HR automation can reduce the time it takes to hire, manage and grow your greatest resource, your employees. 

When you’re in business, time is money, no matter if you’re making it or saving it. And HR is one department that is ripe with time wasters if companies haven’t automated their processes.

Consider how long it takes to sort, read and file paper applications, not to mention the actual cost of the paper and printing. Or tracking time on paper timesheets, which not only takes time but is prone to error. 

HR Automation Makes Companies More Agile 

HR departments across the country have seen the impact that HR process automation can have. According to Lighthouse Research & Advisory, 97% of companies say HR technology plays a key role in enabling agility.

Being agile in business is like having superpowers. HR automation allows companies to adapt quickly to market changes, respond rapidly to customer demands. Agile companies are flexible and able to adapt and lead change in a productive and cost-effective way. 

One way to become more agile is by making more HR processes accessible from mobile devices. According to Lighthouse, eight out of 10 construction applicants are looking for jobs and applying on a mobile device, and if employers can’t offer that accessibility, potential candidates will look elsewhere. 

Saving time by adopting more efficient processes is a trend more companies are adopting. According to AGC’s 2021 Construction Outlook, companies are increasing their HR investments in 2021:  

  • 18% plan to increase their spending on HR software 
  • 15% plan to increase spending on scheduling software 
  • 13% plan to increase spending on payroll software 

How Automating Hiring and Onboarding Saved One Company 40 Hours a Week 

Heggem-Lundquist, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is a contractor focusing on construction services. More than 250 employees work for the 70-year-old company, which specializes in metal framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, paint, plaster and wallcoverings. 

During the busy season, Heggem-Lundquist can have as many as 20 active open positions and HR didn’t have enough resources to hire and focus on things like brand development and safety and compliance.

HR needed automated solutions, like an applicant tracking system (ATS) and onboarding software, that would allow them to remain competitive, be easy to use and make it simple to maintain compliance.  

Heggem-Lundquist implemented HR automation, including a mobile ATS to help connect with and screen qualified candidates. Competitors were using an ATS to draw in candidates and the company needed to compete. Using an ATS and onboarding software, the company was able to offer applications and onboarding documents in Spanish. This allowed Heggem-Lundquist to better communicate with much of its workforce.

To create further efficiency, ATS allowed them to use pre-screening questions to determine the right fit with applicants. This HR automation allowed the company to collect applications and new hire documentation from anywhere, even remotely, which proved to be essential during COVID-19 shutdowns.

The paperwork used for hiring and onboarding was tedious, took up space and created a compliance risk. Using cloud-based HR automation tools allowed the company to store paperwork in the cloud, giving them one-touch access for EEOC required reporting.

Having saved 40 hours a week, the HR team was finally able to focus on building their company brand and on further streamlining their processes. 

Download the entire case study to learn more about how Heggem-Lundquist saved 40 hours per week by automating HR processes. 

HR Automation is No Longer an Option 

HR automation is no longer an option for human resources departments. With stiff competition for talent and the need to do more with less, HR departments simply don’t have the time to complete time-consuming HR processes manually.

More time needs to be spent working on strategic planning, building alliances with other departments and employee career mapping. According to a PWC survey, 44% of HR leaders say cloud-based HR automation technology increases efficiency and 35% say it reduces costs.

With more time on their hands, the HR department has more resources to focus on the longer-term or “macro” activities. 

HR automation, like applicant tracking, employee onboarding, benefits, time tracking, performance management and more, just makes economic sense. A productive and efficient HR department that is focused on improving candidate and employee experience and building the company’s brand and reputation will find it easier to attract and retain talent. 

Wondering if your company’s HR processes need to be automated? Take our Free HR Assessment to review how you’re currently working and then talk to us about how we can help you work smarter.