Vedior operates in excess of 300 different websites providing the Group with an extensive web presence. A generational shift in jobseekers means the Internet is increasingly seen as a place of first call and, to match candidate and client expectations, our websites are increasingly interactive. In 2007, unique visitors to the Group’s websites increased by approximately 30%. We advise operating companies on the development of their online initiatives and share best practice regarding all aspects of developing, promoting and maintaining their websites. We also complement individual operating company online initiatives with our DOVA initiative.
DOVA (Database of Online Vacancies) is a proprietary application/database which consolidates the online vacancies our operating companies display on their own websites. While local operating company websites have the benefit of being focused on the candidates and clients within their particular sector, it does mean that the online vacancies we advertise are dispersed among numerous portals.
The consolidated DOVA database complements our operating companies’ local online marketing initiatives and provides the scale of jobs that can match (and often exceed) those of our largest competitors. During 2007, the database grew to over 63,000 jobs and this is increasing as new operating companies are being added all the time.
DOVA is a flexible system that also enables us to display all the Group’s online vacancies in a number of portals (most notably www.vedior.com ) or to segment the data by geography or industry sector (for example, our UK portal, www.vedior-jobs.co.uk ). Effectively, it means that every time one of our operating companies places a job on its own website, DOVA seamlessly advertises it in a number of additional websites thereby increasing visibility and candidate response.
Some of our operating companies choose to use DOVA to power their own websites. Here the browser is configured to make jobs within the local market more prominent but with the ability to search for jobs in other markets if the jobseeker so wishes (see www.vediorna.com , www.vedior.de , or www.vedior.pt ). Operating companies opting to have DOVA power their own website benefit, not only from the improved credibility they gain due to the high volume of jobs, but increasingly from the technical sophistication of DOVA itself.
In 2007, DOVA was upgraded to include a candidate database. Beforehand, any candidate registering for a job via DOVA would have their details sent directly to the relevant operating company to be dealt with - we did not capture this information centrally. This meant that we could not attract “passive” candidates (i.e. jobseekers who wish to register their availability but cannot identify a suitable job to apply for). Now, using sophisticated matching technology, when a job is added to the database that matches a jobseeker’s profile, they are automatically sent details of that job and invited to apply.
Vedior will seek to continue encouraging a healthy dialogue among its operating companies in order to share best practice on all technology issues, to seek efficiencies wherever practical and to prevent re-invention. Vedior’s decentralised structure enables operating companies to maintain agility in order to meet customer and candidate needs. This model provides a strong sense of ownership, wider distribution of risk and, relative freedom to innovate.
Average number of jobs in DOVA, 2007
