Flexibility in SAAS

Flexibility as SAAS supplier remains an interesting and disruptive topic. Even though PeopleXS has set a new standard since the year 2000 in approaching software development for an Applicant Tracking System, it seems that different parties are finally trying to catch on.

What does flexibility mean?

Typically all suppliers say they are very flexible in their system. They can change things such as tab labels, workflows, reports, etc. But that is just it. They can change it, but "they" have to do it! Real system flexibility however means that admdinistrating users of an application can change these items themselves. And I am not talking about changing a label on a field or tab or changing the data selection for input on a standard report.

The kind of flexibility within a SAAS model that I am talking about (or that PeopleXS is enabling) includes creating your own new custom fields that:

• you can immediately use in the application;


• you can immediately use in reports;


• you can use in the report wizard when you are creating your own reports;


• you can use and immediately display on an application form on the website;


• you can use as a field on the vacancy text dislay on your vacancy portal;


• and that you can use within your search engine.

That is the kind of flexibility that we are talking about at PeopleXS. Customizable by your own administrator within our normal user interface.

Why would I want to have this flexibility?

The foremost reason is that you don't need a PeopleXS expert, you don't need development and you don't have to spend money to get it done.

Secondly Software as a Service (SAAS) is per definition suitable for this kind of functionality. Isn't this what the internet is all about? Making things easier for all involved! If we would not create these kinds of benefits within SAAS we might as well have stayed with the client-server model that we were all used to.

As a third reason we can see that technology and organizations are constantly changing and so, even though you may standardize your work processes and candidate and vacancy handling, you should have the same options to change your ATS along just as quickly and easily. Again, without the use of expensive expertise.

Ofcourse, when you don't want to be bothered with system settings you should have the option to have your supplier do it, but it should be an option, not something you are forced to do as otherwise your investment becomes worthless.

PeopleXS is still market leader in customization within one standard product. We have been doing this since day one, and even though, others are trying to catch up. It is not done this intensely to serve the end-user and value the people that are using the tool.

This was recently confirmed by Jacco Valkenburg, Dutch Recruiter of the year 2009 and author of the book "Recruitment via Linkedin". Jacco is currently writing his new book "Recruitment Systems and Technology" where he is comparing the different Recruitment Applications on the market. After a meeting with Jacco as one of the last ATS suppliers on his list he stated about PeopleXS "I am very impressed with the flexibility of the system setup and have not seen it in this intensity before"