Get the Most out of Your HR Technology
Employers are more focused on the employee experience than ever before. The pandemic forced companies to switch business practices, which meant figuring out a way to keep employees engaged and productive while working from home. Predicted labor shortages and a lack of skilled workers means talent acquisition tools not only must be smarter, faster and more affordable but also make the candidate experience a priority.
It’s not surprising that faced with these challenges companies are looking for HR technology that can provide solutions. According to Josh Bersin, founder of the Josh Bersin Academy for professional development in HR, companies are reinventing their employee experience and they need tools that simplify, automate and digitize everything. HR software needs to be easy to use, data-driven and AI-enabled, so employees can do their jobs and manage their work lives.
But experts, like Bersin, also warn that HR technology can’t provide a great employee experience on its own. HR technology must only be part of your company’s solution. There’s a big gap between implementation (purchasing and launching the software) and deployment (getting your employees to use it). If you don’t bridge that gap, you will lose the potential return on your investment.
Design a Strategy First
HR technology should aid your talent management strategy, not be the entire strategy. Take a look at your primary work-related goals first.
- Do you need to make your employer brand more attractive to candidates?
- Do you need to develop a retention-focused onboarding plan?
- Do you need quick access to reports for compliance purposes?
- Are there gaps in your training program?
- Does your HR department need more time to develop strategic initiatives?
Understanding your goals can help you decide the role HR software will play. No matter the solution, you must prioritize the employee experience. And creating a great employee experience means the workplace technology your employees rely on every day enables, empowers, and supports them to succeed at work.
Understand How HR Technology can Fulfill Your Strategy
There are several different types of HR technology that can help organizations make work life better for their employees.
Hiring and Onboarding:
An applicant tracking system (ATS) can automate the recruiting process, targeting employees with specialized skills or weeding out unqualified applicants, making the hiring process faster and more efficient.
Cloud-based onboarding software allows you to get new employees ready to work from anywhere.
These solutions have to be easy to use and improve the employee experience. For example, Arcoro’s ATS doesn’t require candidates to create a password to fill out an application and the process can be completed on a mobile device.
Arcoro’s onboarding software lets new hires start updating their information (direct deposit forms, tax documents, etc.) before they get to work so day one is more about learning their new role than filling out paperwork.
Learning and Development:
Companies are more focused than ever on employee retention – it’s cheaper to retain an employee versus hiring and training new ones. According to Bersin, HR technology must offer internal mobility, giving employees the ability to search for and apply for jobs where they’re already employed.
Performance management, learning management and succession management software can help provide clear career paths and opportunities for development for employees.
Arcoro’s LMS lets employees take control of their development, completing courses online when it’s convenient for them.
Succession planning helps customize development plans so employees can see their career path within your company, so there’ s no reason for them to look elsewhere.
Paperless, Cloud-Based Solutions:
One of the biggest advantages to HR technology is that it provides digital, paperless, cloud-based solutions to common HR problems. The amount of time saved by not having to fill out and file paperwork alone has saved some companies hours each week. With the extra time, HR can focus on big picture items that will enhance the employee experience for the long-term, like company culture.
Recognize HR Technology is a Tool
Human Resources technology is a great tool to help improve the employee experience but can’t be the entire solution. Companies must take the information and data received from their software and act on it.
For example, HR software can be used to gather employee feedback, which experts say is critical to business strategy. Bersin says employee feedback is crucial for improving the employee experience. But if you don’t act on that feedback, the process is incomplete.
Let Arcoro help you understand exactly where HR technology can improve your processes. Take our Free HR Assessment to see which types of human resource software can help. Our experts will map out an HR management strategy that’s right from you.
