End to End Staffing Software, Could It Be Right For You?

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What is staffing software? Staffing software is comprised of CRM/ATS platforms or employment business related software solutions and tools packaged together that allows you to store and interact with company, customer and human capital data. Most ATS/CRM software options on the market can be grouped into three major categories based on their general functionality. Front Office, Front and Middle Office, and Front and Back Office (AKA: End to End) solutions. 

I'm personally a big fan of staffing software that offers both front and back office in the same platform.  These solutions ensure your data, integrations and processes live in once place, which reduces dual entry, ensures processes are followed, provides more robust reporting, and so much more!  If you're looking for a front and back office staffing software solution, you'll want to review Akken Cloud, Aquore/Zenople, Avionte, Coats, Bullhorn, and Tempworks.  Each platform has its benefits for each staffing vertical, and we would be happy to help you understand what options may be best for your staffing firm.  

Front Office software will typically offer applicant tracking, onboarding, customer order and assignment management as well as reports and/or dashboards related to each feature or user’s data. Front Office platforms typically have home grown or integrated/embedded tools and functionality to streamline the talent onboarding and customer order/assignment management process. Embedded or integrated tools being leveraged (Outlook, LinkedIn, etc.) will import data directly into the software. Some features and functionality being promoted may only provide that feature you have an account, related email address or contract for the integrated feature (example: email parsing only works with Gmail or Outlook). Integrated service features or data from these partners will typically available via the user interface so you don’t have to leave their software in order to continue moving your onboarding or workflows along. Features, functionality and built-in tools will vary widely from each provider. Costs for leveraging integration features or added tools may come with a cost. If you wish to work with a service provider that is not integrated, verify your integration partner and front office platform has an API. Without an API, you will need to leverage an import or export and that process may be manual. 

Front office only offerings are typically leveraged by smaller companies. However, we’re increasingly see technology forward firms crafting their own solution partners to harness specific functionality being offered from each software and integration platforms, or those who want more flexibility to work with a wider range of software solutions and not be restricted by “preferred partners” or limited API/data export/import functionality.

Some CRM/ATS platforms offer sales pipeline tools as part of the front office functionality. If sales tracking and pipelining is not included, you’ll need to determine if your current solution will integrate with this front office provider or if you need to source and pay for a new sales related tool. If you'll be leveraging an external sales tracking software, ensure your front office software can accept an import of customer and contact data so your team doesn't need to double enter all that information into two systems. 

Every payroll, your team will need to export the customer, order, employee and assignment data to a payroll engine platform or time entry software to process payroll, calculate taxes, track hours for benefits, adherence to local/state/federal laws, and produce invoices. Most front office platforms have several preferred partners that have already built a standard export file or interface out of their platform and into the payroll software. If you choose not to use your FO software's preferred payroll provider, you may end up paying your selected payroll platform to build a custom bridge, pay one of the providers to customize the exported data file format or build a custom import process. If your recruiters or "front office" staff facilitate collecting and entering worked hours, they will need to train on and have a paid license for both the Front Office software and payroll software platforms, thus driving up your costs. 

Export of payroll data may be a one-way sync, meaning the data is only pushed out of the ATS/CRM, and no payroll data is ever imported back into your ATS/CRM. One way sync prevents recruiters' ability to see data and hours related to payroll, reporting around customer and business metrics will not include all the data points typically needed to make accurate business decisions.

Front and Middle Office software will include the front office functionality outlined above with the added benefit of your users being able to key hours and potentially import hours (timeclock, site submitted time, etc.)  into the platform. They may or may not require you to key in hours in their system, check with your provider on requirements. Middle office provides the added benefit of your staff being able to key in hours without needing a license or knowledge of another platform. 

Front and Back Office software will include a full suite of built-in features, integrations, and 3rd party solutions for managing the entire staffing business from sales, onboarding, employee engagement, payroll and business taxes, reporting, employee portals, customer portals, data sharing and so much more all in one tool without having to leave their platform in most cases. There are only a handful of platforms that have both front and back office, and each have certain staffing verticals they excel with. 

What is the best recruiting software?  That totally depends on your needs, business and goals!  Reach out to our team to set up a call and we'll guide you through the process of sourcing a new staffing technology for your business!