Why 99% of Fortune 500 Companies Use an Applicant Tracking System

Let’s start with a blunt truth: how you manage hiring might be holding your business back.

While you’re manually juggling resumes, chasing down interview feedback, and copying new hire info into your payroll system by hand, Fortune 500 companies are using automated tools to fill roles faster, smarter, and with less chaos. Their secret weapon? The Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

Nearly every Fortune 500 company — 99%, to be exact — uses an ATS to manage the hiring process. These systems help companies move faster, reduce bad hires, and provide a better experience to candidates and recruiters alike.

Here’s the good news: Small businesses can now access the same kind of power without the inflated price tag or complicated setup.

ATS Adoption Rates and What They Tell Us

It’s not just Fortune 500 companies leading the charge. Across the board, large organizations have already made the switch: around 70% of large companies use some form of ATS technology. But among small and midsize businesses (SMBs)? That number plummets to just 20%.

Here’s what the numbers say:

• 75% of recruiters now rely on ATS platforms or similar tech tools to manage applicants and improve the hiring experience.
• 94% of recruiters say their ATS has had a positive impact on their hiring process.

So why haven’t SMBs caught up?

The honest answer is, until recently, most ATS platforms were built for big teams with big budgets. They were clunky, overengineered, and came with price points that didn’t make sense for a 12-person company. That’s changing fast.

Modern tools like BBSI’s new ATS make Fortune 500-level hiring tools accessible for smaller organizations. With a monthly fee that starts at $25, small businesses can get the same kinds of efficiencies that used to be locked behind enterprise walls.

The takeaway here is simple: If you're not using an ATS, you're already behind. But it’s not too late to catch up.

What an Applicant Tracking System Actually Does (and Why It’s a Game-Changer)

If you’ve never used an ATS before, the term might sound a bit abstract. So, let’s make it concrete.

Do any of these sound like familiar pains in your hiring process?

• You’re writing job descriptions from scratch every time.
• You’re copy-pasting postings to multiple job boards.
• You’re fielding resumes through your inbox (which is already out of control).
• You’re trying to schedule interviews via email chains and text messages.
• You’re juggling handwritten notes on candidate performance.
• And once you do make a hire, you’re scrambling to get them set up with payroll, onboarding, and documentation.

These tasks can easily become a full-time job unto themselves, pulling you away from your actual role as a business owner.

How the Fortune 500’s Secret Weapon Makes Your Life Easier

Here’s what BBSI’s ATS does out of the box:

Centralized Applicant Management

You can see every open job, every applicant, and every step of the hiring pipeline in one place. View resumes, track interview progress, add notes, and never lose sight of a candidate again.

One-Click Job Board Integration

Post your jobs directly to popular platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn by creating one post inside the ATS, and letting it do the rest.

Custom Job Postings and Application Forms

Want to ask screening questions? Collect specific information? Build out job descriptions by role or department? You can tailor the entire application experience to match how you hire.

Automated Communication and Status Updates

Keep candidates in the loop with customizable emails and notifications. No more ghosting (accidental or otherwise). The system handles updates automatically.

Built-In Interview Coordination

Schedule interviews, send reminders, and collect interviewer feedback inside the platform to avoid lost emails and missed appointments.

Real-Time Dashboards and Reporting

See what roles are moving, where applicants are dropping off, and how long it’s taking you to make a hire. That’s the kind of data that helps you refine your process over time.

Seamless Onboarding

Once you make a hire, their info flows directly into the ATS. No more double data entry.

In short, a good ATS doesn’t just track candidates. It takes a disorganized, painful hiring process and turns it into something efficient, repeatable, and scalable. And for small business owners who are doing everything themselves (or close to it), that’s not a luxury. That’s a necessity.

BBSI’s Applicant Tracking System Beats the Generic Platforms

There’s no shortage of Applicant Tracking System platforms out there. Some cheap, some pricey, and most claiming to be “easy to use.” But here’s the difference: BBSI isn’t just selling software.

We offer a fully integrated system backed by real people and built into a broader strategy to help your business grow. That’s the power of working with a PEO: you’re not just buying a tool, you’re getting a team.

Built Into the Bigger Picture

BBSI’s ATS doesn’t exist in a silo. It’s embedded in our platform, which already handles payroll, onboarding, HR compliance, benefits, and more. When you make a hire, that information flows straight into your onboarding pipeline and payroll setup. Just like that—efficiency at your fingertips!

Human Support, Not Just a Chatbot

With BBSI, you’re not stuck figuring it out alone. You have access to a dedicated local team of HR consultants, payroll specialists, and business partners who actually know your business. They help you set up your hiring workflows, train your team, and adjust the system as you grow.

Compliance Without the Headache

Employment laws aren’t exactly light reading. Most small business owners struggle to keep up with labor regulations, documentation rules, or EEOC requirements. BBSI’s ATS tracks the hiring process with audit logs, which can assist small business owners with documentation and compliance requirements.

It Grows With You

Whether you’re hiring one person a year or ten people a month, the system scales. You can start small and expand your usage without switching platforms or overhauling your processes.

Stop Trying to Compete Without an Applicant Tracking System

Nearly every Fortune 500 company uses an ATS for one reason: it works. It makes hiring faster, cleaner, and more effective. And now, that same level of efficiency is accessible to small businesses — especially those working with a PEO like BBSI.

Whether you’re overwhelmed by resumes, tired of clunky hiring processes, or just want to make smarter, faster decisions, BBSI’s ATS is here to make your life easier.

What You’ll Actually Pay

BBSI’s pricing model is one of the most accessible out there, especially when you factor in what you’re getting. After a one-time setup fee, you have two plans to choose from.

Essential Plan – $25/month

• Up to 5 job posts per month
• Full access to applicant tracking, job board integration, and onboarding sync

Pro Plan – $50/month

• Unlimited job posts
• Ideal for growing teams or frequent hiring cycles

That’s Fortune 500-level hiring tools, backed by an HR and payroll team that’s already working to make your life easier.

Ready to simplify your hiring process? Connect with your local BBSI representative today and see what an ATS can really do for your business.