Top 7 Metrics Your ATS Software Should Track for Smarter Hiring

Hiring isn’t just about filling positions; it's about building a productive, future-focused team. But how do you know if your hiring process is working effectively? That’s where tracking the correct recruitment metrics matters.

With the right ATS software, you can have visibility into every stage of your recruitment funnel. The best ATS software does more than automate hiring; it gives startups the data to scale smartly.

Here are the 7 essential metrics your applicant tracking system should monitor:

1. Speed up your hiring process and stay ahead in the talent race

This measures how long it takes from when a candidate enters your pipeline to when they sign your offer.

Why it matters: Slow hiring cycles lead to losing top talent. SHRM’s research on time-to-hire shows that faster processes help secure top talent.

A modern online ATS software gives real-time reports to track and reduce time-to-hire.

2. Where Your Best Hires Come From

Identifies which platforms, job boards, referrals, or social media are delivering your best hires.

Why it matters: Understanding where quality candidates come from helps optimise your recruitment spend.

The best ATS software for small businesses can auto-tag and monitor candidate sources.

3. Tracking candidate loss at each hiring funnel stage

Shows how many candidates exit the process before completion, such as before interviews or after applying.

Why it matters: High drop-off rates may indicate delays, poor communication, or a clunky application process.

A smart applicant tracking system flags drop-off points for easy fixes.

4. Hiring success based on offer acceptances

Tracks how many candidates accept your job offers out of the total offers made.

Why it matters: If too many offers are declined, it may indicate salary gaps, poor experience, or unclear expectations. BambooHR’s ATS shares insights on improving offer acceptance.

ATS software helps track offer stats and collect feedback from declined candidates.

5. Overall hiring expense per employee

Calculates the total spend to recruit one employee, including ads, tools, and recruiter hours.

Why it matters: Helps control recruitment budgets and spending efficiency.

Startups using ATS software can automatically log and analyse cost per hire.

6. Finding the right candidates for each job opening

Shows how many quality candidates apply for each role based on screening and assessment.

Why it matters: Too many unqualified applications indicate issues with job ads or sourcing.

The best ATS software supports screening questions and auto-scoring.

7. Employee diversity measurement and insights

Tracks candidate demographics while maintaining anonymity.

Why it matters: Diversity improves innovation and growth. Monitoring DEI metrics supports inclusive hiring.

A reliable applicant tracking system provides ethical diversity tracking with visual reports.

Final Thoughts

If you’re not tracking these recruitment metrics, you’re missing valuable insights. A powerful startup applicant tracking system doesn’t just automate hiring; it helps you improve continuously.

From reducing costs to cutting hiring time, the best ATS software for small businesses helps you scale smarter, hire better, and grow faster.

Struggling to track and improve your hiring process? Discover how AblyWorks can help you make smarter hiring decisions with real-time metrics and automation.