Assessments (Psychometric Tests) a SaaS business?

I joined a leading psychometric test business in my late 40s and I knew from day one that this was an industry I was really going to enjoy. Indeed the majority of people I met already in the company were around my age with many even a lot older and very experienced. It felt I had joined a family ( well it was a family run business back then).... and no ageism here (well at that time)

Naturally I had to learn the assessments and become (quickly ) a knowledgeable "expert " in them so I could talk with authority to possible new clients. There were at the time 3 main assessments (you had to take them when you were recruited as these were used properly to identify the right candidates) and a basic 360 ....another assessment and a much improved 360 came later.

While we learnt how to manually score the main and biggest selling assessment (DiSC)....this was very rarely needed as they now all operated online and had been for many years, so I guess already a SaaS business of sorts. However one of the most important aspects and one of the most enjoyable parts of the job was the meetings and interactions with clients.

Although they will have been trained themselves in one or more of the assessments, many still felt they needed advice, support, guidance and maybe to just chat through various anomalies whether in DiSC profiles or linking assessments together. One of the most popular requests were help and advice in delivering feedback to their candidates... or maybe as an independent would we do the feedback for them.In fact the help and support was no doubt a huge bonus to the clients as the assessments were often a tool in their toolbox which they used as and when necessary so were not "experts" unlike us who worked in the industry who talked and used them all the time.

But then as time moves on and change is inevitable with constant advancements in technology...and demands for profits are constant...what next. As with a lot of recruitment (although many won't admit) there is this philosophy of hiring "young go getters" as "they are the future" and sending them straight out meeting existing clients with little product knowledge.

As I found out and understood, the assessment (psychometric) World is a little different and it can take months and months of constant learning to really fully understand them, talk as an "expert" in them and of course guide clients in how they can and should be used in various areas (not just recruitment). A meeting with a client who may have more knowledge and understanding of your product and/or services can have a detrimental effect. Many a time did I get a call from a client who had been given an inexperienced account manager and was frustrated by the lack of skill and knowledge expected and didn't really understand their issues.

So...should assessments/psychometric tests be a fully fledged SaaS business.....where you can buy and have access to a portal and run the tests yourself, with little if any training on what the reports are actually telling you, how to read them, how to deliver feedback, areas in which they can be used etc... Left on your own with a bit of telephone support from someone who might know less than you and might be like a lot of customer service these days and actually be in a different continent?

The importance of fully understanding the assessments was expressed quite often and of course the importance of feedback and during many internal meetings there were debates about whether clients should be allowed access to assessments they are not trained in. It was considered and recognised especially by many of my peers that assessments if not used correctly could be dangerous in the wrong hands and have a negative effect.

Over the years I met many new clients who had expressed how nice it was to actually meet someone and talk through all aspects of the assessments and although previously they had used a competitor, they hadn't heard from them for years.

Although having left the company that initially introduced me to the psychometric world, I have stayed in the industry as I enjoyed the interaction with clients, helping, supporting, advising, delivering workshops and so on and believe that the assessments can help all companies with their various people issues. I joined forces with several ex-colleagues and formed InterACT-Global who like me wanted to continue as a People Business and only a SaaS Business of Sorts.

So...when it comes to your people and whether recruiting new employees, improving the culture or the development of soft skills at all levels within the company. You can be assured that we are experienced and knowledgeable and treat all enquires on an individual basis. Should you wish to get training in the assessments you can be assured that this is delivered from highly qualified experts who also use the assessments themselves on a daily basis.

I guess then I'm saying that assessments/psychometric tests are too important when dealing with people issues and decisions, where human interaction can get to the heart and understanding of the matter and surely cannot be a fully fledged SaaS business.

Oh and as for AI!!

If you would like more information or just an informal chat....please do get in touch, we love to help.
Saul@saulcconsultancy.com
www.saulcconsultancy.com
www.interact-global.co