Emerging HR technologies are changing the workplace
The business world – across various industries – seems to be evolving at a breakneck speed. From shifting employee demographics to completely new business models, life at work is changing for employees at all rungs of the corporate ladder. That said, human resource professionals are doing their best to accommodate shifts in the workplace by using the latest technologies on the market. Jason Averbrook, chief executive offer of the Marcus Buckingham Company, discussed what the evolving business landscape is doing to HR departments:
“A hundred years later, a lot of organizations are still running HR that same way,” he told Fast Company. “Focusing on risk, focusing on compliance, focusing on the transactional side of it, but there’s a whole new era, and things like unions and pensions and transparency of the workplace have changed.”
At the end of the day, business leaders and HR professionals should take advantage of advancing technologies to make daily work tasks more efficient for all employees. Here are five technologies that are altering the workplace dynamic:
1. Cloud technology
At this point, cloud technologies have been available to businesses for quite some time. But almost every aspect of HR can still be improved from cloud-based technologies, according to The Wall Street Journal. Employee payroll, recruiting, e-learning and engagement are all vastly improved when organizations switch to a cloud-based system. And rather than implementing a new cloud system somewhere down the line, more companies are beginning to utilize technologies that are built to accommodate cloud technologies from the start, meaning employees, managers and HR professionals are all gaining access to more information from virtually anywhere. Ultimately, that helps to prevent losses at virtually every level of an organization.
Cloud technologies are improving the way professionals conduct business.2. Mobile optimization
People are using more mobile devices now than perhaps ever before. As a result, it’s even more essential to optimize business software for mobile devices. Online applications for onboarding procedures are even likely to move to mobile platforms in the near future, according to HR Cloud. In the same vein, it is likely that employee recruitment strategies will incorporate mobile devices. If, for example, candidates are viewing and applying for positions from their mobile devices, companies with a strong mobile presence are more likely to attract top talent.
3. Data management systems
There are a number of different ways that businesses are using data management systems to streamline business processes. Businesses with hourly employees use attendance systems. And from early forms of attendance trackers, such as punch cards, to thumbprint scanners, this aspect of business has been rapidly advancing over the last decade or so. Investment trends in data management – including attendance systems – are likely to continue in the next few years, according to Paychex. Not only will employees have more access to their own timesheets, but managers and supervisors will be able to set schedules more efficiently.
4. Workflow management systems
Hiring can be a complicated process. From writing up job descriptions to holding interviews, there’s a lot of time and money that goes into hiring a single employee. Being able to manage that workflow from a single system makes life a lot easier for HR Professionals. Typically, HR expenditures can be a hefty portion of a company’s budget. And when employee turnover is high, those expenses can rise dramatically. By outsourcing this workflow to a third-party platform, managers can focus on building the company and producing products that generate income. Technology trends will be key in optimizing HR going forward.
5. Pre-employment tests
Due to the fact that hiring (or, in worst case scenarios, replacing) employees is so expensive, it’s a good idea to hire the right people the first time around. Using skills tests for employment are excellent ways to weed out candidates who aren’t qualified for the job. The business world is evolving because of the advances in technology. There’s no reason the hiring process can’t be improved as well. Contact the professionals at EmployTest today to learn more!