CRM Vs. ATS: Why Are Both So Important For Companies?
In a Nutshell
As a CRM consultant, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients without idea of an ATS or the best ones. That’s why I prepared this list with some of the best CRM with ATS features I worked with through the years.
Top 5 CRM and ATS Shortlist
- RecruitCRM – Best for Project Management
- Bullhorn – Best for Automation
- Tracker – Best for Marketing
- Recruiterflow – Best for Communication Features
- Manatal – Best for Pricing
The Differences Between CRM And ATS Systems
Before heading to the best programs, you must first understand what CRM and ATS systems are and the main differences between both.
What is CRM?
CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, refers to all the programs, techniques, and actions a company takes to attract new potential clients and improve their relations with them.
CRM software usually features the option to record the details of customers to help companies make better marketing decisions and communication to improve their income.
What is ATS?
An ATS or Applicant Tracking System is a software the HR department uses to track and recruit new employees. They can also be used to keep data of them like resumes or cover letters.
Differences In Key Features
Both CRM and ATS systems are used to deal with people. Yet they are distinctly different from each other.
As I mentioned, a CRM is designed to deal with clients, so the programs will mostly focus on features like managing customer data, their tastes, past projects, how much they have spent, etc. Some even include project management to help achieve the goals of the organization.
They also tend to include various other features related to marketing and communication to help companies expand their reach and attract new potential clients.
On the other hand, an ATS is specifically designed to target possible employees, so it will focus more on managing employers’ data, curriculum, and history to sort them and find suitable candidates for the company.
The company teams can also use the ATS system to share information and give feedback about the candidates, allowing them to make better decisions regarding accepting or rejecting a possible employee.
Simply put, CRM focuses on attracting clients, and ATS attracts employees, which are both necessary for any company that wants to succeed.
Integrating CRM or ATS into your Business: Ideal Use Cases
If you’re still wondering how to integrate a CRM or ATS, let me put some examples for you. Suppose that you start a construction company. The first thing you need is clients, so you use the CRM to attract and seek people interested in a contractor’s work.
You succeed and find a client who pays well for an important job. But there’s a catch: you need someone with knowledge of electric or plumbing work, and that’s where the ATS comes in.
Sure, you can post ads looking for workers, but the ATS streamlines this process, helping you find exactly the people with specific talents you need instead of going through hundreds of interviews and resumes.
Now, I know this example doesn’t apply to every market, but I’m sure you must now have an idea of how to use these programs. With the CRM, you search for clients; with the ATS, you search for employees who can satisfy their needs and pull off your company’s potential.
5 CRM Solutions That Offer Both CRM And ATS Features
Why I Like It
RecruitCRM has been on the market since 2017, offering CRM and ATS services to hundreds of companies. I liked this app thanks to its workflow feature that allows one to see how the company works in real-time and change or optimize it according to its needs.
If you want to know your most important clients, you can also use the revenue pipeline of RecruitCRM; this will allow you to see past and active projects and the income each one generates.
Also, I can’t forget to mention the pricing; RecruitCRM has three plans, including CRM and ATS. The Pro subscription plan costs $50 monthly, which is a good price considering it includes email templates and an excellent Zapier integration tool.
Most Important ATS Features
As its name implies, RecruitCRM has various ATS features that will allow you to search for candidates, use keywords to scan through their resumes, and search for specific traits.
You can also program emails informing candidates of the upcoming interviews and their results, automating the entire recruiting process.
Pros
- The pricing is quite decent for middle companies.
- You can integrate various apps.
- Allows the company to automatize the recruiting process.
Cons
- Doesn’t have any major marketing features.
Why I Like It
Bullhorn has made it among the most used CRM apps in the healthcare industry thanks to its great ATS features.
One of the aspects I most liked about this platform is its automation; thanks to its greatly advanced AI, you can easily skip steps through the recruiting process and get only the most qualified professionals for your company.
The platform also offers email integration, so you can always keep in touch with any promising candidate and give them the attention they need during the interview process.
Most Important ATS Features
Besides the usual features to track employees, Bullhorn also puts a lot of effort into what happens next, offering the new workers clear workflows and information so they can get up to speed and minimize the adjusting period.
Pros
- Has a lot of automation features.
- It is easy to use.
- It can be used to train new employees.
Cons
- Has few options for project management.
Why I Like It
You’re going to love Tracker and everything it has to offer. It doesn’t matter which plan you choose; all of them come equipped with some of the best CRM and ATS integrations in the market, allowing you to set up Job Boards and track new employees with just a few clicks.
You can also create campaign emails using the company’s custom creator and send them to hundreds of possible leads. Or, why not start calling them with the Telesales Campaigns feature, which allows you to save various lists of numbers and assign them to your teams?
Another thing I would like to mention is its features related to analytics. With Tracker, you can keep an eye on any campaign and take action immediately to ensure its success or wrap it up immediately.
Most Important ATS Features
Besides analysis, Tracker also has a lot of commodities to make the recruitment process easier. For example, you can share custom web forms with clients and candidates through secure links or emails so they can view the information and (if needed) sign it.
The platform also has Jobs+ integrations that can help you optimize your offers, making them more attractive to professionals or alert them when you get new open spots.
Finally, I want to talk about Tracker shift feature, which, as its name implies, consists of creating and organizing shifts for your candidates and managing them through the testing process. And you know what’s the best part? Employees can also use it while using the app!
Pros
- Has various affordable plans with ATS and CRM.
- You can use a vast list of features to recruit customers.
- It can be useful for marketing.
Cons
- It can be difficult to use for those without experience with ATS.
Why I Like It
Launched in 2017, Recruiterflow has become an excellent platform for many companies like Worth Search or Woya Digital, thanks to its accessibility.
With just a few clicks, you can watch and move all your potential candidates, making the work extremely easy, even for people without experience with this kind of software.
Suppose you’re having a hard time posting job offers. In that case, you can also use the integrations available in Recruiterflow and post them through dozens of websites like Jooble or LinkedIn, helping you reach even more promising employees.
All the subscription plans of this app include ATS and CRM features. That said, the pricing can be a bit high, with the most basic plan costing $99 a month, but it is a great choice if you have the money.
Most Important ATS Features
Using Recruiterflow, you get access to a lot of features. For example, you can send hundreds of emails and texts to both customers and candidates to keep in touch with them and get click-to-call buttons to give them a heads-up about the projects or the recruitment process.
If that’s not enough communication for you. In that case, the app also allows candidates to be tagged on the Slack channels and communicate with the whole team by just using @mention so you can make your announcement without any issues.
Finally, I want to mention the scorecards. Recruiterflows allows you to write down data of each candidate on a digital card and score them based on the abilities you need, giving you a better idea of who will be better for your company.
Pros
- Excellent communication features.
- It can help you post job offers on popular websites like LinkedIn.
- You can use it to score candidates.
Cons
- The subscription might be a bit expensive for small or starting companies.
Why I Like It
Not everyone can afford $50 a month for a recruitment app. I understand that, and that is why I bring you Manatal, a CRM and ATS program that offers many solutions at a modest price of $15 per month.
One of the most interesting aspects of this app is, without a doubt, its integrations. You can easily add tools for dozens of job board websites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and, of course, SleekJob, allowing you to reach hundreds or even thousands of candidates with just one offer.
If that wasn’t enough, the app also offers add-ons for emails and calendar services like Google Calendar or Microsoft Teams, helping you keep track of upcoming interviews.
Besides the integrations, I also loved the website’s many templates for job descriptions and emails. They even have a very useful glossary and list of interview questions, I’m sure more than one starting company will appreciate.
Most Important ATS Features
Manatal interface allows you to easily see and drag the candidates around different sections, making the job faster for anyone in charge of HR.
The app can also send automated emails or notifications to the candidates as they progress through the hiring process. You can configure and change the content of these emails as much as you like, so I recommend trying it.
Finally, just like Recruiterflow, Manatal also has a scorecard that you can use to record all their skills for future interviews.
Pros
- Perfect for small companies.
- Lots of information is available for HR departments with little experience.
- Hundreds of integrations are available.
Cons
- The app might seem insufficient to bigger companies with more experience.
Explore our other blogs as well! Our CRM experts publish helpful content daily, covering a wide range of topics, from how-to guides to explanations on the differences between CRM and ERP.