ATS integration using HR-XML standards
One of the key areas we consider when selecting an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is how well they can integrate with a third party system such as an HRMS, job posting tool etc but in particular how they integrate and are they HR-XML compliant.
And of course, the sales people always tell you they are fully compliant. Not because they are not sure or even stretching the truth slightly, but because their technical people have assured them they are - so why would they question it?
So, having recently found out one particular vendor was not quite as compliant as they thought, nor did they really have the level of integration expertise they claimed, I thought I would share a little more detail on who can claim what.
Full details on HR-XML can be found on their site but the key point is that they have "more than 100 interdependent XML schemas". This being the case, how does the client or the sales people even know what it is that:
- The client needs.
- The Vendor has certified.
HR-XML have a site called HRcertify where you can check. For example:
- Stepstone iGRasp: Not members, not certified.
- MrTed: Members, no certifications.
- Jobpartners: Members, JobPositionPosting ( 1.1 dtd).
- Brassring: Members, AssessmentOrderRequest (xsd), PositionOpening (xsd), Candidate (xsd).
- Taleo: Members, NewHire (xsd), AssessmentOrderRequest (xsd), AssessmentOrderAcknowledgement (xsd), AssessmentResult (xsd), BackgroundCheck (xsd), BackgroundReports (xsd).
- Vurv: Members, AssessmentOrderAcknowledgement (xsd), AssessmentOrderRequest (xsd), AssessmentResult (xsd), BackgroundCheck (xsd).
As you can see from the above, iGRasp don't appear to have bothered and the others vary greatly. This of course makes it somewhat confusing for both client and sales people hence the standard claim with not too much substance in most cases!
So, if you are going to integrate, and want HR-XML compliance, make sure you are very clear about what you need.
