Recruitment software is very much an established part of everyday working practice in the recruitment consultancy industry, and we are now seeing this experience being outsourced by HR operations seeking to embrace the benefits of technology in order to streamline its own corporate selection and hiring function. AIM listed Charteris plc, who provide IT consultancy specialising in business change through the strategic application of technology, is a case study example.
One of the hardest tasks for a recruiter today is to find suitable talent, and with HR departments stretched to the seams and needing the skills to embrace the advances in IT, the trend to outsource operations to a specialist third party who has the expertise to manage a recruitment departmentís technological transition has gathered pace. Charteris plc chose to outsource its recruitment function to Crimson Ltd, and their first remit was to research and recommend suitable recruitment software solutions. Using their experience as specialist IT recruitment consultants, and being familiar with the full range of software vendors and packages in the marketplace, they recommended eployís web-based solution.
ìUnderstandably many HR operations are cautious in their adoption of new technology,î said Clive Harper, Human Resource Manager, Charteris plc. ìThrough our own research, we found that many software solutions were complex and required a high level of technical knowledge to understand and use. Others were completely inflexible and could not be adapted to our specific needs. By employing Crimsonís expertise, we were able to evaluate each of the systems available, and conclude that eploy was the best system to meet our needs by offering ease of use with great functionality. Importantly, it was also backed up with a professional service and excellent training on a near one to one basis.î
The deployment of eploy software has been central to Charterisí recruitment strategy, by delivering a solution based on operational expenditure with no capital outlay or long term contractual obligations. Due to the service being built on a web based portable system, there is no reliance on in-house server hardware or technical support. Charteris has been able to plan and deploy a flexible and dynamic solution that meets the immediate needs of the business and its future expectations.
The transition was made easier by the level of support Charteris was given through the provision of a permanent onsite Crimson staff member, who has taken on the day-to-day management of eployís system. A centralised database has been created for all CVís and contact history including salary expectations, contract rates and interview performance, to allow the business to find, engage and recruit the right calibre of staff as efficiently and quickly as possible. eploy has also tailored the front end application to Charterisís branding to create a seamless visual connection to its target audience, providing Charteris with a competitive marketing advantage in a fast moving environment.
ìeployís web based service has also delivered much more than organisational improvements. As Charteris is a service-oriented business, line managers involved in the recruitment process may often be out of the office on client visits, or working remotely from home or at other office locations; as a web based service, the eploy system allows authorised users to access information from any location, further promoting mobility and the coordination of activities. Line managers can retrieve telephone numbers, email addresses and candidatesí CVís via their office or home computers, or mobile handsets that have an internet connection such as a Blackberry or IPhone. This has improved communication between staff and candidates, and means we can be instantly responsive,î explains Sarah Flynn, HR Officer.
Crimsonís deployment of eploy is now an integral part of Charterisís recruitment strategy designed to refocus HR resource into other areas of the business. The customer now has a proactive, strategic search and selection facility that is common across all business units and provides a universal experience for applicants looking to join the company.
eploy Crimson partnership delivers IT recruitment strategy for Charteris plc
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