Background screening has changed completely in the last decade. What used to take days—or even weeks—now happens in minutes.
Go back 20 years, and the process was painfully manual. If you needed a criminal record, someone had to physically go to a courthouse, find a clerk, and hope they could pull the right file.
What happened between then and now? And what’s next? We’ll break it down in a way that helps you stay ahead of the curve.
The first background screening technology evolution
For decades, background checks were slow because records were locked inside courthouse filing cabinets. If you needed someone’s history, you sent a person to retrieve it. Public terminals, clerks, paper files—everything required time, effort, and patience.
Then came the push for public access. People wanted more transparency in government records, and laws started shifting. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and similar policies cracked open the doors. If the public had a right to see these records, why make them so hard to get?
Many courts responded by digitizing their records. Instead of flipping through paper files, clerks entered data into online databases.
And that’s when the opportunity became obvious. If you could access court records instantly, you could run background checks faster than ever. A few screening companies started to retrieve records digitally, which sped up the process.
Businesses that relied on speed—like gig companies, staffing firms, on-demand services—could now screen and place workers almost immediately. Hiring moved faster. Companies grew faster.
But for all the progress, some things didn’t improve. And some new problems were just beginning.
1. Customer experience got worse
Screening companies at this time operated under one simple rule: if we build a product that’s faster than anything else, no one will leave us. And for a while, they were right. Speed alone kept companies locked in.
But there was a problem—many providers compromised on customer service to save money. And when their customers needed help, they ran into a brick wall. High-volume hiring teams found it nearly impossible to get ahold of a real person. Questions about reports or technical issues led to endless email loops and automated responses.
If it takes you days of back-and-forth just to get a real human to help you, your provider is still stuck in the first phase of technological evolution.
2. Costs got worse instead of better
Automation should have made background screening more affordable. But that didn’t happen.
No major provider built any technology designed to save companies money. Instead, they figured out how to charge more for the same services.
Rate hikes became the norm. Not because the technology improved, not because the service got better—just because that’s the easiest way to squeeze more money from customers. If your rates go up every single year with no explanation, you’re likely not paying for technological innovation.
3. Candidates got stuck with more steps
Screening companies built automation to make background checks faster. But in the process, the technology made screening harder for candidates.
A background check should be simple: enter your information once, authorize the check, and get notified when it’s done. Instead, the technology wasn’t cohesive, often forcing candidates to enter the same details over and over for different screens.
There were extra steps, confusing processes, and no clear way for candidates to track where they were in the process. Even though employers were getting results faster, the people actually going through the process felt lost.
4. Human oversight was largely lost
Automation made background checks faster. Technology is great at retrieving records, matching data, and speeding up workflows.
But it’s not perfect. Court records can be outdated or incomplete. Data can get pulled incorrectly. If there’s no human review where it matters, mistakes slip through. And those mistakes can lead to people being flagged unfairly.
The best systems move fast and know where to put human oversight—making sure the right checks get a second look when needed.
5. Innovation stalled
The first big wave of change in background screening happened over a decade ago. But many providers never moved beyond that.
The problems that existed before still exist today. Companies that hire in high volume are still stuck with bad support, unpredictable costs, and workflows that don’t adapt to their needs.
But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be this way. The next wave of background screening technology is already here.
The current evolution of background screening technology
Most background screening providers are still stuck in phase one. They built automation a decade ago, made background checks faster, and then… stopped.
But a few companies are moving forward. They’re building the next phase of background screening technology. Here’s what the current technological evolution means.
1. Built-in customer support from a human
Background checks are only helpful when they run smoothly. But what happens when something goes wrong? Maybe there’s a delayed report or a confusing result. You need answers, fast.
The best screening providers today are putting real human support directly inside their platforms—so you can get help when you need it. That means the ability to chat with a real person who knows how to solve your issue.
No waiting days for someone to respond.
“Automation brought screening to new heights, but the need for quick, thorough support remained. Employers don’t want to be experts in background screening. They want someone in their corner helping them navigate the complexities and constant changes in screening.”
– Brady Stromme, Head of Customer at Yardstik
2. Sequential Screening
No screening company has ever built technology that helps their customers run fewer background checks. Until now.
Sequential Screening is a smarter way to run checks in a logical order, stopping if a disqualifying factor is found. Instead of paying for every check upfront, companies only pay for what they actually need.
This is the first real innovation built to save customers money.
3. Higher-quality integrations
Not all integrations are created equal. A bad integration can slow things down, create extra work, and make hiring more frustrating. Good integrations keep everything inside your existing workflow—so you’re not constantly switching tabs or re-entering information.
A high-quality integration doesn’t just “connect” to your system—it makes screening easier, faster, and frictionless. And that’s where innovation is focused now.
4. Removing friction for candidates
The best screening providers are simplifying the candidate experience by eliminating redundant steps and making the process more transparent.
They’re doing this by building candidate portals that carry information smoothly between checks and give candidates statuses. No more re-entering data. No more wondering where they are in the process.
5. Smarter automation that knows its limits
Automation is great—until it starts making decisions that require human oversight. The best screening providers today understand this balance.
New providers are building systems that use automation where it works best and flag reports for human review when necessary. The goal isn’t to slow things down—it’s to make sure background checks are both fast and accurate.
How to stay ahead with background screening technology
Companies that keep up with the technological evolution will save money, hire more quickly, and create a better experience for their teams. So how do you make sure you’re on the right side of this shift?
Look for signs your provider is stuck in the past
Not every screening provider is keeping up. Some are still running on decade-old technology, raising prices every year, and doing the bare minimum to keep customers from leaving.
If your provider:
- Makes it impossible to get real support
- Raises your rates every year without adding value
- Forces you into extra steps and clunky workflows
Then they’re not evolving. And they won’t help your business move forward.
Find a provider who is building the future
The best screening companies aren’t just making background checks fast. They’re making them smarter, easier, more transparent, and more reliable.
That’s exactly what Yardstik is building.
“The future of screening will take a more holistic approach to risk reduction. Given the rise in risk that companies are facing, the best screening providers will build products to help their customers reduce risk before and after hire, in addition to the fast and accurate background checks that they are used to.”
– Josh Cutler, Chief Technology Officer at Yardstik
We’re not just keeping up with these shifts—we’re leading them. If you’re ready for smarter, more efficient screening that actually helps your business grow, take a closer look at Yardstik.
Let’s build the future of background screening together.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice or used as a substitute for obtaining legal counsel. You should always speak to your own lawyer before acting or refraining from acting on the basis of any information included in this post.