Rally House has achieved significant recognition for its innovative approach to hiring, receiving the Brandon Hall Group Gold Award for Excellence in the “Best Use of AI for Talent Acquisition.” This accolade follows a comprehensive overhaul of the retailer’s hiring strategy, leveraging Phenom’s AI-driven recruitment platform. The company’s expansion, which saw its retail footprint grow from 140 to nearly 300 stores, necessitated a rapid increase in hiring that traditional methods could not support.
AI-Driven Recruitment Strategy
To meet its staffing demands, Rally House partnered with Phenom to create a tech-enabled hiring engine designed specifically for the retail sector’s fast-paced and seasonal nature. The new system introduced mobile-first QR code job applications, AI-enabled chatbot screening, automated interview scheduling, and predictive hiring campaigns. These measures aimed to anticipate staffing needs before they arose, enhancing the efficiency of the recruitment process.
Rally House utilized real-time data to forecast demand effectively, even incorporating sports betting odds during playoff seasons. This strategic use of data allowed the company to launch targeted hiring campaigns just ahead of store openings, ensuring they were well-prepared for increased customer traffic.
While the AI system streamlined many administrative tasks, human oversight remained a priority. Store managers retained control over final hiring decisions, ensuring that the personal connection vital in retail environments was preserved. The balance between automation and human interaction was fundamental to the company’s strategy.
Impressive Results and Future Plans
The results of this transformation were noteworthy. Within just three months, the AI platform facilitated the scheduling of over 5,800 interviews, dramatically reducing the time-to-interview from days to hours. Automated workflows generated a savings of 10,000 hours of labor, equivalent to the work of five full-time recruiters. This efficiency enabled managers to concentrate more on store operations rather than administrative tasks.
In 2024 alone, Rally House successfully hired 7,992 employees through the new system, achieving a remarkable 122% cost savings by minimizing reliance on paid job advertisements and optimizing sourcing strategies.
According to Bryan Brazil, the company’s Talent Acquisition Manager, this technological shift has not only improved hiring speed but has also enhanced the quality of candidates. He emphasized that the technology helped surface top applicants while maintaining essential personal connections in a high-growth retail environment.
The recognition from the Brandon Hall Group highlights Rally House as a model for how organizations can leverage AI to enhance hiring efficiency without compromising the human experience. The award places the retailer among an increasing number of companies that are redefining talent acquisition through data-driven decision-making and modern automation tools.
This transformation signifies a broader trend in the retail sector, where adapting to changing demands through innovative technology is becoming essential. As Rally House continues to grow, its approach to hiring may serve as a benchmark for others in the industry.
