HR departments are the lifeblood of many organizations: they ensure that a business’s most vital resources, its people, are supported, engaged, and well-managed. Achieving that goal sometimes means completing repetitive and seemingly “low-value” tasks. But what happens when those low-value tasks start to demand so much time and energy that they take over? As your organization grows, the need for robust HR process automation solutions likely will, too. Luckily, we’ve got some ideas and tips that can help you begin automating HR processes so you can save valuable time.
Defining “Process Automation” for HR Teams
Before we dive into how to implement automated HR solutions, there’s one important question to answer: What exactly is HR process automation? What does this term really mean?
At its core, process automation refers to the use of technology to perform and streamline repetitive, time-consuming tasks. When applied to workflows, process automation tools typically aim to allow teams to focus less on low-value work or administrative duties and more on strategic initiatives.
Many industries turn to robotic process automation (RPA) to save time on routine tasks. RPA is software technology that enables the automation of tasks that humans usually perform using computers.
Robotic process automation in HR can look like automating data transfers, payroll processing, or employee onboarding.
However, process automation can involve more than just telling a machine to complete certain tasks. It can also mean creating rules and systems that guide your teams through certain workflows, allowing you to get more work done faster.
What HR processes can be automated?
If it’s a task that doesn’t have changing requirements, it can likely be automated. Here are a few examples of HR processes that lend themselves well to process automation:
- Recruitment and hiring
- Employee onboarding
- Payroll processing
- Performance reviews and tracking
- Compliance management
- Attendance management
Of course, what this list looks like for your organization will depend on your needs.
Key Benefits of HR Process Automation
So, we understand what the automation of HR processes means – but why automate HR processes in the first place?
- Increased Efficiency: This is perhaps the biggest perk of automation in general. Automation helps you speed up repetitive tasks that may otherwise drain your time and resources, freeing HR staff to focus on big-picture activities that bring value to your organization.
- Improved Accuracy: Reduce the risk of human error when performing critical tasks like payroll and compliance management with the help of technology.
- Lowered Costs: Because automation helps you reduce the number of labor hours needed to complete certain tasks, it can also bring down the cost of operation.
- Better Experiences: Automation enables HR teams to provide faster responses and make resources more accessible to employees. Both of these factors contribute to a better employee experience and higher satisfaction rates.
7 Ideas for HR Process Automation Powered by CDP
Once you’ve decided that automation is the next step toward an optimized, streamlined work experience, it’s time to think strategy. Below are some suggestions that may help you discover how to automate HR processes in a way that makes life easier for your teams.
1. Digitize Onboarding
Inefficient onboarding procedures can cause progress at your organization to grind to a halt. Fortunately, HR automation solutions like those from CDP can help.
Digitize the onboarding process with digital forms and procedures that automatically collect information and documents for you. Send automatically tailored welcome messages and training checklists to touch base with new hires.
You can even automatically assign training modules using a work management tool like Laserfiche, which stores relevant documents and files and distributes them as needed.
2. Automate Recruitment & Hiring Practices
Save time during recruitment by using AI to filter submitted applications or resumes based on key criteria. Once again, you can rely on automation to help you send out follow-ups without direct intervention on your part.
Another way to use automation is during the coordination of interviews; digital scheduling tools allow applicants to book their interviews without needing to contact you.
3. Let AI Calculate Salaries, Deductions & Taxes
Skip the headache of crunching numbers and let an HR automation solution calculate salaries, wages, benefit deductions, and tax withholdings for you. Relying on automation for these tasks can also help you eliminate payroll errors and ensure timely payroll processing.
4. Create Digital Request Forms
Create web forms for things like vacation or leave requests to allow employees to submit paperwork from anywhere, anytime. Automation tools can route documents to their intended recipients for approval, then pass them on and organize them as needed – all without requiring you to lift a finger.
5. Send Automated Reminders for Reviews & Goals
Keep your employees on track with their goals with automated reminders of performance reviews, expectations, and progress updates. This allows you to remain present without requiring the same level of real-time commitment.
6. Securely Store Records for Compliance
With an automated records management system like Laserfiche, you can keep up with compliance requirements without the hassle.
Automatically file and archive tax documents, contracts, and more by establishing deadlines or tags that your tech uses to sort files automatically. You can also track audit trails and control access to materials with digital permissions.
7. Create Opportunities for Self-Service
With an arsenal of digital forms and resources at your side, you can empower employees to access the HR materials they need without direct assistance.
An automation platform can allow employees to update personal information, view payslips, access benefits information, and more. Leveraging automation in this area helps you reduce HR workloads while simultaneously improving the employee experience.
Embrace Automation of HR Processes with CDP
These examples of HR process automation in action are just that: examples. There is no single way to automate HR processes – it’s all about creating systems that make sense based on how your organization gets work done.
That’s what CDP is all about. Our mission is to provide the best workflow automation software solutions by tailoring them to your needs. Get access to top tech like Laserfiche with the added benefits of customization and stellar customer service to make implementing your new systems stress-free.
Ready to learn more about how CDP can help you achieve HR process automation? Contact us today to book a demo and get started.
