Influence of the Digital Age on HR
The digital age has changed a lot of aspects of our professional as well as personal lives. The way organizations function has been drastically reshaped in the past few years. In fact according to studies by Gartner, by 2017, 25% of companies will lose their market position as a result of digital business incompetence.
With digital technology changing the way business is done, the HR functions of organizations are also looking for new ways to embrace digital for people, talent and business transformation. Here are some of the reasons and advantages for you to take up this digital transformation for your HR Function:
HR process made quicker and more flexible
The digital HR process is already prevalent in many companies, and it is highly fruitful. From payroll maintenance to grievance management, routine transactions can be managed easily via various HR Information Systems (HRIS). This technological advancement has made the whole HR process simpler, less time-consuming, and more responsive than the traditional HR processes.
For example, maintaining employees’ leave details can be tedious and time-consuming in a traditional HR process. However, with robust and digital HR, leave application procedure can be automized. This simple process is not only convenient for the HR managers to keep track of employees’ leave details, but it is also straightforward and hassle free for employees to apply for leave.
Processes such as internal feedback and other conversations can be made simpler, hassle-free, and real-time with digitalization. Furthermore, real-time response can also be given to employees through the same systems.
Recruitment and talent management made simpler
Mobile devices account for a billion job searches per month. With a lot of people rapidly moving towards online platforms for job searches, recruitment and talent management can be simple and hassle free if done using digital tools.
An interesting fact here is that only 26 out of the fortune 500 companies offer a mobile optimized job application process. As mobile based job searches are increasing, digitalizing your recruitment process as well as optimizing it for a mobile first strategy gives a lot of advantages.
Besides, in the recent times, the hiring process has undergone a 360-degree shift. Social recruiting, where recruiters use social media channels for their recruitment process, has become popular. Therefore, to have a successful recruitment strategy that is on par with the current trend, digitalization, social media presence, and adopting a mobile first strategy are crucial.
Similarly, talent management can be made simpler with digital tools like crowdsourcing for employee engagement, gamification for learning and development, etc. With innovative technological ways, the digital HR process provides a strong means to retain and engage your workforce.
Customization of all HR communications
80% of the HR processes still use one-way communication for learning and development; this can be a big challenge, especially because most employees are using high-end digital or technological tools for their work, and they would be interested in a learning and development process which is mutually engaging rather than traditional, generic communication.
Customization of internal communication ranging from leave policies to decision-making processes will help the organization in delivering a seamless work environment to its employees.
Learning and e-learning
Instead of a conventional classroom or an on-field learning and development program for new and existing employees, having a digitized learning approach via webinars, e-learning tools, online tests, etc. can be incorporated. The digitization of the learning and development process will not only help the employees have an integrated and engaging learning approach, but it will, in turn, foster the learning and development culture for the organization as well, especially given that much of the workforce is now of the millennial generation.
Digitization of HR solutions adds value to the organizations as digital data is easy to store and maintain, especially in various stages of growth. For instance, by digitizing training and development sessions, you can be assured that the standard of the same is maintained across the organization and sessions. This process, in turn, will help your employees deliver better performance, dovetail activities into business strategy, etc.
Collaboration and cross function learning can also be leveraged by using the right digital tools and you can find many enterprise social media networks coming into play to allow for this.
Cloud computing
The HR department of any company deals with a lot of data. Storing, managing, and creating a backup of these data can not only be a tedious aspect, but it can also become time-consuming and rigid. Moving toward the new age cloud-based platforms like Workday and Salesforce.com will help you to build all your data from the ground and store them in the cloud, where you can access them from anywhere, at any time.
Furthermore, as HR deals with the people resources of the company, there is an emotional quotient attached to it. By digitalizing your organization’s human resources activities, your business will be understood clearly and in entirety.
In short, since HR is all about the people of the company and how they work, it is becoming increasingly mandatory for HR processes to be digitized for maximum effectiveness of the function as digital influence plays such a significant role in the workforce and work culture.
Influence of the Digital Age on HR
The digital age has changed a lot of aspects of our professional as well as personal lives. The way organizations function has been drastically reshaped in the past few years. In fact according to studies by Gartner, by 2017, 25% of companies will lose their market position as a result of digital business incompetence.
With digital technology changing the way business is done, the HR functions of organizations are also looking for new ways to embrace digital for people, talent and business transformation. Here are some of the reasons and advantages for you to take up this digital transformation for your HR Function:
HR process made quicker and more flexible
The digital HR process is already prevalent in many companies, and it is highly fruitful. From payroll maintenance to grievance management, routine transactions can be managed easily via various HR Information Systems (HRIS). This technological advancement has made the whole HR process simpler, less time-consuming, and more responsive than the traditional HR processes.
For example, maintaining employees’ leave details can be tedious and time-consuming in a traditional HR process. However, with robust and digital HR, leave application procedure can be automized. This simple process is not only convenient for the HR managers to keep track of employees’ leave details, but it is also straightforward and hassle free for employees to apply for leave.
Processes such as internal feedback and other conversations can be made simpler, hassle-free, and real-time with digitalization. Furthermore, real-time response can also be given to employees through the same systems.
Recruitment and talent management made simpler
Mobile devices account for a billion job searches per month. With a lot of people rapidly moving towards online platforms for job searches, recruitment and talent management can be simple and hassle free if done using digital tools.
An interesting fact here is that only 26 out of the fortune 500 companies offer a mobile optimized job application process. As mobile based job searches are increasing, digitalizing your recruitment process as well as optimizing it for a mobile first strategy gives a lot of advantages.
Besides, in the recent times, the hiring process has undergone a 360-degree shift. Social recruiting, where recruiters use social media channels for their recruitment process, has become popular. Therefore, to have a successful recruitment strategy that is on par with the current trend, digitalization, social media presence, and adopting a mobile first strategy are crucial.
Similarly, talent management can be made simpler with digital tools like crowdsourcing for employee engagement, gamification for learning and development, etc. With innovative technological ways, the digital HR process provides a strong means to retain and engage your workforce.
Customization of all HR communications
80% of the HR processes still use one-way communication for learning and development; this can be a big challenge, especially because most employees are using high-end digital or technological tools for their work, and they would be interested in a learning and development process which is mutually engaging rather than traditional, generic communication.
Customization of internal communication ranging from leave policies to decision-making processes will help the organization in delivering a seamless work environment to its employees.
Learning and e-learning
Instead of a conventional classroom or an on-field learning and development program for new and existing employees, having a digitized learning approach via webinars, e-learning tools, online tests, etc. can be incorporated. The digitization of the learning and development process will not only help the employees have an integrated and engaging learning approach, but it will, in turn, foster the learning and development culture for the organization as well, especially given that much of the workforce is now of the millennial generation.
Digitization of HR solutions adds value to the organizations as digital data is easy to store and maintain, especially in various stages of growth. For instance, by digitizing training and development sessions, you can be assured that the standard of the same is maintained across the organization and sessions. This process, in turn, will help your employees deliver better performance, dovetail activities into business strategy, etc.
Collaboration and cross function learning can also be leveraged by using the right digital tools and you can find many enterprise social media networks coming into play to allow for this.
Cloud computing
The HR department of any company deals with a lot of data. Storing, managing, and creating a backup of these data can not only be a tedious aspect, but it can also become time-consuming and rigid. Moving toward the new age cloud-based platforms like Workday and Salesforce.com will help you to build all your data from the ground and store them in the cloud, where you can access them from anywhere, at any time.
Furthermore, as HR deals with the people resources of the company, there is an emotional quotient attached to it. By digitalizing your organization’s human resources activities, your business will be understood clearly and in entirety.
In short, since HR is all about the people of the company and how they work, it is becoming increasingly mandatory for HR processes to be digitized for maximum effectiveness of the function as digital influence plays such a significant role in the workforce and work culture.
