The employment landscape in Canada is changing fast. HR leaders must assess every aspect of their operations for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

One often overlooked area is the pricing of background checks, which is essential for hiring the right candidates and ensuring a safe, compliant work environment. This usually happens because once a background check provider is in place, it’s easy to fall into a routine, and change often can make us afraid of pain—pain in transition, learning a new tool, or optimizing the process. But this isn’t a reason not to have the best tech stack that reflects the most competitive pricing in 2025.

As you reflect on your current practices, ask yourself: when was the last time you negotiated your pricing? Are you still using the same background check provider you secured years ago? How many years ago was it?

The recent trend among Canadian companies to reassess their partnerships with American background check providers has heightened awareness of the importance of evaluating vendor relationships.

Now is the perfect time to ensure your pricing reflects the realities of today’s business landscape and client expectations.

Evolution in background checks

Recruitment and background checks have evolved. It’s no longer just about verifying employment history or criminal records. Today’s candidates may require comprehensive checks, including criminal, employment, education, references, ID, credit history, and social media scrutiny. But do your current processes enable you to get ‘any’ and ‘all’ necessary checks in one place? If your background check services are outdated, you could be missing vital types of checks and data inclusions in your checks that will lead to more accurate and complete assessments of candidates.

Furthermore, ask yourself: are you tailoring your checks to validate the specific and key criteria supporting the attributes of the roles you are recruiting for?

A great example is social media background checks. Suppose you recruit young talent, which is common in retail, food and beverage, travel and tourism, and volunteer roles. While a younger applicant may not have a criminal record check, their social media background check may flag problematic behaviour. If you traditionally used criminal background checks, introducing social media checks will give your team far more insights into candidates.

Aligning your checks with the responsibilities and risks associated with the position is essential to ensuring the most informed hiring decisions.

Re-evaluating your background check provider

If you’ve been using the same provider for years, it might be time for a change. Engaging with your teams to review how you manage background checks today can provide valuable insights. Evaluate whether your current provider offers the most complete range of background checks for today’s needs.

Moreover, the portal’s efficiency plays a key role in how quickly and accurately you can conduct these checks. A user-friendly, efficient system can enhance your hiring process, reducing time-to-hire and improving candidate experience. Reviewing your background check needs may result in switching to a solution that is easier to use and does more.

Pricing paradigm: Reflecting todays needs

Your pricing model for background checks should be reassessed annually to ensure that it reflects the volume of checks you conduct. Are you utilizing the full spectrum of services offered by your provider, or are you paying for features you don’t need? Are you paying for premium services when another background check provider doesn’t charge a premium for the same service? This is very common with service and support commitments.

If you’re considering a provider switch, take the time to explore the different options available in the marketplace. Evaluate whether these potential partners can more effectively, and at a competitive price meet your business’s evolving demands.

As marketplace dynamics shift and expectations evolve, it is imperative to ask the right questions about your background check processes. The effectiveness of your hiring strategy hinges on the integrity of your background check practices. If you’re contemplating changing, contact your team, review your current vendor agreements, and evaluate the benefits.

If your organization is not receiving the best value or service, consider partnering with professionals in this domain. At Triton, we’re equipped to help you comprehensively assess your current background check process. Our team can provide recommendations that enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your hiring process. For more information visit tritoncanada.ca.