Many of the popular applicant tracking system (ATS) vendors continue to strengthen their client retention rates. Hirebridge currently boasts a better than 98% retention rate. However, there are a number of users looking to switch to a different ATS for a variety of reasons. Below are highlights of the biggest factors I’ve found for changing to a different ATS.

Price
The pricing of ATSs has become one of the largest areas of competition for vendors. Many web based (SaaS model) ATS vendors offer a $100-200 per-user per-month model for their subscriptions. New ATS vendors entering the market with similar features and functions are offering subscriptions at a lower price. The following is a list of newer ATSs that are offered at a lower cost:
JobDig Tracker – $149 a month for unlimited users
Catch the Best – Basic plan is $29 per-user per-month
Simplicant – Basic plan is $49 per-user per-month
Akken – Entire offering is $49 per-user per-month

Features
There are a lot of new features and functions released in each ATS through in-house development, acquisitions and partnerships. All are designed to simply the complexity of the hiring process, yet differentiate the solution enough to breakout of the pack of competitors. This usually last for just a few weeks or months until the competition catches up. However, for some users, the new features and functions can pose a great enough value to cause them to switch. The following are technology related press releases from vendors in the past several weeks:

JobDig Tracker
JobDig Tracker’s Online Application Builder Released

myStaffingPro
myStaffingPro Adds Division Functionality

nowHIRE
nowHIRE E-Verify Program Ensures I-9 Compliance, Streamlines Hiring Processes

Talent Technology
Talent Technology Corporation Acquires PeopleFilter

CATS
Email your heart out

MatchHire
MatchHire Applicant Tracking Launches Opt-In Mass Email Communications to Candidates

Peopleclick
Peopleclick Partners with Broadbean to Offer a Robust Advert Distribution Service

HRsmart
HRsmart Announces Next Generation Collaboration Tools within its Talent Management Suite

Catch the Best
Applicant tracking and resume management system company Cat the Best integrates automatic position posting to Indeed.com

Simplicant
New Feature – Receive job applications by email!

Support
The support available to users is very important for the day-to-day success and impact on an organization. If the proper support isn’t available in the beginning, it is likely the solution adoption will fail during either the install, implementation or incorporation phase. This will lead users to abandon the ATS all together, or look for a vendor with top rated support. The same is also true if the support dwindles over the continued use of the solution.

Integrated Systems
As large systems continue to evolve, they are starting to include ATS functionality. For example, ADP is offering an ATS component that easily ties together with the rest of the system. This allows for a higher level of automation, which allows users to eliminate a duplicate or unneeded system.