ActivateStaff

The staffing industry feels like it’s hitting an inflection point.

AI, automation, and modern worker and client expectations are forcing agencies to rethink the systems that run their business. Some firms are investing heavily in new technology while others are still trying to make legacy tools stretch another few years.

The gap between those two groups is becoming noticeable.

While we’re in Austin during the forum, we’re spending time with agency leaders comparing notes on a few things we’re hearing across the industry:

• Plans to move away from bloated ATS pricing and restrictive contracts
• Where AI is actually improving recruiter productivity (and where it isn’t)
• New ways agencies are elevating the worker experience to stay competitive
• How firms are delivering the transparency clients now expect
• Which technology investments are paying off, and which aren’t
• How mid-market agencies are staying competitive with larger firms

If you’ll be around between March 23–26, it would be great to compare notes. Let me know if you have time to connect.

Every ATS platform claims to be “the all-in-one solution,” but few truly are. How do you evaluate the different offers to ensure your time and financial commitments are the best for your agency?

Our Buyer’s Guide to Selecting a Staffing Platform breaks down what really matters, from integrations and automation to candidate experience and ROI.

Before you sign another contract, download the guide and learn how to evaluate vendors with confidence.

Get the guide, link in the comments.

Building your own ATS with low-code tools feels flexible at first, until:
- A single API change breaks your automations
- Recruiter speed drops as data volume grows
- Compliance becomes an audit risk
- Your “internal tech lead” quits, and the logic leaves with them

There’s a reason top-performing agencies anchor their operations in a purpose-built platform and only build around the edges.

Full article on the risks, the upside, and the hybrid model smart firms use link in the comments.

Consolidate to compete. Cut tool sprawl, and prove ROI with hard metrics. Our 2026 tech trends brief shows what leading agencies are funding this year and why.

Link to the brief in the comments.

Do you want your team to focus on attracting new business and fulfilling job orders, or on software development?

Read our eBook, Buy vs. Build: Making the Right Technology Decisions for Your Staffing Agency, to find out which approach is right for you.

Download eBook | link in comment section

Automation is reducing repetitive tasking, while human-machine roles grow. Our 2026 Tech Trends Brief covers ambient intelligence, VR/AR micro-training, credential-gated workflows, and the skills layer clients will expect.

Link to the brief in the comments.

Stop guessing, make ATS decisions with clarity. Knowing when to build or buy is a strategic decision. Our guide, ‘Buy vs. Build: Making the Right Technology Decisions for Your Staffing Agency,’ walks you through the questions that really matter.

Download eBook | link in comment section

Leaders are moving from pilots to production. See where AI and automation actually improve fill rates, reduce no-shows, and clean up audits.

What to expect in the brief: agentic AI, edge support for shift work, one client portal, and stronger governance.

Link to the brief in the comments.

“Vibe-coding,” an ATS with low-code tools, isn’t innovation; it’s a slow path to becoming a software development shop. Before you start building your own tech stack, ask yourself:

- Will this still work when we double in size?
- Who owns the data when the person who built it leaves?
- Do we really want to run a staffing agency and a software team at the same time?

Full breakdown of the pros, the pitfalls, and a smarter middle ground.

Link in the comments.