There’s no doubt that digital technology is driving innovation in practically every industry. From healthcare to housing, this new tech has helped companies optimise performance and drive sales. The human resources sector is no different. This article outlines some of the key ways that digital technology is helping to transform the human resources industry for the better.
Remote working
Remote working is becoming more and more mainstream.
Many companies are now offering their employees the chance to work from home, even if it’s just one or two days a week. This helps them save on office space costs, as well as helping to attract new talent who don’t want to commute into an office every day.
Remote working benefits employers in other ways too. Using software to keep track of workers’ time, for example, helps them to avoid costly overtime payments. Employees are also more likely to work harder when they’re in their own home environment, knowing that they don’t have the office comings and goings around them. This has allowed HR in Buxton and elsewhere in the UK to go from strength to strength!
Better recruiting
Digital technology has allowed employers to recruit and train their employees more efficiently.
Employers can now advertise jobs online, allowing them to cast the net far and wide in search of the best talent. They can also take advantage of applicant tracking systems, which allow them to get a much better picture of who’s applying for each role. This helps them to ensure they’re only interviewing the most suitable candidates.
Once new employees are recruited, employers are able to train them more easily on an online platform. Rather than forcing their existing workforce to sit through hours of training every time a new colleague joins, companies can just roll out an e-learning course that everyone can complete from the comfort of their own desk. Plus, these online courses are often cheaper and more accessible for employees, meaning they can fit them in around other commitments such as childcare or commuting.
This has revolutionised the HR sector by streamlining recruiting and allowing managers to better manage their workforce.
Better data analysis
One of the biggest areas where digital technology is changing HR is with data analysis.
Businesses now have access to a huge range of online tools that make it easy to collect and analyse their employee data. This allows them to make fact-based decisions on everything from company strategy to salaries and training.
Employee surveys are one of the best examples of how tech is improving HR. Rather than having to use old-fashioned methods like face-to-face interviews, companies can now run their own online polls that collect feedback from every member of staff. And since they’re capturing more detailed information this way, it also makes the survey process much more accurate.
More efficient payroll
Handing out payslips and dealing with payroll processing is a huge part of any company’s HR workload. Since this is such an important area, companies can’t afford to mess it up. Having the right software in place not only helps them to avoid human error but also ensures that employees receive their salary on time.
Every company is now required to pay their employees via direct debit or bank transfer, so it’s essential that they have the right technology in place to ensure this happens. The best online payroll software providers also allow employers to take advantage of tax-efficient payments like salary sacrifice, which has helped many business owners cut down on the expense of running a payroll.
Stronger security
One of the biggest concerns for small businesses is that they’ll be targeted by cybercriminals. This is especially concerning considering that HR teams often have access to sensitive employee information, such as salaries and national insurance numbers.
Digital technology has allowed employers to improve their security in a number of ways:
Firstly, there are now more advanced ways to protect company data. Instead of storing all their important files on a single computer, employers can keep everything safely in the cloud by uploading it to an online server or using a secure file-sharing tool like Google Docs.
Secondly, the latest software comes with regular updates and bug fixes that improve security.
Employers can also take advantage of features like two-factor authentication, which makes it much harder for cybercriminals to access your company’s security system from outside the office.
It’s always worth checking the reputation and reliability of any technology you use – especially if your business is dealing with sensitive data.