How to use HR tech to enhance the employee experience
Remote Work
Global Hiring
Author
Laura Bohrer
Date published
March 11, 2024
The employee experience describes the perceptions of an employee throughout their time working for an organization. The better the employee experience, the higher the likelihood of them staying at the organization and the higher their motivation and engagement.
There are different factors that influence the quality of the employee experience. They include workplace culture, work equipment, process efficiency in HR and payroll, and technology. With HR and technology being two major factors that influence employee experience, businesses that want to enhance their employee experience should bring these two aspects together.
How can HR tech be leveraged to enhance the employee experience? Read on to discover seven exciting ways to use Human Resources technology to create an inspiring digital employee experience.
What is HR tech?
Human Resources technology (short: HR tech) encompasses tools and software applications that are designed to streamline HR processes and workflows. If leveraged effectively, these technologies can enable HR teams to work more efficiently and achieve more with fewer resources. This is largely made possible through automation.
Examples of HR functions and processes that can benefit from HR technology include:
Talent acquisition and management,
Employee performance management,
Learning & Development,
Applicant tracking,
Employee onboarding, and
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How does HR technology impact the employee experience?
Creating a positive employee experience is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent, fostering employee engagement, and keeping employee productivity levels up. HR technology can help businesses achieve this.
Software and new technologies can enhance the employee experience in a way nothing else can. In the digital age, employees are used to having smart tools at their fingertips that simplify everyday life. User-friendly software and self-service functions are to some degree what is nowadays expected from HR.
Technology is the main driver behind innovation and efficiency. Using technology enables businesses to reimagine HR functions and processes and build an unparalleled digital employee experience. Implementing HR technologies allows companies to create exciting new ways to interact with their workforce.
HR technology trends for improving the employee experience
Businesses that manage to leverage HR tech in the right ways can improve their employee experience. But what technology trends do HR professionals need to be actively engaging with? Here are some current trends to watch out for.
Self-service technology on the rise: Employee self-service functions are great for improving the employee experience. Being an employee-facing function, HR can widely benefit from implementing self-service capabilities for employees.
AI making its way into HR: New technologies like digital assistants, robotic process automation, and generative AI are gaining in importance in the HR department. All of these technologies can contribute towards creating a better experience for employees.
Emergence of employee experience platforms: Employee experience platforms are growing in popularity. These platforms combine various HR functions, from collaboration to employee recognition to career development.
Growing use of data analytics: People analytics can be used to gain detailed insights into workforce data and patterns. It can help businesses better understand what motivates their employees and what factors can put a damper on employee engagement and motivation. Having access to these insights helps businesses detect and overcome any obstacles in an otherwise smooth employee journey.
7 ways HR tech can enhance the employee experience
There are many different types of HR technologies available, but businesses first need to know how to leverage these technologies to create a positive impact on the employee experience. Here are seven use cases of HR tech that can help enhance the employee experience at your organization.
1. Digital onboarding for a smooth start
A smooth onboarding process is crucial for getting the employee lifecycle off to a good start. Digitizing the employee onboarding process is a great way for businesses to ensure that new joiners will have a positive first experience at the organization.
This includes providing online access to company information and resources, creating training videos for new joiners that can be accessed via a digital employee onboarding platform, and making the necessary paperwork the new employee needs to fill out available online.
2. Fewer errors, happier employees
HR and especially payroll errors can quickly break an employee’s trust in the company he or she works for. Leveraging HR technologies, such as payroll software or Applicant Tracking Systems, and automating formerly manual HR tasks significantly decreases the risk of errors in HR and payroll. The fewer errors, the better the employee experience.
3. Early access to earned wages
Timely and accurate payroll is a major contributor to a positive employee experience. That’s because it directly impacts employee financial wellbeing and reduces financial worries. Businesses that want to create an even better payroll experience for their employees should think about implementing additional payment methods, such as digital wallets or Earned Wage Access (EWA) to provide their employees with greater financial flexibility.
4. Shorter response times thanks to tech involvement
HR chatbots may still be a thing of the future for many companies, but the vision is there. Whether it’s in the hiring and recruiting process or as part of the general HR management system, chatbots can be very useful for answering general employee questions and providing a first contact point for employees where they get instant support.
Implementing chatbots for different HR processes helps shorten the response times for employee enquiries by automating answers to common questions and thereby freeing up time and resources in the HR department to address complex enquiries in a timely manner.
5. Personalized learning paths
Learning & Development programs are crucial for employee retention and succession planning. L&D initiatives allow employees to develop their skills and acquire new qualifications. Having access to learning opportunities is an important motivator for employees and can therefore help retain talent. With the help of HR technologies, businesses can create a digital learning experience for employees that is tailored to individual needs, interests, and career goals.
6. Employee self-service functions
Implementing an employee self-service portal not only reduces the workload of the HR team, but it also enhances the employee experience. A self-service portal empowers employees to access and update their personal data and manage other HR-related requests, such as PTO requests. In short, self-service functions are another building block of a digital experience that inspires employees and increases their loyalty towards the company.
7. Smart platforms for team collaboration
Remote work requires businesses to find new ways to enable effective team collaboration. Virtual collaboration tools, such as video conferencing, project management software, and instant messaging, can help businesses foster employee engagement and foster team spirit. Having the necessary tools to work efficiently and the means to connect with colleagues despite different work locations enhances the employee experience further.
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