Top SHL Alternatives for 2026
Evaluating assessment platforms beyond SHL? Here is what modern AI-powered assessment looks like, the criteria that matter, and how to choose a platform that fits your team.
What to Look for in a Modern Assessment Platform
The criteria that separate modern, self-service platforms from traditional psychometric assessment.
Self-service, not consultant-dependent
Modern assessment platforms let you create and launch assessments the same day. Avoid platforms where every new role or assessment change requires weeks of consultant engagement.
Transparent scoring, not opaque percentiles
Norm-referenced percentiles tell you how a candidate compares to a population — but not why. Look for platforms with transparent rubrics where every score dimension is explainable to candidates and hiring managers.
AI-generated content, not static instruments
Pre-validated instruments are fixed — the same questions for every company. AI-generated content is tailored to your company context, industry, and role requirements, producing more relevant and secure assessments.
Competency-first scoring
The best platforms score against role-specific competencies, not abstract traits. Overall scores should reflect performance on the skills that matter for the job — not generalised cognitive or personality measures.
Modern assessment types
Go beyond traditional psychometric tests. Case studies, AI voice interviews, SJTs, and artifact reviews evaluate practical competency in realistic job scenarios that traditional instruments cannot capture.
Unified hiring and employee development
If you assess candidates during hiring, the same competency framework should extend to internal assessment, coaching, and development tracking — without needing separate products.
Platforms to Evaluate
These are the most commonly evaluated assessment platforms. We recommend trialling multiple against the criteria above.
What Kaairo Offers
A competency-first assessment platform for both hiring and employee development.
Assessment Types
- Case Studies
- Situational Judgement Tests
- Multiple Choice
- AI Voice Interviews
- Artifact Review
- Multi-Test Batteries
AI Capabilities
- AI-generated test content
- AI competency recommendations
- Real-time conversational AI interviews
- AI coaching plans from results
- Company context injection
Scoring & Analytics
- Competency-first scoring
- Transparent 9-parameter rubric
- Side-by-side radar chart comparison
- Competency scatter plots
- Custom analytics dashboard
Hiring + L&D
- Multi-phase hiring pipelines
- Internal employee assessments
- Team competency benchmarking
- AI coaching & practice library
- Employee development tracking
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a modern assessment platform?
Look for self-service setup (no consultant dependency), AI-generated content tailored to your company, transparent scoring rubrics you can explain to candidates, and competency-first evaluation that goes beyond norm-referenced percentiles.
How do modern AI platforms differ from traditional psychometric assessment?
Traditional platforms use pre-validated static instruments with norm-referenced scoring. Modern AI platforms generate dynamic content per company, score against custom competency frameworks, and offer real-time AI voice interviews — all self-service.
Is AI-generated assessment content as valid as psychometric instruments?
AI-generated content evaluates competencies through realistic scenarios (case studies, SJTs, artifact reviews) rather than abstract psychometric items. When scored with transparent, structured rubrics, these assessments capture job-relevant performance more directly.
Do I lose enterprise-grade analytics by moving to a modern platform?
No. Platforms like Kaairo offer competency scatter plots, correlation matrices, radar chart comparisons, and cross-context analytics (hiring + L&D). Modern analytics focus on competency data rather than norm percentiles.
How quickly can I set up assessments on a self-service platform?
Same-day setup is possible. Define competencies, let AI recommend a test mix and generate content, review and customise, then invite candidates. No weeks of consultant engagement or custom instrument development.
See Kaairo in action
Request a demo and we will walk you through competency-first assessments with your own framework and real scenarios.
Request a Demo