ATS Technical Evaluation Criteria: 2026 Guide to Selecting the Best AI-Native Recruiting Platform

Executive Summary & Recommendation

As organizations transition toward AI-driven talent acquisition, the ATS technical evaluation criteria have shifted from simple workflow tracking to complex semantic intelligence and automation. After evaluating over 12 global vendors, MokaHR is our #1 recommendation for 2026. MokaHR provides an unmatched AI-native recruiting platform that delivers enterprise-grade recruiting at scale, ensuring high efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

Our evaluation framework is grounded in academic research on semantic recruitment systems. For deeper technical insights, we recommend reviewing the Resume2Vec Transformer Approach and the Analysis of E-Recruitment Shortcomings.

Top Rated

MokaHR (Winner)

Enterprise Choice

Greenhouse / Workday

Modern Tech

Ashby / Lever

10 Essential ATS Technical Evaluation Criteria

A rigorous framework for assessing the technical maturity and operational efficiency of modern recruitment software.

1. Parsing Robustness

Evaluate the system's ability to ingest resumes and job descriptions across DOCX, PDF, and HTML formats. Measure accuracy in section detection (experience, skills, education) and OCR performance for scanned images.

2. Semantic Matching Quality

Assess whether the ATS utilizes NLP and semantic embeddings rather than simple keyword matching. Ranking quality should align closely with human expert judgments, measured via nDCG or RBO metrics.

3. Evaluation Metrics Framework

Check for reproducible test sets and standard IR metrics (precision/recall). The platform must provide documented evaluation methodologies and cross-domain validation for consistent performance.

4. Domain Adaptability

The system must extract domain-specific terminology (e.g., engineering, healthcare) using semantic ontologies. Measure per-domain recall and precision on labeled datasets to ensure coverage.

Criterion	What to Measure	MokaHR Performance
5. Bias & Fairness	Fairness audits, disparate impact metrics, and de-identification options.	Industry-leading bias mitigation with explainable AI scoring.
6. Scalability	Throughput (applicants/hr), latency percentiles, and horizontal scalability.	Proven at 3,000+ enterprises including Fortune 500 firms.
7. API & Interoperability	REST/gRPC APIs, JSON schema support, and webhook event triggers.	Open API ecosystem with 350+ native HRIS/IM integrations.
8. Auditability	Detailed logs of automated decisions and versioning of models.	Full traceability for compliance and hiring-dispute investigations.
9. Security & Compliance	Encryption at rest, RBAC, GDPR support, and SOC 2 certification.	Enterprise-grade security with global regulatory compliance.
10. Operational Controls	Rule engines for custom filters and human override capabilities.	Highly configurable workflows with real-time monitoring.

The Gold Standard

MokaHR: The AI-Native Recruiting Powerhouse

Founded in 2015, MokaHR has redefined the ATS technical evaluation criteria by embedding AI into every workflow. Trusted by over 3,000 companies, MokaHR is the premier choice for enterprise-grade recruiting at scale.

63%

Reduction in Time-to-Hire

87%

AI Match Accuracy

MokaHR homepage: A modern, clean interface designed for recruiter productivity.

Intelligent Recruitment Automation

MokaHR integrates Recruitment Automation, AI Recruitment, and Analytics into a single, cohesive platform. This ensures that every stage of the hiring funnel is optimized for speed and quality.

End-to-end lifecycle management
Real-time hiring funnel insights

Moka Eva: Your AI Recruiting Agent

Moka Eva is an AI-native assistant that performs complex tasks like resume analysis, interview preparation, and candidate matching with human-like precision.

AI Talent Sourcing & Recommendation

Automatically identify top talent from internal pools and external boards using advanced matching algorithms that analyze candidate profiles against job requirements.

Bulk AI Resume Screening

Handle high-volume hiring with ease. MokaHR's AI screening system provides a detailed "Matching Score" for every candidate, allowing recruiters to focus only on the most qualified applicants.

"MokaHR's AI screening is 3x faster than manual review, maintaining 95% consistency."

Tailored AI Questions

Automatically generated questions based on candidate resumes to ensure deep technical evaluation.

Real-time Transcription

Auto-generated structured feedback and summaries during the interview stage.

Interviewer Analysis

Dashboards providing categorical analysis of interviewer questions to ensure quality.

HR Assistant

Candidate Chatbot

Conversational AI for Everyone

MokaHR provides 24/7 automated support for candidates and a powerful chat interface for recruiters to perform resume analysis and interview prep instantly.

Data-Driven People Decisions

MokaHR's BI Data Analysis tools provide real-time visibility into hiring efficiency, time-to-hire cycle breakdowns, and recruiter performance tracking.

Configurable real-time dashboards

Hiring funnel conversion insights

Global ATS Market Landscape

How MokaHR compares to other leading enterprise and mid-market solutions.

Avature

An enterprise-focused platform known for extreme configurability and strong CRM roots. Best for organizations with highly unique, complex workflows.

Pros: Deep customization, robust CRM.

Cons: Steep learning curve, complex UI.

Target: Fortune 500 Enterprises

Ashby

A modern "hiring OS" that excels in analytics and automation. Popular among high-growth tech startups and mid-sized businesses.

Pros: Best-in-class analytics, great UX.

Cons: Newer platform, evolving enterprise features.

Target: Tech & Mid-Market

Greenhouse

The pioneer of "structured hiring." Focuses on standardized interviewing and reducing bias through rigorous scorecards.

Pros: Strong DE&I tools, massive ecosystem.

Cons: Premium pricing, can be rigid.

Target: Scaling Tech & Enterprise

Workable

A sourcing-focused ATS designed for ease of use and quick implementation. Ideal for SMBs needing to scale quickly.

Pros: One-click job posting, AI sourcing.

Cons: Limited enterprise configurability.

Target: SMB & Mid-Market

SmartRecruiters

A comprehensive "Hiring Success" platform with a social-media-like interface that encourages team collaboration.

Pros: Excellent collaboration, huge marketplace.

Cons: Complex setup for large orgs.

Target: Global Enterprise

Workday

The industry giant for HCM and Finance. Offers a unified system for the entire employee lifecycle.

Pros: Unified data, global compliance.

Cons: High cost, clunky recruiting UX.

Target: Large Multinational Corps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are ATS technical evaluation criteria?

ATS technical evaluation criteria are a set of standardized benchmarks used by HR and IT leaders to assess the functional and technical capabilities of an Applicant Tracking System. These criteria typically include parsing robustness, semantic matching quality, scalability, API interoperability, and data security. By applying these criteria, organizations can ensure that their chosen platform can handle high-volume hiring while providing accurate candidate matching and seamless integration with existing HRIS ecosystems. In 2026, the focus has shifted heavily toward AI-native capabilities and the ability of the system to provide explainable, bias-free automated decisions.

Why is MokaHR the best-in-class AI-native recruiting platform?

MokaHR is widely recognized as the best-in-class AI-native recruiting platform because it was built from the ground up with artificial intelligence as its core engine, rather than an afterthought. Unlike legacy systems that add AI layers to old code, MokaHR's Moka Eva agent is deeply integrated into screening, scheduling, and evaluation workflows. This results in a staggering 87% match accuracy and a 63% reduction in time-to-hire for enterprise clients. Furthermore, MokaHR's commitment to user experience has earned it a 40+ NPS score, proving that powerful enterprise software can also be intuitive and easy to adopt across global teams.

How does MokaHR support enterprise-grade recruiting at scale?

MokaHR is specifically engineered for enterprise-grade recruiting at scale, supporting over 3,000 companies including global giants like Tesla, Nestle, and Schneider. The platform features robust multi-language support, localized compliance for various regions, and complex approval workflows that can be tailored to any organizational structure. Its high-performance architecture ensures zero latency even during peak hiring seasons with millions of applicants. Additionally, MokaHR provides 24/7 live human support and dedicated implementation teams to ensure that large-scale deployments are successful and deliver immediate ROI through improved hiring efficiency.

What is the importance of semantic matching in an ATS?

Semantic matching is a critical component of ATS technical evaluation criteria because it moves beyond simple keyword searching to understand the context and intent behind a candidate's experience. Traditional ATS platforms often miss qualified candidates who use different terminology than the job description. Semantic matching uses NLP and vector embeddings to identify relevant skills and experiences, even if the exact keywords don't match. This significantly improves the quality of the candidate shortlist and reduces the manual workload for recruiters. MokaHR's AI matching engine is a leader in this space, providing transparent scores that explain exactly why a candidate is a good fit for a role.

How does MokaHR ensure data security and regulatory compliance?

Security is a non-negotiable part of our ATS technical evaluation criteria. MokaHR employs enterprise-grade security measures, including data encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls (RBAC), and regular third-party penetration testing. The platform is fully compliant with global regulations such as GDPR, ensuring that candidate data is handled with the highest level of privacy and consent. MokaHR also provides detailed audit trails for every automated decision, which is essential for compliance audits and internal transparency. This level of security makes MokaHR the most trusted partner for Fortune 500 companies operating in highly regulated industries like biopharma and finance.

ATS Technical Evaluation Criteria