Convai, Probe CX launch AI recruiter for seasonal hiring

Convai and Probe CX have launched the AVA AI Agent for recruitment, which Probe CX says has improved efficiency in high-volume and seasonal hiring by 60 per cent.

The system automates initial applicant screening through voice calls. Since launch, AVA has handled more than 16,600 calls, contacted all candidates within 24 hours of their application, and saved 330 recruiter hours in one campaign.

Recruitment teams in sectors with large seasonal workforces often face narrow hiring windows and high application volumes. AVA was designed to reduce delays at the point when candidates are most likely to disengage or accept other offers.

Candidate response

According to the companies, the tool eliminated a 30 per cent non-engagement rate in Probe CX's hiring process by contacting candidates within the first day after they apply, when interest is typically strongest.

The project was led by Lyle Smith, Head of Enterprise Digital at Probe CX, using Oration by Convai. The companies said AVA is a conversational agent built to carry out early-stage recruitment checks before applicants move further into the hiring funnel.

These checks include compliance, eligibility, and security screening. The tool can also verify citizenship and age requirements before candidates progress.

"AVA conducts five-to-seven-minute voice screening calls that verify compliance, eligibility and security prerequisites, removing the burden of repetitive manual questioning from our recruitment team. It is also capable of autonomously verifying zero-margin compliance such as citizenship and age requirements, achieving a 100 per cent eligibility rate for all leads entering the hiring funnel," said Lyle Smith, Head of Enterprise Digital, Probe CX.

Hiring at scale

The companies are positioning the product for employers that need to recruit at scale, particularly when large numbers of workers must be hired or rehired in short periods. Retailers and other businesses with seasonal peaks are a key target market.

"If you are a retailer or other business that needs to hire or rehire hundreds or thousands of people quickly, this product will save your recruiters a lot of time and capture a higher percentage of high-quality candidates," said Smith.

Mike Banbrook, Chief Executive Officer at Convai, said the results had changed the way Probe CX managed its busiest recruitment periods, shifting recruiters' time away from repetitive triage and towards later-stage assessment.

"Automating this activity means recruiters can focus exclusively on qualified talent, effectively bridging Probe CX's capacity-versus-speed gap and ensuring that they find the best talent for their clients faster than ever before," said Mike Banbrook, Chief Executive Officer, Convai.

"It has also created a genuine competitive advantage for Probe CX, meaning they can focus human expertise where it matters most: final selection, cultural alignment and meaningful candidate connection," added Banbrook.

Wider rollout

Probe CX said the approach could be applied beyond contact centres and seasonal campaigns. Organisations in industries that experience sudden recruitment surges may face similar bottlenecks, particularly when quickly screening large applicant pools becomes more important than sourcing them.

"This product could have real impact for any organisation that manages high volumes of recruitment, particularly large retailers managing large-scale seasonal hiring," said Smith.

"Recruitment becomes challenging for all organisations during sudden ramp-ups and peak surges when they have to scale exceptionally fast. I'd encourage organisations facing similar pressures to assess where manual operations are creating bottlenecks," added Smith.

AVA has also received outside recognition, with the product named a finalist in the TIARA Talent Acquisition & Talent Tech Awards. The recognition comes as employers look for ways to shorten response times and reduce candidate drop-off in competitive labour markets.

"With just three months until peak seasonal hiring begins, organisations have a limited window to prepare. Investing in the right recruitment processes and technology now can deliver significant operational gains and strengthen employer reputation when competition for talent is at its highest," added Smith.