Category: Blog
Top 10 TA Tech Announcements of 2025
What started as a simple top ten list of TA tech announcements quickly became a top fifteen, because the level of activity across the market
Vonq Launches EQO, a Team of Recruitment Agents
The talent acquisition environment is undergoing significant change as organizations try to balance rising expectations with reduced resources. Recruiters are facing growing administrative workloads, fluctuating
AI Adoption in Talent Acquisition: Why 62% of Companies Use AI—But True Adoption Still Lags
AI is no longer a futuristic concept in TA. It’s here, it’s growing fast, and it’s reshaping how companies find and engage talent. According to
Scheduling: The Biggest Frustration in TA Tech
For nearly two decades, I’ve watched talent acquisition technology try to evolve from a series of disconnected systems into a more sophisticated ecosystem built on
Building Skills, Careers, and Culture at Scale: A Conversation with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
In two weeks at UNLEASH World in Paris, I’m excited to join Wilfrid Bas, Directeur Talent Management at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), on stage to
Radancy’s Acquisition of myInterview: Expanding the Vision of AI-Driven Talent Acquisition
Radancy’s recent acquisition of myInterview reflects a bigger story about where talent acquisition is headed—and how technology providers are evolving to meet recruiter, hiring manager,
HR Technology Conference 2025 Recap
The energy at this year’s HR Technology Conference was incredible. More than anything else, the event reminded me that this industry is about people and
Workday Acquires Paradox: What It Means for the Market
The first time I heard about Paradox was in 2016, when Gerry Crispin called me and said, “You need to connect with Aaron Matos. He
CRM Pricing in the Age of AI: A Strategic Reset
As the CRM market matures, pricing is becoming a strategic differentiator. Moving beyond simple, subscription models or size-based tiers, vendors are embracing flexible, customer-centric approaches
SAP Acquires SmartRecruiters: A Strategic Shift to Agentic AI
SAP‘s announcement to acquire SmartRecruiters is not simply another example of market consolidation. It’s a signal that the future of talent acquisition lies in intelligence,
Madeline Laurano
Madeline Laurano is the founder and chief analyst of Aptitude Research. For over 18 years, Madeline’s primary focus has been on the HCM market, specializing in talent acquisition and employee experience. Her work helps companies both validate and re-evaluate their strategies and understand the role technology can play in driving business outcomes. She has watched HCM transform from a back-office function to a strategic company initiative with a focus on partnerships, experience and efficiency.
Before founding Aptitude Research, Madeline held research roles at Aberdeen, Bersin by Deloitte, ERE Media and Brandon Hall Group. She is the co-author of Best Practices in Leading a Global Workforce and is often quoted in leading business publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Yahoo News, The New York Times and The Financial Times. She is a frequent presenter at industry conferences including the HR Technology Conference and Exposition, SHRM, IHRIM, HCI’s Strategic Talent Acquisition conference, Unleash, GDS International’s HCM Summit, and HRO Today.
In her spare time, she is a runner, an avid sports fan and juggles a house full of boys (where a spontaneous indoor hockey game is not unheard of!).