What Is an Applicant Tracking System? The Key to Efficient Hiring

Hiring today is more complex, competitive, and time-sensitive than ever before. Whether you’re managing five open roles or fifty, relying on spreadsheets, emails, or outdated systems just won’t cut it anymore. That’s where an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) steps in.

At HRLocker, we understand how critical it is to attract, screen, and hire the right people—efficiently and effectively. In this article, we’ll unpack what an ATS is, why it’s essential to your hiring strategy, and how it can save your HR team countless hours (and headaches).

What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

An Applicant Tracking System is a software solution that automates and streamlines the recruitment process. From posting job ads to tracking candidate applications, communicating with applicants, and scheduling interviews—an ATS keeps everything organised in one place.
Think of it as the central nervous system of your hiring process. Instead of juggling CVs in email threads and chasing managers for feedback, you get one clear, collaborative workspace that does the heavy lifting for you.

➡️ Learn more about HRLocker’s ATS here

Why Your Hiring Strategy Needs an ATS

Hiring the right people isn’t just about finding great candidates—it’s about building a repeatable, scalable process that delivers results every time. Here’s why an ATS is a must-have:

1. Save Time with Automation

• We all know recruitment involves a lot of moving parts. An ATS automates:
• Job postings to multiple platforms (like LinkedIn and Indeed)
• CV parsing and filtering
• Candidate status updates
• Interview scheduling and feedback collection

This means fewer admin tasks for your HR team, and more time spent engaging with top candidates.

2. Improve Candidate Experience

• First impressions matter. With an ATS, you can:
• Send prompt, professional responses to every applicant
• Keep candidates in the loop throughout the hiring journey
• Offer seamless application forms (especially on mobile)

In short, you provide the kind of experience you’d want if you were applying.

3. Increase Collaboration Across Teams

Hiring shouldn’t fall solely on HR. With an ATS, your hiring managers, interviewers, and decision-makers all work from the same system—leaving feedback, scoring candidates, and moving quickly through each stage.

No more “Did you see that CV I emailed last week?” confusion.

4. Track and Improve Your Process

An ATS like ours at HRLocker offers rich analytics. You’ll see:

• Where your top candidates come from
• How long roles remain open
• Drop-off rates at each stage

These insights help you continuously refine your hiring process and improve your employer brand.

5. Ensure GDPR Compliance

Candidate data security is non-negotiable. Our ATS is built with GDPR compliance in mind—letting you manage permissions, retention periods, and data deletion policies with ease.

Who Needs an ATS?

You might be thinking, “We’re a small team—do we really need this?” The short answer is: Yes.

Whether you’re a scaling startup, a growing mid-sized business, or a larger organisation with multiple roles to fill, an ATS helps you:

• Stay organised
• Move faster
• Deliver a better candidate experience

Even if you only hire a few people a year, the time saved and professionalism gained is worth it.

Why Choose HRLocker’s ATS?

At HRLocker, we’ve built our Applicant Tracking System to work the way modern HR teams actually work. That means:
Simple setup and intuitive design

• Seamless integration with other HRLocker tools
• Built-in job board sharing
• Candidate communication and feedback tracking
• Flexible workflows that match your hiring style

And because we offer a full suite of HR software—from time tracking to performance management—you can manage your people from hire to retire all in one place.

Final Thoughts: Make Hiring Smarter, Not Harder

Recruitment doesn’t have to be chaotic. With an Applicant Tracking System like HRLocker’s, your hiring becomes smarter, faster, and more human.

If you’re serious about improving how you attract and hire talent, it’s time to make the switch.

Ready to streamline your hiring? Get a free demo of HRLocker’s ATS today