profile updated Apr 15, 2008, 12:50 PM
Back in the mid-1980s, Doug Coull worked in a personnel agency in Orange County, California, screening dozens of resumes each day and doing everything via paperwork, which seemed unnecessarily tedious.
So Coull and his brother-in-law, a software designer, developed a program to automate the hiring process. With $50,000 in personal savings, the two founded a company. It prospered, allowing Coull to buy out his brother-in-law and move the company to Oceanside, Calif. Then in the mid-1990s came a stumble. Too many features were being added, deadlines were pushed, and things looked bad.
But in 1998, the company came roaring back, launching an online version of the SmartSearch software that got the attention of a wide audience just beginning to become familiar with hosted software. A year later the company signed deals with two European marketing companies - Intervention, Étude & Négociation (IEN) in France and Wuepper Unternehmer Beratung in Germany - to launch SmartSearch Online in Europe. In 2001 it announced a partnership with Hong Kong-based execuitve recruiting firm SHA.
According to the firm's website, the company is profitable, not seeking investors, and 100% of revenue is derived from sales of the SmartSearch Online staffing management software and directly related services such as document processing (resume scanning), custom programming, and consolidated billing service (in partnership with GoJobs and InfoSpi). The company counts Adecco and Parsons Brinckerhoff among its clients.
News & Updates 
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Multinational Search Firm Installs SmartSearch (Human Resources Marketplace)
Advanced Personnel Systems, Inc. completed installation of SmartSearch, a web-based talent acquisition and recruiting business solution, to serve the expanding multi-national executive search needs at Brussels-based Borderless Executive Search.
The specialized search firm has consultants in Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. All consultants are supported by the firm’s research centre in Chennai, India.
Oct 31, 2009 -
Data Facts Upgrades Integration with the SmartSearch (PR Web)
Advanced Personnel Systems, Inc., the maker of SmartSearch talent acquisition and staffing management software, announced upgrades to its integration with background screening service Data Facts.
Now in addition to running criminal background checks, motor vehicle records, social security numbers, credit checks and employment references, there is an option to request personal references as well.
Oct 6, 2009, 12:05 PM -
SmartSearch Partners To Provide Video Interviewing (TalentManagementTech.com)
Advanced Personnel Systems, Inc. rolled out a new integration with GreenJobInteview.com to the SmartSearch talent acquisition and recruiting software, allowing users to take advantage of live virtual interviews online.
Sep 30, 2009 -
SmartSearch Builds Custom Career Portals For Third World Financial Services Provider (Company PR)
Advanced Personnel Systems, Inc. (APS) announced the addition of custom career portals for SmartSearch, a web-based talent acquisition system, to serve the expanding multi-national recruiting needs of Opportunity International.
In addition to serving its North American operations in the U.S. and Canada, two new Career Center portals were launched for recruiting management trainees throughout Africa and for TSKI, the largest microfinance organization in the Philippines. A third portal is scheduled to be deployed soon for Opportunity International Savings and Loan in Ghana.
Sep 2, 2009, 5:04 PM -
SmartSearch Adds Org Chart Features (company PR)
A graphical organization chart mapping feature is now a part of SmartSearch, a talent acquisition management and recruiting business solution.
The new org chart feature creates a graphical illustration showing where in a corporate hierarchy a contact stands. Ideal for staffing agency, executive search, and consulting agency users to analyze sales activity, the mapping capability also lets users “hover” over a contact record for quick viewing or click-through to a list of managers the contact reports to as well as a list of subordinates.
Aug 24, 2009, 11:03 AM -
How to Hire and Manage A Contingent Workforce of Thousands That Changes Yearly (HRchitect Vendor News)
When PDS Tech got the order to recruit and manage a contingent workforce of thousands, it turned to VMS-Smart, a vendor management system component of SmartSearch.
Now, three years after PDS deployed the solution for its client, Premier Election Solutions, the success of the program has been documented in a case study.
The details are available on HRchitect's blog.
Aug 12, 2009, 6:19 AM -
SmartSearch Completes Work on New Version (HR Technology Vendor News)
Advanced Personnel Systems, Inc. a provider of talent acquisition management and recruiting business solutions, has completed version 13.1 updates to its SmartSearch solution including incorporation of the Mobile Access module to the base system – which means users can now access their database from their iPhone, BlackBerry or other hand-held devices at no additional cost. Jun 29, 2009, 5:59 PM -
SmartSearch Enhances Its Web 2.0 Features (www.newsguide.us)
SmartSearch, the flagship ATS product from Advanced Personnel Systems, now can export job listings to social and business networking sites. The enhancements in the latest upgrade include a handy automatic Twitter posting of job title and link.
May 27, 2009, 8:29 PM -
SmartSearch Expands Global Recruiting Capabilities (HRchitect)
Advanced Personnel Systems has added clients in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, expanding the reach of its SmartSearch talent acquisition, management, and recruiting business solution to a global market. May 17, 2009, 10:46 PM -
SmartSearch Announces Version 13 Release (PRWeb)
Advanced Personnel Systems, Inc.released Version 13, an upgrade to its SmartSearch talent acquisition and recruiting business software. Version 13 features tools to support Web 2.0 sourcing allowing users to search and import data from popular social networking and internet sites, including Google, ZoomInfo, Pipl, LinkedIn, Facebook and others. It also upgrades performance and reliability of its CSV importing tool using .NET technology, and improved its cell-phone text messaging capabilities. Jan 20, 2009, 12:08 PM
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Products & Services
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SmartSearch Online
Detailed in ERE Media's 2005 ATS Buyer´s Guide, web-based SmartSearch Online provides overall recruiting technology including career center, applicant tracking sytem, online candidate screening, portal for hiring managers, external job board posting, MS Outlook integration and wireless access. -
Data Gateway
An optional employee change and time management system especially for staffing environments. Makes it possible to exchange data with other software and HRIS functions, including accounting. -
SmartSearch Vendor Management System (VMS)
Integrates with the basic SmartSearch system to make it easier to manage staffing vendors and the contract workforce.