How HR Teams Can Use Cloud Technology for a Competitive Advantage
Nothing kills a good mood like a pile of administrative paperwork—a mark of many interactions with the human resources department. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Paper-based systems for everything from onboarding to attendance to payroll are moving to the cloud using new systems that can help HR work better.
A vast majority of businesses are already using cloud technology in one way or another; in fact, one industry watcher observed that it’s quickly becoming the norm. Including HR in the transformation can automate and streamline critical functions like payroll and benefits administration—a move that can save money, improve productivity, and cut the risk of human error.
And there’s another advantage: The wealth of information collected through a cloud-based system can give you broad organizational insights and a distinct advantage over your competition.
Find (and Hold on to) Better Talent with Cloud Apps
It goes without saying that recruiting is one of HR’s biggest responsibilities. Recruiters already rely on various software and processes to find talent and assess skills—but until now, they’ve always been somewhat cumbersome and flawed.
The recruiting process has traditionally meant sifting through candidate information manually, which occupies hours of precious time. Human error, miscommunication, and disorganization are among the possible issues that can inadvertently lead to poor hiring decisions—and poor hiring decisions lead to a tremendous waste of money.
Cloud solutions have the power to change that. In the battle for top talent, HR departments can use the benefits cloud computing offers as a digital “magical charm” to stay ahead of the competition. For example, instead of an email or paper-driven process, applicants submit their resumes via the Internet and integrated analytics can assess their potential.
As another example, pre-employment testing evaluates a candidate’s personality and skills as they pertain to a particular position. Cloud-based software allows recruiters to access both passive and active candidates, storing the information in an easy-to-access database. Later, that information can be used to track, measure, and generate reports on the applicants. Plus, the whole process can be automated, reducing tedious paperwork and leaving room for more important matters.
Make Your Business More Attractive to Employees
Workplace transparency is just as important to employees as it is to employers: They want to understand their paycheck and benefits, quickly and at their convenience. Traditionally, tasks, like adjusting a W2 status or figuring out savings and spending account contributions, meant a call to HR—and more paper pushing for them. It was time-consuming, and they could only do during work hours when someone was available to help.
Today, cloud-based solutions put information directly into the hands of employees, letting them view and update it as needed. One payroll provider found that nearly 40 percent of registered mobile users access their pay information using mobile apps.
These platforms also make administrative tasks more efficient. For instance, if a worker wants to schedule time off, all they have to do is hop on the app and send a request. If they’re going to be late, they can send a message with the click of a button.
Making administrative tasks more efficient and more accessible to employees isn’t just about convenience; it streamlines HR and can be considered a company perk—which is always good for recruiting.
Mobile Technology Strengthens Your Brand and Reputation
One of the biggest benefits of cloud-based services is the ability to collect and organize a vast amount of data that can then be used to strengthen a business’s operations.
For example, many HR departments track a variety of signals to measure brand continuity and employee engagement. With cloud apps, this analysis is simplified so organizations can measure the results of their programs internally and externally.
Brand reputation is essential to business success. In fact, a recent study by Glassdoor found that 84 percent of respondents would consider leaving a job if a company with a better corporate reputation offered them one. Clearly, it’s critical for companies to ensure their brand is consistent, and cloud apps help monitor that. Whether it’s a collaboration app like Salesforce, a training app like Learnsmarter, or one of the many capital management apps available, cloud technology puts business-critical information into your hands.
HR teams who want to gain a competitive edge—whether by improving employee engagement or strengthening their recruiting efforts—should strongly consider leveraging the power of cloud apps. With so many different functions, inherent scalability, and unbeatable efficiency, these apps are the juggernauts of the corporate world—and they’re on your side.
Photo Credit: SalesBabu via Compfight cc
This article was first published on Millennial CEO on 2/22/16.
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