Scaling a recruitment website step-by-step: the PaHRtners case study

PaHRtners is a Belgian firm specializing in recruitment and HR consulting services tailored to the life sciences, manufacturing, tech, private equity, and social impact industries.

Recognized for its expertise and consistent growth, the company is a Trends Gazelle; a distinction awarded to Belgian companies known for their financial solidity and sustainable development.

We have been collaborating with PaHRtners since 2017. It is a relationship built on trust and consistency, perfectly illustrating how we work: moving forward step-by-step, maintaining a clear vision, and measuring every result

Starting point

In 2017, PaHRtners already had a structured digital presence, but their website was reaching its limits:

• An outdated design, no longer aligned with the brand identity
• A rigid architecture lacking the flexibility for future updates
• Inefficient content management experience for internal teams
• Limited SEO visibility in a competitive market

The goal: to design a high-performance, flexible, and autonomous website that serves both recruitment and marketing.

A step-by-step evolution, without disruption

At KERN IT, we prioritize a progressive and structured approach.
Each evolution builds on what already exists and prepares for the next.

Step 1 - Maintenance and stabilization (2017-2020)

We began by maintaining the existing website to ensure the platform’s reliability and security.
This phase allowed us to gain a deep understanding of the internal workflows, HR requirements, and marketing goals.

Step 2 - Full rebuild on Wagtail (2021)

In 2021, we built a new custom website based on Wagtail (a powerful and flexible open-source CMS).

Key contributions:

• A modernized, clear, and impactful design
• A simplified, high-performance architecture
• An integrated job board, managed directly by the HR team
• Wagtail CMS for seamless and autonomous content management
• A robust technical foundation, designed for long-term evolution

Step 3 - Functional Evolutions and ATS Connector (2022-2023)

Throughout 2022 and 2023, we implemented a series of targeted optimizations in collaboration with the marketing and communication teams:

• Improvement of the candidate experience andjob search functionality
• Design and content refinements to reinforce brand identity
• Implementation of an ATS connector, syncing applications with internal tools while maintaining a seamless user experience

These improvements have solidified the website as a powerful driver for visibility and HR prospecting.

Step 4 - Development of a custom AI module(2024 – 2025)

In 2024, we started developing a custom AI module, designed not as a 'magic' solution, but as a concrete lever to optimize and extract value from existing content.
The goal: to automatically generate relevant, useful pages that are perfectly aligned with PaHRtners' marketing strategy.

Following our pragmatic approach, we moved forward progressively, using Lean and Agile methodologies:

• Proof Of Concept (PoC): a static prototype to validate the approach and generation models.
• Manual phase: generation of test pages to assess the relevance and tangible value of the AI-produced content.
• Automation via scripts: moving towards a controlled, scalable generation process to increase the production volume.
• Iterations and adjustments: at every stage, we observe, measure, and adapt before moving forward.

This method, intentionally spread over time, focuses on long-term results rather than immediate impact.

In the digital world, the effects of a marketing campaign, whether SEO or content-based, are measured over a period of 3 to 6 months.
That is why we operate in iterative cycles, allowing us to test, observe, and adjust our approach at each step of the way.

The AI module, currently in the integration phase, will become a practical and manageable tool, allowing the marketing team to produce more targeted content while maintaining full control over quality and brand voice.

Rather than replacing editorial work, our goal is to provide marketing teams with a controlled accelerator, designed to keep them in charge of content quality and brand alignment.

Results and impact

• A modern, fast, and autonomous website, built on Wagtail and SWAG
• Simplified content management for internal teams
• An optimized candidate journey and linked to their ATS
• A future-ready technical foundation, open to automation and AI
• A sustainable and structured collaboration, evolving at the client’s pace

What's next ?

The adventure continues.
New ideas and evolutions are already being explored with PaHRtners for 2026, specifically focusing on the full deployment of the AI module and strengthening SEO strategies.
A partnership that remains rooted in pragmatism, transparency, and impact

Looking for a pragmatic digital partner?

AtKERN IT, we develop custom websites and digital tools built to be useful, scalable, and measurable.
No empty promises, no gadgets: only stable, clear solutions focused on your business value.

👉 Contact-us and let’s grow your digital presence together, one step at a time.