Advanced Personnel Systems Announces the Release of SmartSearch Version 12

Advanced Personnel Systems, Inc. (APS), a leader in talent acquisition systems and recruiting business solutions, announced the release of its latest Version 12 with emphasis on communication tools.

Functionality for relationship management with candidates, hiring managers, and vendor partners has all been enhanced. This includes a new Outlook toolbar plug-in, text-messaging integration with TextHub.com, and expanded Voice Over Internet (VOIP) and mobile access capabilities for PDA and Blackberry users.

Additional functionality to the built-in web portals include ìportal plusî capabilities for Hiring Managers, and more self-configuration options on its HRIS/Accounting Gateway add-on module for time and expense data capture and reporting, and the Vendor Management System portal for pushing jobs to staffing agency partners and managing contingent workers.

The Outlook toolbar is similar to the popular Google toolbar and provides users with a ìpower menuî that allows importing of inbound email content or logging outbound emails into the SmartSearch database with one click. In addition, the new Outlook toolbar includes ìshort cutî access to records by searching for the email address of the sender. The toolbar supports the latest Microsoft DOCX format, and features resume parsing and duplicate checking.

The new integration with TextHub.com allows SmartSearch users to send text messages to clients, hiring managers, contacts, or even text reminders to themselves. There is no additional cost for basic system text alerts and reminders; for a small additional monthly fee, users can subscribe to full TextHub service that would allow unlimited messaging to contacts and candidates in the database.

Several other Candidate and Contact Relationship Management (CRM) tools have been enhanced on Version 12 including VOIP and integration with Skype, and advanced ìcall listî functionality. PDA and Blackberry users on the Mobile Access module have added capability, and mobile access is now available on the Hiring Manager portal-plus.

Updates to the HRIS/Accounting Gateway module that feeds transactions, time and expense data to the clientís payroll system include more flexibility and self-customization of rate rules and event triggers on the web portal ìself-serviceî options for employees entering date and hiring managers for approval routing.

Version 12 improvements to the SmartSearch Vendor Management System (VMS) make it easier for staffing agency clients to deliver managed services, and for corporate employers to manage contingent labor. The VMS add-on module enables SmartSearch to serve as a central repository for all information relating to staffing activity, and itís fully integrated and branded to the clientís corporate website, with web portals that allow hiring managers to enter jobs for approval routing, which can be subsequently distributed to a network of preferred vendors ñ and the entire process is tracked and managed within SmartSearch. The system also tracks metrics from the vendors such as number of candidates submitted against jobs, time-to-fill, and government reporting requirements.

ìOur clients drive the development of our product. The Version 12 upgrades are a reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement based on the changing requirements of our users, and our ability to integrate new technology,î said Doug Coull, CEO of APS. ìWeíre one of the few systems that works on both PC and MAC platforms, and that can deliver a truly scalable, global system with a user interface that comes in three languages and supports international resume/CV formats. And not many solutions can offer different database modes with enough flexibility to serve corporate employers, staffing agencies and consulting firms alike. So we occupy a unique position in the marketplace.î

Advanced Personnel Systems has been developing and deploying quality talent management and recruiting solutions since 1986. Having pioneered the field of resume-scanning-based recruiting solutions, APS remains a leader in web-based technology and innovative approaches to recruitment data management. Its flagship product, SmartSearch, is now in its twelfth release and serves more than 6,000 users worldwide. Learn more about SmartSearch by visiting www.smartsearchonline.com