The Hidden Payroll of an ATS Switch
When organizations compare ATS platforms, they compare price tags. When they finally run the project, they discover a second budget nobody approved: the one paid
Alex Marcus
April 22, 2026
Practical ideas, real-world stories, and smart strategies for HR tech success.
When organizations compare ATS platforms, they compare price tags. When they finally run the project, they discover a second budget nobody approved: the one paid
Most conversations about ATS value start in the wrong place. They start with features. What does the new platform have that yours doesn’t. What’s the
Every few years, someone in the room decides it’s time to look at other ATS platforms. Maybe the contract is coming up. Maybe there’s been
Your complete resource guide for ATS maturity. Find detailed articles on all 8 dimensions: ownership, governance, workflows, candidate experience, data quality, reporting, automation, and integrations.
Your candidate experience is your recruiting reputation. Learn how to design processes that treat candidates with respect while using data to continuously improve at every maturity stage.
Candidate ghosting is surging in U.S. healthcare, with 44% admitting to ghosting an employer. Slow processes, poor communication, and better offers drive the trend—even among clinicians and physicians. To compete, employers must streamline hiring and prioritize a respectful, responsive candidate experience. Ghosting isn’t generational—it’s a reaction to outdated practices.
Switching ATS platforms shapes every hire for years. Before you move to Workday Recruiting, use this technical due diligence checklist to pressure-test vendor claims, uncover configuration and workflow constraints, and evaluate the real candidate, recruiter, and hiring manager experience beyond the glossy sales narrative.
iCIMS Consultant Tips: Child User Groups & Permission Setup Picture this: you’re setting up your iCIMS user groups, and suddenly you need to give a
Gen X leaders bring deep experience to HR—but often overlook how radically Talent Acquisition has changed. This article outlines seven key shifts they need to understand to remain competitive in today’s candidate-driven, AI-enabled, globally compliant TA landscape.
An iCIMS System Administrator is the engine behind a high-performing ATS. They configure workflows, manage integrations, and drive optimization—ensuring your system delivers ROI. Far from “just IT support,” they’re strategic partners who align technology with business goals and protect your system from breakdowns that cost time, talent, and trust.
Paul Day, HR Solutions Architect at IRD, shares his journey from accidental admin to expert iCIMS consultant. In this spotlight, he discusses reducing cognitive load, documenting system knowledge, using AI responsibly, and designing with empathy. His insights offer practical guidance for HR system administrators focused on thoughtful, scalable iCIMS optimization.
HR tech expert Vivian Larsen shares how empathy, simplicity, and community transformed her journey from “accidental admin” to trusted iCIMS optimization consultant. In this Member Spotlight, learn why overengineering hurts outcomes, how to advocate for system admins, and where HR technology is headed next.
Merging ATS platforms is harder than it looks—and most failures stem from technical oversights, not strategy. This checklist helps HR leaders ask the right questions early, surfacing system capacity issues, data risks, and integration gaps before they spiral into costly delays. Use it to plan smarter, not scramble later.
In a real-time experiment, we watched ChatGPT autonomously apply for a job at NYU. The results? Both astonishing and cautionary. From passing human verification to generating resumes and cover letters, the bot nearly completed the full application—with a few critical snags. Here’s what we learned, and why it matters.
This in-depth comparison of iCIMS and SmartRecruiters helps mid-market and enterprise talent acquisition leaders evaluate two leading ATS platforms. It explores key differences in integrations, configurability, user experience, reporting, automation, and pricing—highlighting strengths, trade-offs, and ideal use cases to support more informed, strategic HR technology decisions in 2025.
Alex Marcus joins Shalley Stedkerl to reveal the vital but misunderstood role of HR system administrators. From AI to data quality to the future of recruiting tech, this candid conversation is a must-watch for HR leaders, tech buyers, and talent pros alike. Get ready to rethink everything.
A client’s system administrator locked everything down so tightly that the platform became nearly unusable for recruiters and hiring managers. It’s a common pitfall—optimizing for data cleanliness while ignoring usability. In this post, we’ll explore how to strike the right balance between control and flexibility in today’s talent acquisition systems.
This report compares iCIMS and ADP Recruiting, outlining the functionality that iCIMS customers may lose when transitioning to ADP. It covers key areas like sourcing and CRM, job distribution, interview scheduling, offer management, and compliance, with a focus on the healthcare industry. This comprehensive guide provides HR and IT decision-makers with questions to ask ADP to ensure no critical features are lost during the switch.
This comprehensive report details the trade-offs of replacing iCIMS with Oracle’s Recruiting module. It highlights potential loss of CRM/talent pooling, job board reach, workflow flexibility, and reporting capabilities. It provides industry-specific (healthcare) insights and an exhaustive question list to guide due diligence so organizations can anticipate functionality gaps.
This report compares iCIMS and SAP SuccessFactors ATS, outlining key functionality differences in sourcing, interview scheduling, offer management, compliance, and more. It offers high-level questions for decision-makers considering a switch, with specific focus on recruiting processes, talent pools, integrations, and compliance needs across industries like healthcare.
iCIMS’s Talent Cloud delivers specialized recruiting tools – CRM talent pools, text engagement, video interviewing, and flexible workflows – that many UKG Pro Recruiting users find lacking. This comprehensive report details the functional gaps an iCIMS customer may face switching to UKG in 2025, covering sourcing, automation, reporting, and user experience.
Switching from iCIMS to Workday Recruiting? This detailed report outlines which features you might lose and the questions to ask before making the move. From sourcing tools to compliance workflows, we break down key differences and hidden costs to help HR and IT leaders make informed, strategic decisions.
Hiring an iCIMS System Administrator can feel like a cost—until you measure what they prevent. From broken workflows to compliance risk, a skilled admin safeguards your talent engine. This article explores how system stewardship drives performance, saves money, and delivers real ROI for recruiting, reporting, and user satisfaction.
Struggling to maintain your iCIMS system? If user issues are piling up, data is messy, or integrations fail, it may be time for a dedicated ATS admin. Learn the tipping points, explore your resourcing options, and discover how to future-proof your system before minor inefficiencies become major setbacks.
Many companies are considering switching from iCIMS to a bundled HCM platform, but most underestimate what they’ll lose. If you once needed a point solution, you probably still do. This article explores when to switch, when to stay, and how to make the decision with clarity—not just marketing.
Real-world lessons from the people who make iCIMS work on the client side. Each week, we share insights from system administrators, consultants, and tech leads navigating the realities of iCIMS optimization.
