Human resources departments are vital to businesses across the United States, ensuring their training, payrolls, and recruitment run smoothly. According to the Forbes Human Resources Council, HR departments are essential for companies of all sizes as they help to drive growth, aid in bringing the most suitable talent on-board, and leave business-leaders free to focus on their core goals.

In recent years, technology has helped to streamline the work of HR departments and boost productivity, with various online tools allowing for faster, more efficient processes. All aspects of HR can benefit from embracing innovative technology, and here are 5 key ways in which it continues to impact human resources departments.

Cloud Storage Makes Administration Easier

Cloud storage is, by far, one of the biggest aids to modern businesses. Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and other platforms enable companies on all scales to go paperless.

Not only does this create a greener way of working, it relieves the burden of storing so many filing cabinets and helps you to make better use of your office space. Cloud storage makes organizing and accessing years’ of data far easier, with effective security too. Vital information remains at the HR department’s fingertips at all times, with no need to visit another area of the business site for retrieval.

Documents can be shared with colleagues within a couple of clicks, and details may be updated in a matter of seconds. Cloud storage is accessible via multiple devices too, enabling HR professionals to stay on top of administration at any time, any place.
 

The Talent Pool Goes Global

HR departments now have an entire world of candidates to choose from when vacancies arise. In the past, companies would rely on newspapers to advertise, but now LinkedIn and countless job sites make it far simpler to find those with the most relevant experience and qualifications.

A global talent pool means businesses can even work with candidates based on the other side of the world if they’re perfect for the role. Cloud storage, file sharing, and video chat software all make it easy for employees to fulfill their duties regardless of geographical distance.

Cutting-edge video streaming services allow businesses and employees to hold meetings just as they would if face to face, while the technology also enables HR departments to interview prospective candidates without their needing to travel to visit an office. Video chat services like those offered by Agora.io provide professional quality and stability, even when reaching out to employees based in countries with weaker internet connections.

Employee Access to Key Data Lightens the HR Load

Employees can now be given access to data based around their own banking, contact information, and more. This demonstration of trust helps to nurture a stronger bond between businesses and workers, while reducing the need for employees to interrupt HR departments’ tasks to retrieve data they can get themselves.

Workers may even be granted secure online access to their payment details, so they can see how much they pay in tax, pension, and more at any time, rather than waiting until the end of the month.

By being able to update their own information, employees can benefit from greater control over personal details and keep the business updated without having to go through HR themselves. Companies should still require authorization before providing access to sensitive information, but cloud-based platforms make it easier to give workers more freedom to their own data.
 

Online Shift and Holiday Scheduling Reduces Complications

Traditionally, employees looking to book time off for holidays, for personal engagements, and any other reason have had to go to HR. This interrupts their own work, especially if the human resources department is based on the other side of the business site, as well as HR’s duties. Managers and colleagues may need to be notified about this time off, if it affects their own work.

With shift scheduling software, businesses can avoid confusion, misunderstandings, and needless frustration paper-based rotas may cause. Employees are free to access schedules and request time off at their own leisure, well ahead of time, and enable others to respond to this request at any time.

This software can be accessed from home too, preventing employees needing to wait until they’re next at the office.

Performance Management is Simpler and More Accurate

Human resources departments can benefit from performance management software, streamlining numerous tasks to boost productivity. Employee reviews, feedback, and KPIs can all be monitored digitally, with both workers and management able to access this data at any time.

A number of tools enable HR to evaluate employee performance using certain metrics to ensure they are operating at the expected standard, and may be booked in for additional training or reviews in one space. This makes it easier for HR to stay on top of which departments may need more attention, and organize suitable action for key personnel to see from their own workstation or mobile device.

Employees should be able to monitor their own performance metrics too, to identify areas which demand more focus or to plan their own training. Again, this minimizes HR’s workload and gives workers more control over their own progression and personal information.

Innovative technology is transforming the way in which HR departments around the world operate, reducing wasted time and enhancing productivity. As new, powerful tools are created to streamline their duties, human resources will be able to maximize their efficiency even more for years to come. Have you considered looking into the HR tools that could save your business money and improve results?