How HR Departments Use Technology

Technology impacts almost every aspect of your business, and for many companies staying competitive means knowing what technological advances are available to them. Human resources is no different. A number of new software applications and other advances in technology make it easier than ever before to manage employees and store information about applicants and workers. Here are some of the ways how HR departments use technology in the workplace.

Training Workers

One of the best ways to take advantage of technology is training new employees and making sure existing workers are kept up-to-date on changes. Training programs can be stored digitally so it is easily sent to employees who may be working away from the office or in remote locations. Digital training programs also tend to be simpler to update since they remove the need to print out hard copies every time a change is made to the program. Finally, digital training programs get rid of complex paper trails. When an employee finishes the training, it is automatically registered. The employee does not need to sign off on anything or complete a separate piece of paper that can easily be lost or misfiled.

Recruiting New Talent

Technology is essential for recruiting the right workers. Gone are the days when job seekers check the local newspaper for openings. Workplaces must advertise online when they are looking to hire from outside the company or they will not be reaching prime applicants. In addition to designated job posting websites, there is an increasing push to post job openings on social media as well. Posting on social networks has the added benefit of making job openings shareable, which means they more easily circulate among people in the industry and are seen by the right job seekers.

Storing Data

It’s also important to keep digital copies of employees’ personnel files. Digital copies are easier to edit than paper copies, and they are more readily searchable by keywords, employee name, hire date and other metrics. The ability to search and sort records in a variety of ways is a useful tool for compiling data on workers in the company. Another major advantage of storing worker data online is that it can be kept in a central location and accessed by multiple departments and individuals. This gets rid of the need for every department to maintain separate records, a practice that increases the risk of human error.

Analyzing Performance

Technology is also great for tracking employee performance and making sure that all workers are maturing within the company as they should be. Software designed specifically for HR departments gives managers a full picture of employee progress by allowing for a variety of sorting metrics. Technology can also be used to send surveys to workers and get immediate, anonymous feedback on how the HR department and the company as a whole are doing.

Not every type of new technology works for every HR office. However, smart use of the right technology can ultimately save time and money, while ensuring that your company hires and retains the best possible workers.