Focus on Selection

Existing systems restricted growth

Adecco Select was among the first Norwegian recruitment agencies employing web based technologies. After following technological developments from the first “automated applicant response” systems to solutions created to underpin the recruitment process from end to end, Adecco Select felt the need for a modern, world class, solution.

- Our existing technology did the job, per se, but only for a limited number of positions, explains director Larsen. But with larger volumes the solution was not effective. It was hard to get an overview, and this led to difficulties in our day-to-day operations.

- We had to repeat many operations manually, recalls Larsen, like when we had to publish logos on 8 different websites for each contract. These limitations stole a lot of time.

In Adecco Select they also felt they were unable to leverage the value of their CV database due to limited search functionality.

- If you cannot use your CV database effectively you will use much longer to find candidates and as a result you cannot serve as many clients.

But the showstopper was the individual advisors’ increasingly pressing need for an overview of ongoing processes. The advisors acquired an increasing number of clients and contracts which had to be managed. In the end the challenge represented by the increasing volume could simply not be ignored.

- There was a need for an overview when you logged into the system and you had to look for your own contracts. When an advisor had several contracts she would have to scroll down to find them, and this was very frustrating, says Larsen.

- Our advisors are there to make good candidate selections, not to deal with these administrative challenges.

- We had a need to organize our processes comprehensively, in a way which would allow us to have an overview, recalls Larsen.

The goal was to collect all the information the advisors needed in their day-to-day work in one system, in one place, so that every single advisor would have the overview of their individual contracts.

Benchmarking world-class solutions with high volumes in mind

Adecco Select entered into an extensive acquisition process, where 7 world class solutions were benchmarked against each other in different countries.

- We benchmarked all the solutions, all the way down to the user experience, explains Larsen. We would enter open positions to see how things worked in practice. The solution was perhaps suitable for two positions, but we wanted to know how it would work with 200.

- Things may seem fair enough when there are not so many open positions to deal with, but with 1500 to 2000 recruitment contracts per year the situation is a altogether different..

Adecco Select eventually concluded that WebCruiter had the best total solution, taking into account features, functionality and price.

- As a recruitment agency we have our own special needs. We have many and various contracts.

- In addition to this we have the client dimension, explains Larsen. We have a need to manage clients in the system. While other organizations may have an organizational structure with several divisions, we have several hundred customers.

Focus on selection with empowered advisors and effective administration

Adecco Select has reached its predetermined goal.

- Now each advisor has a complete summary of his own projects. Advisors can easily see which projects they are involved in, where they are in the process, whether the position has been advertised, if candidates have been assessed, and so on.

Furthermore, the problem with repetitive manual work and limitations on search in the CV database is a thing of the past.

Guri Larsen is confident Adecco Select has increased advisor effectiveness and positioned itself for further growth.

- With WebCruiter Professional  we can manage our daily work in one unified system, in one place, she explains.

- We have also integrated the solution with professional personality testing tools and the publishing technology Papirfly  which automates the production of job ads for the print media.

Simple training is another benefit Larsen has identified. She says it only takes half a day to make a new advisor operational, and that support requests are few, in her opinion indicating ease of use and an intuitive user interface.

For Adecco Select the solution has also proven itself as a management tool. According to Larsen she always has the necessary managerial survey.

- I can easily analyze our performance vis-à-vis budgets and goals. With the click of a button I can see how many positions we are advertising and who is doing what. WebCruiter Professional is not just an administrative tool, but a management tool as well, says Larsen.

With a problem-free process and a complete survey of ongoing projects Adecco Select’s advisors finally have the ability to focus on selection.

For professionals, by professionals

The way Guri Larsen sees it, it is no coincidence that WebCruiter Professional is the most competitive product considering the needs of Adecco Select as a recruitment agency.

- WebCruiter has experience with, and has its roots in, a professional recruitment environment.

- WebCruiter is a valuable discussion partner, and they are great at finding solutions, she concludes.