When your data is wrong or delayed, your reputation suffers.

You might miss a submission window. You might send duplicate profiles. Worst case, your client starts to question whether they can trust you at all. 

If you’ve ever dealt with screen scrapers to get candidate data into a VMS, you probably already know the pain. They’re slow. They break often. And they usually require manual cleanup. But the real cost goes deeper than just a few hours of frustration. One operations manager shared with us recently, "We lost an entire day of business when our ATS bot failed. It was chaos and there were tears."

 "We lost an entire day of business when our ATS bot failed, it was chaos and there were tears."

Scrapers Aren’t Built for Reliability 

Scrapers rely on unstable connections that mimic human clicks and copy-paste actions. Every time a client updates their VMS interface, those connections risk breaking. And because the VMS is a client's system, you don't have visibility to code changes, configuration, or processes. That’s why your team is constantly chasing errors or redoing submissions. 

They Add Work Instead of Removing It 

The promise of scrapers was automation. But in practice, they often just shift the manual work to another step in the process. Someone has to: 

• Watch for broken scrapes 

• Manually correct data fields 

• Re-upload resumes or documentation 

And when the fix fails? You’re the one who looks unprepared, even if it’s a technical issue you didn’t cause. 

They Hurt Your Metrics (Quietly) 

Most VMS clients measure supplier performance using data directly from their systems. If your submissions are incomplete or out of sync, it affects your fill rates, cycle times, and placement quality. Many VMSs also prohibit user credential sharing and bot scraping due to rising cyber security threats. Due to heightened risk, clients are considering measuring staffing suppliers on their compliance with information security, platform, and identity verification policies.

There’s a Better Way 

APIs are purpose-built to move data cleanly, consistently, and securely. They don’t break when the user interface changes. And they offer more transparency and speed; the two things clients value highly. 

 With the right API connection, suppliers can: 

• Sync data directly to the client’s system in real time 

• Eliminate manual rework 

• Improve speed and accuracy 

 Are your tools helping you get ahead or are they quietly holding you back?

Final Thought 

Screen scrapers might feel like a necessary evil, but they’re actually a hidden tax on your team’s efficiency and your program performance. 

If you're trying to grow your footprint with enterprise clients, consider this: Are your screen scrapers costing you more than you think?  

We can help. This quick cost savings calculator can help you estimate how much you could be saving today.