Human resources technology has come a long way in the past few decades, giving HR professionals more tools than ever to streamline HR functions. Whether it’s reducing or eliminating time-consuming tasks, empowering employees with a self-service portal, or using workforce analytics to make better hiring decisions, HR tech can save you time and money by digitizing and automating key HR processes.
But with so many tools at your disposal, it can be hard for HR leaders to explore their options and choose the right HR system for their team. Here’s what HR teams need to know about HR tech, including what it is, when to use it, and the key HR technology trends shaping the future of work.
What Is HR Tech?
Human resources technology refers to HR software and hardware that HR teams use to perform or assist with key HR functions, like employee benefits administration or payroll. Some HR solutions focus on a single function, while others are more comprehensive and encompass more than one HR process.
Examples of HR software include:
- An applicant tracking system (ATS) is used to facilitate the recruiting process by posting job ads, sorting resumes, scheduling interviews, and more.
- A talent management system (TMS) assists with recruiting and hiring, as well as performance management and other related functions.
- A human resources information system (HRIS) stores employee information, reducing the need for physical paperwork and manual data entry.
Other types of HR software include human resource management (HRM) and human capital management (HCM) systems, although many of these tools are just different ways of packaging similar features.
The right tool for your team will depend on your HR strategy. Modern HR systems like Pulpstream are cloud-based, so you can access them from anywhere and link them to other pieces of software using integrations. HR tech can be used to address discrete problems or as part of a larger digital transformation of your business.
What Are the Benefits of HR Tech?
In its simplest form, HR tech can help you implement basic improvements, like going paperless. It can also result in more comprehensive changes, like standardizing HR practices and ensuring HR compliance.
Here are a few more benefits of HR tech:
Increased Productivity and Efficiency
Many of the tasks performed by your HR team can be tedious and time-consuming. Not only do these tasks hamper your team’s productivity, they can present opportunities for inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and human error.
HR tools enable you to use HR automation to eliminate manual tasks and streamline workflows. By using software to collect data, fill out forms, and send out notifications, you can cut down on the amount of manual effort needed to perform HR functions.
Improved Employee Well-Being
Traditional HR practices might require employees to visit the HR department or make a phone call to resolve routine employee relations issues. Modern HR technology helps employees resolve issues faster, increasing employee engagement and retention.
HR tech allows you to administer perks like a personalized benefits package or paid parental leave, supporting the health and wellness of all of your team members.
Better Decision-Making
Sorting through physical paperwork and analyzing spreadsheets is an inefficient way to make decisions about your business. HR tools allow you to centralize employee data in a single, cloud-based system so you can make sense of it more easily.
For example, Pulpstream offers features like claims analytics and workforce analytics, so you can use predictive modeling to make better data-driven decisions.
Key Use Cases for HR Technology
HR tech solutions can sound pretty overwhelming in the abstract. Will going paperless and moving your data to the cloud really make that much difference to your bottom line? This is where it helps to look at examples of HR tech in the real world to learn how you can make it work for you.
Here are three common use cases for HR tech:
Employee Onboarding
The right HR tech can be a key asset in the talent acquisition and employee onboarding process. Instead of overloading employees with paperwork on their first day on the job, use employee onboarding automation to guide them through the process.
From enrolling in payroll and employee benefits, to completing online training and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) modules, onboarding automation can streamline the process and get new hires to work faster. You can even generate user accounts and passwords automatically to ensure they comply with company standards.
Leave of Absence Management
Whenever an employee requests a leave of absence, your HR team needs to determine their eligibility for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other leave laws. While they’re on leave, you’ll need to keep track of their remaining leave balance and prepare for the return-to-work process.
HR platforms like Pulpstream facilitate leave of absence management with a centralized leave management system that can track multiple kinds of leave in one place. Use it to approve or deny leave requests, track intermittent leave, and more.
Plus, if an employee is on medical leave following a workplace injury, you can use it to communicate with healthcare providers and file a workers’ comp claim.
Performance Management
HR tech can transform the performance management process by monitoring employee performance metrics and providing opportunities to upskill in real-time. Unlike traditional performance management strategies, which focus on annual performance reviews and top-down feedback, high-performance management involves more frequent check-ins and 360-degree feedback from other team members.
Pulpstream helps you get proactive about employee performance issues by tracking key metrics like work efficiency, accuracy, and absenteeism. It also provides multiple options when things go wrong, such as developing a performance improvement plan or taking disciplinary action in cases of employee misconduct.
HR Tech Trends and the Future of Work
HR technology is here to stay, but the future of work may look even more futuristic than it does today. Here are three key trends shaping the role of HR technology:
Remote Work
The rise of remote and hybrid work means that HR platforms need to be more nimble than ever. Employers need to be able to track employee attendance across multiple locations, including at home, at the workplace, or in the field. HR teams need to be aware of relevant employment laws in multiple states and even countries.
Platforms like Pulpstream offer a custom rules engine, so you can customize your HR processes based on location and other factors. You can also streamline audits and inspections with a mobile app that supports e-signatures, geotags, and more.
Self-Service Portals
Employees increasingly expect the same user experience at work that they get in other settings, like mobile banking and online shopping. They want to be able to access their pay stubs, tax documents, and other paperwork online, and resolve simple issues on their own without waiting for a response from your HR team.
Pulpstream offers a self-service portal that employees can use to update their personal information and access employee benefit statements. They can even submit a leave of absence request online and upload supporting documents securely.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a growing role in HR technology. Applicant tracking systems now use AI to review and sort resumes, AI chatbots help to resolve or route employee requests, and generative AI can be used to craft email responses.
Other tools use AI for intelligent process automation and advanced data analysis. For example, Pulpstream offers claims analytics and predictive modeling that you can use to track business insurance claims and look out for patterns that might indicate fraud, compliance issues, or workplace safety violations.
Streamline HR Processes with Pulpstream
HR technology is evolving rapidly, with workflow automation and AI playing a key role in the modern workplace. HR teams can use this technology to streamline the onboarding process, track employee attendance, facilitate performance management, manage LoA requests, and more. HR tech saves time and money, increases employee engagement, and improves compliance, all while reducing the workload for your HR team.
Pulpstream’s cloud-based platform allows you to benefit from modern HR tech without having to learn how to code. Use our native integrations to connect Pulpstream to your HRIS, and our drag-and-drop interface to create streamlined workflows.
Request a free demo today and see why no-code tech is the right approach to digital transformation for HR teams!
