What should a recruitment agency automate first?
Start where recruiters lose the most hours. For most agencies, that's scheduling and data entry.
- Where do we start?
- What gives the fastest return?
- Temp or perm first?
Measure a week of recruiter time. Most perm agencies start with interview scheduling and reminders, then automatic ATS logging of email and calls, then candidate re-engagement campaigns. Temp desks usually start with shift offers by text and timesheet approval. Do one area at a time and measure hours freed and placements.
Usual order
| Desk | First | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent | Scheduling and reminders | ATS logging, re-engagement |
| Contract | End-date alerts | Timesheets |
| Temp | Shift offers by text | Timesheet approval |
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We measure, pick one area and automate inside your ATS.
- Everything at once.
- No time baseline.
- New ATS first.
- Recruiters not involved.
- One area at a time.
- Before and after.
- Existing ATS first.
- Recruiters involved.
What recruiters and regulators say
Here is what recruiters say.
Accountability for AI in automations.
Read the principles →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll measure and pick the first project.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
How long does a first project take?
Scope it first.
Do small agencies benefit?
Yes, often the most per recruiter.
Is AI needed?
Not always. Many wins are simple automation.