This report explores the evolving landscape of Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) systems, emphasizing their growing importance in modern talent acquisition. It highlights the challenges of adoption, the gap between CRM potential and value delivery, and the misalignment between CRM purchasers and users. The document discusses the shift towards CRMs that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance sourcing, engagement, and analytics, offering more recruiter-friendly, cost-effective solutions. Key features of modern CRMs include improved candidate databases, engagement tools, and analytics for data-driven decision-making, aiming to address the inefficiencies of traditional systems and improve the recruiter and candidate experience.