Last week, we talked about the top 5 reasons companies are investing in automating HR Processes. Now let's look at some of the additional ways that technology is changing those processes. It comes down to personalization, speed, efficiency, happiness, expectations, accessibility and of course the big one, transformation.
Personalization
Employee Satisfaction is all about personalization. And the ways that you can incorporate personalize the employee experience, the higher the satisfaction, and the greater the retention. The employee experience is what makes or breaks retention.
Technology can enable the use of employee data to deliver personalized portal screens, personalized knowledge base content, personalized HR processes and more personalized communication. Using technology to improve personalization has a clear ROI, by reducing attrition.
Speed
An obvious change that technology brings to the HR and employee experience is speed. But just because it’s obvious does not mean it’s not worth discussing. Seed is a great enabler of productivity.
For example, when an employee needs an answer to a policy question, on-line knowledge base technology enables her to find the right answer fast. This creates more time for the employee to focus on her work, and more time for HR to invest in the strategic work. Speed is a great enabler, but only if you use the new-found time for HR’s Quadrant II work.
Efficiency
When it comes to technology, efficiency is a by-product of speed. Automation of HR improves the speed of much HR work, thereby increasing the efficiency of the HR professional. And more efficient HR workers make for a more efficient HR business.
Happiness
Sources presented earlier show how increased Personalization drives employee satisfaction and increases retention. Well, if employees are satisfied with their work environment, and stay with their employers longer, it’s in part because they’re happy with their employee experience.
While happiness in and of itself is good for the individual, how is it good for the employer? Sure, retention is a quantifiable benefit of happiness, but there’s another big one. And that is that happy employees are 12% more productive. And higher productivity from existing employees goes straight to the bottom line!
Meeting Expectations
When HR Processes are automated, they can be measured in terms of time. And what gets measured gets managed. Therefore, automated processes, through alerts, notifications and escalations can be kept on track to be complete on a more predictable basis.
Met expectations give employees confidence in HR, and give HR confidence in their ability to deliver, and to prove their value to the business.
Accessibility
Technology is making HR more accessible to mobile employees. An HR Self-service portal or an HR App makes the employee’s life so much easier by giving them access to HR services wherever, and whenever they choose
For example, applying for a leave of absence from your smart phone while sitting in your doctor’s exam room is so much more convenient than having to wait to initiate the process later. Accessibility creates convenience, and convenience wins customers (and employees).
Transformative
When technology enables HR processes to be performed faster and enables HR professionals work more efficiently, they can be more effective. They’ll have the necessary time to focus on the kinds of work that make the overall business more competitive, productive and successful.
In Summary
Technology has made HR Processes faster, more efficient and personalized. Automated and personalized processes make employees (and HR professionals) happier. HR is meeting and exceeded expectations, and has become more accessible, particularly to mobile employees. And most of all, technology’s impact on HR processes is to enable HR to spend more time on the strategic work. And when HR does more strategic work, they’re enabling the success of the business.
