers
By clearly identifying your specific business needs and the functionality required for your candidate sourcing and candidate engagement, the steering committee can effectively shortlist software providers whose solutions align with your objectives and performance management.
As you begin engaging with potential providers, it’s important not only to evaluate the recruitment software’s features but also to assess how well the provider can collaborate with you as a trusted partner.
Potential Software providers should:
- Gather detailed insights into your business processes, specific industry sector, and the factors driving your agencies search for a new software solution.
- Offer a clear and comprehensive overview of the recruitment software’s functionality, providing honest advice on whether it aligns with your business needs and assists with customer support teams.
- Present transparent pricing, covering software configuration, implementation, data migration, training, and any recurring annual costs for licenses or software upgrades on one platform.
If the provider isn’t forthcoming with any of the above information, you may want to question whether this is the provider for your business.
Step 3 - Schedule The Software Demo
Before scheduling the first demo, your steering committee should clearly communicate your essential and non-essential functional requirements to each software provider. This ensures that the providers can tailor their demos to align with your specific business needs and priorities for finding top talent on multiple job boards.
Step 4 - Request More Demos
Recruitment software demos typically last around 45 minutes. If you haven’t covered all the functionality needed to make an informed decision, don’t hesitate to schedule additional demos. Most reputable software providers are more than willing to accommodate as many demos as necessary to support your decision-making process.
For each demo, it’s highly beneficial to involve the relevant subject matter experts who will be using the software daily, ensuring their insights and feedback are part of the evaluation, such as applicant tracking systems, recruitment tools and managing compliance.
NB: Note down the important features during the demos (regardless of whether they seem small or obvious) and never assume all software functionality works the same way.
Step 5 - Evaluate
Once you’ve gathered all the necessary information to thoroughly compare the pros and cons of each software solution and provider, you’re ready to assess and evaluate your options for your next recruitment tool.
To help make the decision:
- Request a detailed quote from each recruitment software provider, outlining both initial and recurring investment costs.
- Shortlist recruitment software providers based on a combination of cost, functionality, and their approach to service and partnership.
- Ask for references or client testimonials from each provider (typically available on their website) to gain insight into their track record.
A software demo is only one step within the buying process. Download our free step-by-step recruitment software buying guide and make the right choice for your recruitment agency and ensure finding top talent and background checks.
