Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An applicant tracking system is software that manages candidates through a hiring process — storing applications, tracking which stage each person is at, and holding interview feedback in one place. Most in-house teams adopt one to stop losing candidates in email threads and spreadsheets.
Also known as: ATS.
Modern ATS products range from lightweight tools for small teams to enterprise platforms with requisition approval chains and HRIS integration. The distinguishing question when choosing one is whether your problem is volume (you need to process many applicants efficiently) or quality (you need to assess a smaller number well).
A common misconception is that an ATS improves hiring decisions. It largely does not — it improves hiring administration. Decision quality comes from how the interviews are structured and how consistently candidates are assessed, which is a separate problem.