‍
In December 2024, a significant step in the HR tech market became official: talentsconnect, market leader for career page technology, acquires PitchYou, the pioneer in WhatsApp recruiting. As a strong team, we want to take this step to reshape the future of recruiting and further expand the direct-to-talent ecosystem. Through the merger, we are not only creating new impetus for the industry, but also offering companies an innovative applicant experience via their own channels as well as pioneering solutions in times of a shortage of skilled workers.
Direct, efficient and AI-supported: recruiting of the future
According to organizational consultancy Korn Ferry, there will be a shortage of 4.9 million workers in Germany by 2030 and companies will miss out on 629.89 billion dollars in revenue due to the lack of workers. Traditional recruiting approaches are increasingly failing and the market has turned into an applicant market in many areas. In addition to skilled workers, there is often a shortage of workers today. The pressure on companies is increasing. Employers are therefore increasingly using direct, digitally automated communication channels that are uncomplicated for applicants. This allows them to set themselves apart from the competition to build relationships with talent and accelerate hiring.
With our data-driven approach at talentsconnect, we make recruiting as easy as online shopping. With the job shop, career pages can be set up quickly and efficiently, which means that up to four times more applications are received.
Synergies for a new era of recruiting: talentsconnect and PitchYou join forces
Following the merger, PitchYou will complement talentsconnect's software-as-a-service offering with personal contact and ongoing communication between companies and applicants via the WhatsApp messenger service. In this way, language barriers between talents and employers can be seamlessly bridged and uniform communication channels can be created via WhatsApp as a channel that 71 percent of all people in Germany use across generations, according to Statista.
This seamless interaction in the application process increases the number of applications, shortens time-to-hire and thus sustainably reduces the manual effort of recruiters and talent acquisition costs. In addition, valuable data is collected to help improve the applicant experience and optimize performance. By integrating PitchYou customers into the talentsconnect portfolio, the group of companies has almost 1,000 satisfied customers.
‍
“We are looking forward to bringing our expertise to the D2T ecosystem. Together with talentsconnect, we use our technology to optimize relationships between people and companies in recruiting employees. With continuous innovation, we aim to meet the needs of our growing customer base,” said PitchYou co-founder Gunnar Basner.
‍
‍
As part of the takeover, PitchYou GmbH will become a 100% subsidiary of talentsconnect AG. The teams are gradually being brought together and have been working successfully on integration for several months now. Robin Sudermann, CEO and Founder of talentsconnect, will be responsible for both companies as the new managing director following the merger.
‍
“When we got to know the PitchYou team, it was immediately clear to us: We think the same way, have very similar values, international and innovative teams and, above all, we are equally ambitious. Perfect conditions for achieving great things together,” explains Robin Sudermann, CEO of talentsconnect. “The takeover of PitchYou GmbH is more than a business transaction — it is a strategic step towards shaping the future of talent acquisition. By combining our strengths and products, we are building the D2T ecosystem — even beyond our strong organic growth.”
‍Focusing on joint growth
Our products complement each other perfectly: talentsconnect optimizes career pages for maximum applicant reach, while PitchYou optimizes interaction with talent with innovative WhatsApp communication. With combined strength, we plan to triple sales within three years under the direct-to-talent umbrella and press ahead with further strategic acquisitions. With almost 1,000 joint customers — including numerous internationally active companies — we cover a wide range of industries and requirements. The connection to leading applicant management systems such as Personio, SAP SuccessFactors and Workday ensures a seamless user experience!
Jens Berger, Managing Director for Human Resources, Culture and Communications at Globus, reports from practice:
‍
“Since we have combined the data-driven career site from talentsconnect with PitchYou's WhatsApp application for recruiting, we have been reaching significantly more candidates. Around every third WhatsApp application leads us to employment. ”
‍
‍
‍PitchYou: Recruiting via WhatsApp
The integration of the PitchYou WhatsApp solution opens up new opportunities for companies to communicate with applicants. Lowered application hurdles and the widespread use of WhatsApp have successfully closed the gap between talent and employers. The benefits of applying for WhatsApp with PitchYou:
- More qualified applications: Using WhatsApp increases the number of incoming applications.
- Reduced time-to-hire: Direct communication speeds up the process significantly.
- Increased conversion rate: 82% of applicants complete the WhatsApp interview.
‍
If you want to find out more about the WhatsApp application, Then stop by our customer WhatsApp Masterclass.
‍
JobShop: The smart career site from talentsconnect
With the JobShop, you can easily design a modern career page for your company, which you can intuitively edit 24/7 in real time without previous knowledge. With effective job offers, you will convince four times more candidates and achieve your recruiting goals more easily, faster and more cost-effectively. By using the high-performance career page solution, you create the perfect candidate journey and experience for your candidates. The Talentsconnect JobShop provides you with:
- 4 times more qualified applications: Through the JobShop effect.
- Faster hiring processes: Fill jobs up to 25% faster.
- Strengthening the employer brand: Place your company on the market as an attractive employer.
- Cost savings: Lower talent acquisition costs through efficient processes.
‍
conclusion
The merger of talentsconnect and PitchYou marks the beginning of a new era in the HR tech market. Together, we create a powerful product portfolio and help companies successfully meet the challenges of modern talent acquisition. With innovative technologies, strong growth and a clear focus on the needs of companies and applicants, we are pursuing the strong vision of redesigning the future of recruiting with the direct-to-talent approach.
‍
faqs
Why did talentsconnect and PitchYou join forces?
The merger combines talentsconnect's data-based career pages with PitchYou's innovative WhatsApp solution — with the aim of reshaping the future of recruiting. The acquisition accelerates the vision of building a comprehensive direct-to-talent ecosystem that will redefine how companies attract, engage and retain their top talent. By integrating WhatsApp recruiting into the existing D2T environment, the entire recruiting experience for our customers and their candidates is improved.
What does the merger mean for existing customers of talentsconnect and PitchYou?
Our customers benefit from optimized processes and the expanded product portfolio, which includes the smart career page and the innovative WhatsApp application connects with each other. The expertise of both companies enables individual solutions, an improved recruiting experience and the perfect all-in-one solution. We already have several joint customers who are successfully using both products — such as ATU, SARIA, Globus and ERGO.
What is the “direct-to-talent” approach?
The direct-to-talent approach helps companies attract talent directly via digital channels and retain them in the long term. This concept is based on data-driven technologies and makes it possible to continuously optimize the entire target group approach via a separate job marketing platform. Companies can respond flexibly to the changing needs of applicants and develop efficient strategies to attract the best talent.
Inspired by the successful “direct-to-consumer” model in e-commerce, D2T applies these principles to recruiting. The focus is not only on the method, but also on a new way of thinking that makes recruiting a central part of digital transformation.
What is talentsconnect's JobShop?
With the JobShop You can easily design a modern career page for your company. Effective job offers are perfectly tailored to sought-after talent and attract four times more candidates. This allows you to successfully master your company's recruiting challenges.
How does PitchYou's WhatsApp solution work?
PitchYou opens up WhatsApp as a powerful application channel and reduces the manual effort for recruiters through automated interviews. PitchYou is GDPR-compliant and works with an ISO-certified partner.
What are the benefits of integrating the two technologies?
The WhatsApp application can therefore be easily and easily integrated into your future JobShop structure. Companies benefit from efficient and cost-effective recruiting processes. They also receive higher numbers of applicants, shorten their time-to-hire and offer their candidates a seamless recruiting experience by combining the two products.
