TALiNT International: In a world where we are inundated with communications: email, teams, zoom, LinkedIn messenger, WhatsApp… how is SoureWhale helping customers reach candidates without risking being “lost in the noise”?

Dougie Loan: In many different ways! That’s one of the reasons why we built our platform – to help recruiters step up their outreach game and get noticed to ultimately book more meetings and achieve higher revenue. From crafting the initial message to tailoring content on the fly, users can ensure a deeper level of personalisation is added at every stage of the recruitment process.

We’ve even built our own text-generation tool, WhaleGPT, designed specifically for recruiters! Trained on a rich dataset of high-performing outreach, users can use this AI-powered feature in tandem with our Content Coach and Company Insights to give themselves the best chance of sending a message that will incite action ­– proven by the data!

Users also have access to a wide range of dynamic variables and custom features that enable ‘out-of-the-box’ content creation, including custom images, videos and user-recorded GIFs. Nothing grabs attention more than a personalised GIF in your inbox!

We’ve even built our own text-generation tool, WhaleGPT, designed specifically for recruiters!

TI: We’re hearing about the growing importance of data and how turning that data into meaningful stories will change the way sell and grow your business. How does SourceWhale do this?

DL: SourceWhale offers users access to a wide range of data across multiple areas. It provides valuable insights into recruiters’ BD and sourcing strategies, enabling leaders to shape their internal narratives for improvement and action. Additionally, SourceWhale offers valuable market insights on various DE&I metrics, such as engagement levels for specific roles or messaging. This empowers recruiters to tell compelling stories about the ever-evolving talent landscape when working with their clients.

TI: You talk about “hyper-personalising” but also talk about automation. How do you get the two to work in harmony?

DL: Our platform automates the tedious administrative parts of the recruitment process so that users have more time to be human and prioritise relationship building. Our customers experience an average time saving of one hour a day which can be refocused on hyper-personalising outreach and providing that white glove experience for their candidates and clients.

TI: You recently won the Talent Tech Innovation Award at this year’s TIARA Talent Tech Star Awards! Tell us about your entry and how you’re going to top it next year.

Our winning entry showcased our commitment to revolutionising talent technology by introducing cutting-edge solutions for personalised outreach and AI-driven campaigns. We believe our success is attributed to our dedication to user empowerment and our unique features, such as the Chrome extension for on-the-go messaging, Insights for instant information and WhaleGPT for AI-driven campaigns.

Our customers experience an average time saving of one hour a day which can be refocused on hyper-personalising outreach.

Looking ahead to next year, we are committed to building on this momentum. Our focus will be on continuous innovation, refining our existing features and introducing new, industry-leading technology. Winning this award has fuelled our determination to set new benchmarks and we are excited about the opportunities to further contribute to the industry’s growth and success.

TI: What’s an interview if it doesn’t include a question about AI! How do you think AI is going change the face of recruitment?

DL: AI had already transformed the face of recruitment in several ways, even before the recent surge of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. For many years it has been possible to automate daily tasks and speed up the candidate sourcing process through advanced algorithms. This has freed up a huge amount of time for the recruiter to focus on other areas of importance such as strategy and relationship building.

The proliferation of generative AI in the last 12 months has brought AI to the front and centre of the conversation, enabling recruiters to save hours on drafting candidate messages and social media posts in seconds. It’s important to note that this has not come without challenges, and the rise in generative AI tools has been met with a substantial offering of products that can detect AI-generated text, highlighting the need for caution when using these tools.

We believe that the role of AI in the coming years will be to continue to support and accelerate the capabilities of the recruiter

We are highly aware of these challenges and opportunities at SourceWhale, and our focus is on implementing AI in a way that enhances our user’s workflows and accelerates their outcomes.

Although it may be hubristic to say, we are confident that the role of AI will not replace the recruiter. Recruiters are experts in their field and possess an unparalleled understanding of their markets and, more importantly, the nuances of human relationships. This is something that AI is far from ever replacing. We believe that the role of AI in the coming years will be to continue to support and accelerate the capabilities of the recruiter, not remove them entirely from the process.

TI: What’s more important? Data or people?

DL: People who understand data and how to use it to drive innovation and change.

TI: You’re a TIARA sponsor and a TIARA winner! What is it about the TIARAs that make you want to associate yourselves with them?

We’re talking about the cream of the crop when it comes to organisations in the TIARA awards—the absolute best in the industry. The judging process is no walk in the park either – it’s rigorous and thorough. Having been on the judging panel ourselves, we can vouch that the outcomes truly mirror the market’s viewpoint. Being part of this goes beyond recognition; it’s a golden ticket to connect with the industry’s key players. It opens doors to meaningful conversations and valuable networking opportunities that extend far beyond the awards ceremony.