5 Ways Technology Has Changed HR

There’s a lot involved in day-to-day HR for any business or company – from tracking attendance to rolling out training initiatives, HR professionals have their work cut out to ensure an organisation is running smoothly, reaching its targets, and utilising its staff in the best possible way. Thankfully, technology has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and new systems are emerging all the time that are streamlining HR processes.

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Here are 5 ways that modern technology has changed HR – for the better!

1. It’s transformed data management and retrieval

HR departments have done away with bulky files and dusty piles of paperwork. Now, all documents can be safely stored electronically and shared online.

Web-based working also means that staff can also access important information quickly and securely; if they need to view certain policies, codes of conducts or health and safety documents, they can do so instantly. Files can also be reproduced for employees on demand, meaning the company saves money on print costs and reduces its carbon footprint at the same time.

2. It’s opened up new channels of communication

Employer/employee relations are made easier than ever thanks to developments in technology. Email, now the crux of any business, has sped up conversations, while online portals and intranets provide staff with a communications platform that’s designed to specifically meet their needs.

Private social networks designed for business use are springing up left right and centre, too. One of the most hotly-tipped, Yammer, allows staff to communicate and collaborate from virtually any device, keeping teams in the loop and facilitating faster working.

3. It’s made recruitment easier

Sourcing and hiring the right person for the job is a much more straightforward process thanks to the internet. Recruiters no longer rely on job boards and print ads, nor do they need the support and guidance of a professional recruitment agency – now, HR teams can advertise their vacancies on a huge range of job-seekers’ websites, many of which cater for  specific industries.

They’re also able to spread the word to an even wider audience thanks to social media; LinkedIn is a particularly useful tool that can be used to find and connect with great potential candidates.

Once a candidate has been found, he or she can be in employment in record time. Software can be used to automate the time-consuming tasks that have traditionally held up the recruitment process.

4. It’s enabled virtual training and support for staff

HR representatives no longer need to be physically with staff to train them. Thanks to cloud-based web conferencing facilities and their elaborate screen-sharing features, HR can run successful, effective courses and workshops via the web, eliminating travel times for staff and cutting expenses.

There’s always a time and a place for site-based training, of course, but conferencing platforms like Cisco Webex, GoToMeeting, OmniJoin and even Skype allow HR professionals to train multiple workers quickly and easily, encouraging more frequent training opportunities for those who want to progress.

5. It’s improved performance management

HR professionals can monitor staff performance more effectively than ever before thanks to software that’s able to collate data, then present it according to their own metrics.

Contemporary project management systems enable employers to track how much work has been accomplished by any given employee in a specific period of time. Additionally, vendors like People, Zoho People and myhrtoolkit offer cloud HR suites that include comprehensive appraisal performance features.

With just a few clicks, HR professionals are able to see who’s doing well, who’s failing to impress, and what can be done to improve performance and output across every department.

Gary Gould is the Co-Founder of Compare Cloudware, one of the leading cloudware comparisons websites. Gary wants to help small business owners and start-ups to enter the world of cloud computing that will help them grow, including cloud-based financial tools, project management and CRM.