Hiring Fast Without Losing Top Talent Isn’t unrealistic—It’s the AI Advantage for SMBs

79% of companies already use AI in recruiting, and nearly 70% report improved hiring outcomes.

One of the most significant obstacles facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) is hiring quickly while maintaining candidate quality. With a limited budget, a lean HR team, and intense competition from larger enterprises, you're expected to fill roles yesterday.

But what if you could level the playing field without burning out your team or draining your resources?

Infosprint Technologies, an IT service company, helped several SMBs and startups automate their hiring processes. One of our clients, a leading integrated resource management firm, reduced manual hiring efforts by 30% by adopting just a few key AI tools.

Let’s explore 6 must-have automation tools designed specifically for SMBs looking to hire smarter, faster, and more affordably. Whether you're just getting started or scaling fast, these tools will give you an edge in today’s competitive job market.

1. Breezy HR - End-to-End AI-Powered ATS

Breezy HR is an all-in-one applicant tracking system for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It offers features typically found at the enterprise level. It provides a streamlined and intuitive interface while incorporating powerful functionalities that are standard in big-business recruitment platforms. Breezy supports the hiring process, from sourcing and applicant tracking to interviews and onboarding.

A standout feature of Breezy is its AI integration, which automates repetitive tasks intelligently and ranks candidates based on their job fit, significantly reducing manual effort.

• AI-Powered Candidate Matching: Breezy uses AI to screen the applicants based on the job descriptions and candidate resumes, ranking all the candidates based on how well they match the position. It uses NLP to understand context in resumes, highlighting top candidates and flagging candidates with skill gaps.
• Drag and Drop Pipeline Management: HR team can drag and drop the candidates through stages(applied, interview, offer letter) helps stay organized and track applicants with ease.
• Automated candidate sourcing: It can automatically source candidates by posting on 50+ job boards and even pulling profiles from LinkedIn.
• Integrated video interviews: Candidates can schedule interviews directly through Breezy, and video calls can be hosted on platforms like Zoom and Google Meet or directly within Breezy.

Why do SMBs love it?

For SMBs, every hour counts. Integrating AI-powered recruiting solutions can reduce time to hire, which is crucial for growing teams.

Pro Tip: Breezy HR allows you to set automation rules—conditional workflows that trigger actions such as automatically advancing top-ranking candidates to the next round, informing applicants about their application status, and notifying teams when a candidate reaches the interview stage.

2. HireVue – AI Video Interviews and Pre-Hire Assessments

If you are looking to hire at scale, remotely, or across time zones, HireVue is the perfect tool for you. It is an AI video interviewing and pre-assessment tool that uses scientific backend methods to automate early-stage evaluations.

• On-demand video interviews: This platform allows candidates to record video responses to structured interview questions later analyzed using AI on speech patterns, facial expressions, and word choice. 
• Pre-built assessments: It offers customizable and ready-made assessments that test cognitive, software and coding skills. These are all gamified making the interview engaging.
• Predictive Hiring Analytics: HireVue’s platform uses machine learning models trained on historical hiring data to predict candidate success.

Why SMBs Love HireVue?

While originally popular with enterprise users, HireVue is increasingly being adopted by growing SMBs, especially those with remote or high-volume hiring needs.

• No need to schedule every interview. Candidates record responses when convenient.
• AI ensures structured, fair evaluations across all candidates.
• You can easily assess hundreds of applicants without a large HR team.

Pro tip: One of the best methods for use HireVue is to implement AI assessments at the very start of your hiring process—before human interviews begin. 

3. Paradox Olivia – Conversational AI for Recruiting

Paradox is a recruitment automation platform that utilizes Olivia, a conversational AI, to enhance the recruiting process. Unlike traditional chatbots, Olivia is intelligent and can answer candidate questions, conduct interviews, and advance candidates through the recruitment funnel with minimal human intervention. 

Think of Olivia as an AI-powered HR coordinator who never sleeps. She constantly engages candidates and manages repetitive communication tasks.

• 24/7 Chatbot for questions: Olivia engages candidates through conversational AI—not scripted Q&A—on your careers site, mobile, or even WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
• Automated Interview Scheduling and Reminders: Interviews are scheduled directly based on the manager's availability.
• Real-time updates: Candidates can ask Olivia about their application status, such as' In which stage am I in the recruitment process?’ ‘Has my application been reviewed?’ ‘How many days to expect a response?’
• Multilingual capability: It can interface in multiple languages, making supporting global or diverse application pools easier.

Why do SMBs love Olivia?

Olivia fills the gap of HR coordinator for small businesses and startups. Whether you are a one-person team or scaling rapidly, Olivia brings restfulness, efficiency, and structure. 

• Reduces time-to-hire with instant engagement.
• Frees up human recruiters from repetitive tasks.
• Improves the candidate experience with timely, 24/7 communication.

Pro tip: Embedding Olivia into your careers page or job descriptions means candidates can start chatting the moment they land. Instead of reading the job description and bouncing back, they can check their eligibility for the role, how to apply, and more.

Curious how these tools would work for your business? Book a free 30-minute hiring automation consult with Infosprint.

4. Vervoe – AI Skills Testing Platform

If your company only needs candidates with real-world problem-solving skills, then Vervoe is your go-to platform. Unlike other automation recruiting tools that filter candidates based on resumes and interviews alone, it focuses on real-world assessments that mimic the job role. After the assessment is done, its AI will rank the candidates based on how well they’ll do the job.

• Pre-built and custom assessments: Vervoe offers ready-to-use pre-built assessments across industries and roles, and also creates custom assessments tailored to job-specific requirements.
• AI-grading with human-like accuracy: It scores candidates with fair and consistent evaluations without human bias on factors such as clarity, logic, tone, relevance, and creativity.
• Anti-cheating tools: It incorporates anti-cheating tools such as a plagiarism detector, randomized question banks, timed assessments, and browser tracking.

Why do SMBs love Vervoe?

• High-volume applicant filtering becomes hands-off.
• Bias is reduced since you’re hiring based on performance.
• Non-traditional candidates (e.g., career switchers, self-taught talent, or those without big-name credentials) have a fair shot.

Pro tip: Before scheduling an interview, deploy the skill test immediately, by doing it you are filtering out most low-performing candidates and reducing dozens of hours per hire.

5. Manatal – AI-Powered ATS with CRM Capabilities

A simple yet powerful cloud-based application tracking system, Manatal. It combines AI recommendations of candidates with built-in CRM features. 

• AI candidate recommendations: It scans your database of candidates and matches them with the job description/ job role you need to hire. The candidates are suggested based on their skills, experience, and job title match.
• Social media enrichment: It automatically pulls data from open-source channels like LinkedIn and GitHub to enrich candidate profiles.
• Customizable recruitment pipelines: Like the Breezy automation tool, you can also manage candidates using a drag-and-drop option in the recruitment pipeline.
• Built-in CRM capabilities: Manage client and candidate relationships from one platform—track communication, job submissions, follow-ups, etc.

Why do SMBs love it?

• Easy to set up with minimal onboarding.
• Low cost compared to enterprise ATS tools.
• AI tools that work out-of-the-box for small teams who can’t afford a dedicated sourcer or tech-savvy recruiter.

Pro tip: Use Mantal’s AI + Boolean search combo for more innovative sourcing. 

6. Zoho Recruit – Customizable ATS with AI Capabilities

Zoho Recruit is a component of the Zoho CRM ecosystem designed to support hiring agencies and corporate hiring teams. It is a modular, cloud-based Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that excels at customization and integrations, particularly for businesses already utilizing the Zoho ecosystem.

• AI-powered Resume Parsing and matching: Similar to other recruiting automation tools, it ranks candidates based on skill and experience using AI.
• Workflow automation: Automate workflows such as emails, messages, reminders, offer letters, and job postings on job boards.
• Integrated Video interviews: Unlike other tools, where users submit their recorded videos, companies can conduct interviews directly within the Zoho platform.
• Candidate portal & requisition templates: Branded portals where candidates can apply, track application status, or upload documents. 

Why do SMBs love it?

• Seamless integration with other Zoho apps like CRM, People (HRMS), and Mail.
• Affordable pricing with enterprise-grade flexibility.
• Can handle multiple job pipelines for different business units or clients.

Pro tip: Utilize Zoho’s customizable scorecard early in the recruitment process. Communicate with managers and candidates about what to expect and align weights to different criteria.

Finding Your Perfect AI Match: A Guide for SMB Hiring Tools

Not all tools are one-size-fits-all. When choosing the right solution, consider:

• Your team size and hiring volume
• The complexity of roles (technical vs non-technical)
• Existing HR tech stack (do you need integrations?)
• Budget and scaling goals

To help you make your decision, here is a brief comparison table:

Recruiting for SMBs: Hire Smarter, Faster with Infosprint

AI recruiting tools are no longer exclusive to Fortune 500 companies. With intuitive platforms, flexible pricing, and powerful automation, small and medium businesses can hire smarter, faster, and more efficiently than ever.

Whether you want to reduce time-to-hire, eliminate manual tasks, or improve candidate quality, the six tools above offer a strong foundation for modern SMB recruiting.

Want to hire smarter for your Business? Let’s talk — contact us today for IT staffing solutions built for your business success.

 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best AI recruiting tool for small businesses?

The best tool depends on your hiring goals, budget, and tech stack. Here are the top picks:

Manatal

• Best for: All-in-one AI ATS
• Key Features: AI resume scoring, LinkedIn enrichment, low-cost plans

Recooty

• Best for: Micro businesses & startups
• Key Features: Multilingual support, intuitive interface, basic AI screening

Fetcher

• Best for: AI candidate sourcing & outreach
• Key Features: Auto-sourcing from LinkedIn, automated email campaigns

Breezy HR

• Best for: Custom hiring workflows
• Key Features: AI chatbots, pipeline automation, interview scheduling

Vervoe

• Best for: Skill-based hiring
• Key Features: AI-graded assessments, technical tests, bias-free evaluation

HireVue

• Best for: High-volume or remote hiring
• Key Features: AI video interviews, predictive analytics, structured evaluations

Pro Tip: Choose a tool that integrates with your HR software and offers a free trial.

2. How can small businesses use AI to improve hiring speed and quality?

AI streamlines hiring by reducing time-to-hire and improving candidate fit. Here's how:

• AI Resume Screening: Tools like Zoho Recruit and Mantal quickly shortlist candidates based on role fit.
• AI Chatbots (24/7): Paradox Olivia and Breezy HR instantly engage applicants and answer queries.
• Skill-Based Assessments: Vervoe and TestGorilla increase hiring accuracy with unbiased scoring.
• Predictive Analytics: You can forecast candidates' success and retention by using HireVue or Ideal tools.
• AI Candidate Sourcing: AI recruiting tools handle even outreach activities and can find passive or hard-to-find candidates. You can check out the Fetcher or SeekOut tools for this.

Bonus Tip: Use AI to handle repetitive tasks, but always include human evaluation for cultural fit.

3. Are AI recruiting tools affordable for startups and SMBs?

Yes! Many tools are designed with startups and small teams in mind:

• Tools like Recooty and Manatal have flexible pricing, ranging between $20~$50 per month.
• Zoho Recruit and Breezy HR offer free trials and Freemium models, which allow you to upgrade based on your company's requirements.
• Manatal and Workable offer pay-as-you-grow options, with Scalable features for growing businesses.

Budget-Friendly Picks:

1. Recooty – Starts around $29/month
2. Manatal – Around $15/month/user
3. Zoho Recruit – Free plan available
4. Breezy HR – Free trial + flexible pricing

Tip: Focus on ROI, not just cost. AI hiring can reduce recruitment expenses by 30–50%.

4. What’s the difference between an ATS and a recruitment automation platform?

Applicant Tracking System (ATS):

• Focuses on resume parsing, interview scheduling, and pipeline tracking
• Tools: Zoho Recruit, Workable

Recruitment Automation Platform:

• Automates sourcing, outreach, and candidate engagement using AI
• Tools: HireVue, Fetcher, Paradox Olivia

AI Capabilities:

• ATS: Basic AI features like screening
• Automation Platforms: Advanced AI like predictive analytics and smart sourcing

Summary:

• ATS = Candidate management
• Automation platform = End-to-end recruiting optimization
• Best of Both: Tools like Breezy HR and Manatal offer both features.

5. How do I know which AI hiring tool is right for my business?

Choose a tool based on your specific hiring needs:

Team Size:

• Small teams need easy-to-use platforms with strong automation
• Tools: Breezy HR, Recooty

Hiring Volume:

• For large-scale hiring, use tools with AI sourcing
• Tools: Fetcher, HireVue

Role Type:

• For tech roles, prioritize assessments and video interviews.
• Tools: Vervoe, HireVue

Budget:

• Look for tools with flexible or low-cost pricing
• Tools: Manatal, Zoho Recruit

Tech Integration:

• Ensure compatibility with your CRM or HR systems
• Tools: Zoho Suite, Greenhouse

Pro Tip: Book a free consultation with Infosprint Technologies for tailored recommendations based on your business goals.