Automation of HR departments went far in recent years. Today in 2016 we are talking about cloud based HR software, predictive analytics and apps that enable us to gather employee feedback. This is hard to compare with infinite spreadsheets and paper surveys we used to deal with. Main reason why human resources tech is advancing this fast, is the bull HR market that became highly consumer focused. Software vendors are updating their products on annual basis and since big corporations are constantly trying to improve their employees’ performance and engagement, those innovative software solutions are simply flying off the shelf. This is just one of the examples how current bull market and startup culture influences corporate world.
Improved Analytics
Same as any other business field, human resources will benefit from introduction of faster and more accurate algorithms that are slowly taking over business intelligence. Future HR technology will allow real-time analysis of employees’ performance. It will also include advanced predictive analytic tools that will evaluate employees’ performance, and determine adequate rewards or measures that will boost their agility and dedication in the future.
Everything is Moving to Cloud
Most HR databases as well as software solutions will permanently move to cloud environments. Although moving all software to cloud comes with many challenges, including: harmonization of existing processes, integration in existing systems and employee training, cloud concept is definitely here to stay. Some of the benefits that cloud-based software brings are:
- Improved user experience– Cloud-based HR software provides much simpler user experience and decreases the need of additional employee training;
- Innovation availability– Cloud-based software vendors enable companies to easily update their software.
- Lower price– Purchasing software as a service costs less, and it is very useful for small businesses that don’t have big HR tech budgets.
Mobile HR
This is another way how HR software becomes more real-time and reliable. In recent years many software vendors released mobile app HR solutions that allow HR professionals to overlook employees’ work results and performance even when they don’t have their laptop with them. This useful piece of software also allows them to submit time-sheets or expense reports while they are on the go.
Importance of Employee Feedback
Although startup culture relies a lot on employees’ satisfaction, even the most proactive employers are struggling with their team’s engagement. This worries entrepreneurs who want to keep or increase their retention scores, which is why HR software vendors decided to release specialized employee feedback platforms. These allow HR professionals to conduct various types of surveys and analyze their results. These apps will generate new ideas for improving company’s work process and increase employee engagement.
What will IoT bring?
Many entrepreneurs and HR professionals eagerly await wider involvement of Internet of Things concept in employee management and performance analytics. Since this concept will add precise measuring and analyzing units to each gadget in the assembly line, they will be able to closely follow employees’ work and determine daily and hourly patterns that will enable them to increase their team’s productiveness.
Future human resources departments will be led by software engineers and big data analysts. Further automation will let computers to take care of all administrative work, and long excel tables and hours of data inputs will become the ugly memory from the past, until the time wipes it all out.