Candidate Engagement and Experience Platforms PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025 – Permanent Talent Acquisition and Contingent Talent Acquisition​

As talent acquisition becomes more outcome-driven, enterprises are placing greater emphasis on unified platforms that enhance both candidate engagement and recruiter experience. This report explores the evolving market for candidate engagement and experience platforms, which are now central to orchestrating recruitment journeys across permanent and contingent hiring. With pressure to deliver measurable outcomes such as speed, quality, and cost organizations increasingly seek platforms that leverage AI-driven automation, personalized communication, and seamless integration. Providers are investing in mobile-optimized experiences, intuitive UI/UX, and agentic AI that moves beyond assistance to action, automating key workflows across the talent lifecycle.

The report presents a detailed analysis of 34 platforms supporting permanent talent acquisition and 17 supporting contingent talent acquisition. It highlights how leading providers differentiate through safe, explainable AI, skill-based matching, and unified candidate experiences. It also identifies key innovations such as recruiter copilots, candidate graph architecture, and omnichannel messaging. Procurement and HR leaders will find actionable insights on selecting the right-fit platforms based on talent type, coverage, and integration requirements.