Question

Please read the following discussion and share your thoughts and opinions. Ask at least one question.

Technological advances have affected businesses at all levels and in all departments, but HR is one of the departments that most openly benefits from advances in technology. Utilization of new technology has allowed HR to streamline and simplify many processes involved with recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations which increases overall efficiency and cost effectiveness. These streamlined processes include application tracking, performing background checks, internal and external recruitment, and the ability to remain compliant with related laws. Utilizing cloud-based services allows for HR departments to securely store vital documents, including legally mandated ones, in a centralized location that is easily accessible to all authorized personnel no matter their location and makes physical copies redundant. This improves efficiency and eliminates the need to maintain on-sight physical copies of all required documents (SHRM, 2012). External recruitment benefits greatly from the utilization of mobile and wireless technologies as it allows HR to foster a faster, easier method of communication with potential new hires and aids in speeding up the hiring process (Korhan, 2016). Mobile enabled websites and applications also engage smartphone users and potential talent at a higher rate than more traditional browser based options which produces faster results that are more cost effective but with minimal effort on the part of the recruitment team (Legler, 2018).

An underutilized feature that I believe could be beneficial in reducing HR services costs and improving productivity would be to integrate mobile recruitment tools and to utilize them as well as cloud-services in the onboarding process. Utilization of technological resources is less cost intensive because it requires minimal time and effort on the part of the HR department, which allows for productivity increases. Limiting or outright eliminating paper copies of files, storing all documents in a cloud database, requiring all applications to be completed and processed digitally, and utilizing mobile services in the recruitment process as much as possible will reduce excess time spent on these tasks and greatly improve the overall performance of the department.

Answer 1

Technology has indeed facilitated the department of HR the most. This is so because the HR is now able to show facts and figures to display its potential and overall performance. The incorporation of technology is facilitating the functionality of HRM. Various tools like HRMS, HR Dashboards, Recruitment software, Payroll Manager, etc. are making the life easy for the HR Managers.

• HRMS and HR Dashboards help in analysing manpower requirement and develop the recruitment plan for the company
• Recruitment software helps in sourcing the right talent for the company
• Payroll manager helps in developing the compensation of all workforce of the company
• Use of Survival analytics to have an understanding of the rate at which employees are able to survive the work pressure at the company
• HR analytics helps in having an in-depth understanding of the mindset of employees and the factors governing their tendency to leave the company

Question:

Do you feel too much dependency on technology may hamper the humane factor of HR in companies?