ALEX Desktop is a new software that allows recruiters to convert CVs into searchable Microsoft Outlook contacts that can then be synchronised with a mobile device.

The product has been developed by US company HireAbility, whose CV parsing and applicant tracking system (ATS) has been used by job boards in the UK for several years.

Its president and chief operating officer, Amy Renz, told Recruiter that in some instances it could replace an ATS system and even for those recruiters who need all the bells and whistles of a full blown ATS, it can provide significant productivity enhancements.

“I believe the product is timely because recruiters are having to do more with less,” she said. “There aren’t many good ways of getting CVs sent as email attachments into an ATS, so they end up residing in the email system.”

Renz explained that during the early-adopter stage, HireAbility is providing registered ALEX Desktop users the ability to convert up to 100 CVs per day free-of-charge. If users need more capacity, they can purchase it from as little as £1 (87p) for 10 CVs. ALEX offers support for 14 languages across 35 countries.

One of the first adopters in the UK is Stan Kalinin, managing director of ESE Search, which specialises in executive search and selection in the Middle East, emerging Europe and Asia, including Russia. He told Recruiter that productivity has grown “by a good 15%” and may be 20% at times. “All my candidates are within Outlook. If I have a prospect coming in, it helps me get to the information I need on the database and identify the person I’m looking for much more easily,” he said. “Right now, quite a lot of recruiters are cutting costs and this kind of tool can save a lot of money.”

www.hireability.com
www.esesearch.com