ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that manages the entire hiring cycle: application intake, screening, candidate communication and recruiting analytics. A modern ATS automates CV filtering and the matching between candidates and open positions.
Extended definition
ATS (Applicant Tracking System): An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that manages the entire hiring cycle: application intake, screening, candidate communication and recruiting analytics. A modern ATS automates CV filtering and the matching between candidates and open positions.
An Applicant Tracking System exists to handle application volumes that cannot be managed manually. Typical features include automatic CV parsing (extraction of name, experience, skills), kanban pipeline by candidate status, integration with job boards (LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed), interview scheduling and reporting on time-to-hire and cost-per-hire.
Companies adopt an ATS when monthly volume exceeds around 50 applications. Below that threshold a spreadsheet can still work; above it, the lack of a structured system leads to GDPR compliance errors, lost candidates and unacceptable response times.
In recent years ATS platforms have evolved by integrating AI: skill-based candidate matching (rather than keyword matching), automated screening, interview-question generation, predictive turnover analysis. Cumino is an AI-powered ATS that adds the voice dimension: candidates record an audio message on WhatsApp or Telegram in their own language and the system produces a structured CV compliant with the European ESCO standard.
The key features to evaluate when choosing an ATS are: native integrations with job boards and other HR systems (payroll, HRIS), GDPR and EU AI Act compliance, multilingual support, matching quality, and a REST API to extend the platform.
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