PitchMe launches SONAR to modernize staffing agency talent search

PitchMe has launched SONAR in early access across the UK, US and Europe to help staffing agencies search the public web, enrich candidate profiles and keep working inside existing ATS and CRM systems. The new product is designed to reduce reliance on separate sourcing tools while connecting internal databases with external talent markets.

Why it matters: - Staffing agencies often split recruiting across an ATS or CRM and a separate sourcing tool. SONAR is built to reduce that workflow friction. - The product is designed to help recruiters find both known candidates and new prospects without replacing core systems such as Bullhorn, Avionte and Vincere. - PitchMe is positioning SONAR as a new search layer that could make agency talent search faster and less dependent on third-party subscriptions.

What happened: - PitchMe launched SONAR in early access on Sept. 30, 2026. - The product is now live across the UK, US and Europe. - SONAR searches public data sources across the web and returns enriched candidate profiles in one place. - Recruiters can review and contact candidates without moving away from their existing ATS or CRM.

The details: - SONAR works alongside ATS and CRM systems rather than replacing them. - The platform is designed to integrate with systems including Bullhorn, Avionte and Vincere. - PitchMe says the launch is the first step in a plan to combine an agency’s internal database with the external talent market in one search experience. - A second module is in development. - That module is designed to sync candidates from an agency’s ATS or CRM into PitchMe. - The module will show internal and external candidates side by side. - Qualified candidates would automatically route back into the ATS as they move through a hiring pipeline. - SONAR organizes hiring work as Projects. - Projects can be private or shared with a team. - Recruiters can create Searches in two ways: by describing the candidate in plain language or by using structured filters. - The structured filters cover job title, geography, experience, education, skills, employers, credentials and languages. - SONAR recalculates the addressable talent pool in real time as recruiters add filters. - The system expands queries automatically for alternate job titles, company aliases, name spellings and language synonyms. - Each search result includes an enriched profile with the candidate’s name, current role, tenure, location and employer. - Profiles also include a completeness score, available contact details and links to relevant social and professional profiles. - Recruiters can reach candidates by phone, email or the outreach tool of their choice. - The search and enrichment engine builds on more than five years of PitchMe work verifying and enriching candidate data for agencies across the UK, US and Europe. - PitchMe is also developing support for AI-agent access through Model Context Protocol, or MCP. - That work is meant to extend the same add-on approach to ATS platforms that do not natively support agent-ready search. - SONAR is available now in early access, with broader availability planned later this year. - Agencies can request a demonstration and access at pitchme.co.

Between the lines: - PitchMe is betting that agencies want better search without a disruptive system overhaul. - The product’s side-by-side internal and external search approach suggests the company sees sourcing and database search converging into one workflow. - The planned MCP support points to a broader push toward AI-assisted recruiting tools that still sit on top of existing systems.

What's next: - PitchMe plans to broaden SONAR availability later this year. - The company is continuing development on the module that merges internal and external candidate pools. - PitchMe is also building AI-agent access support through MCP.

The bottom line: - SONAR is PitchMe’s attempt to make agency sourcing feel modern without forcing agencies to replace the ATS and CRM systems they already rely on.