What are the benefits of HR automation?
When it comes to complex tasks that must be completed within a tight window of time, organizations' human resources departments may want to consider an automated solution, according to Human Resources Technologist.
One example of an automated HR management tool is a Human Resources Information System – designed to automate processes as a means of freeing up employees' time to focus on other tasks. Using HRIS, a sampling of functions that can be automated include performance management, attendance recording, analytics compilation and applicant tracking during the hiring process, according to an HRT article.
Another comprehensive automation solution that can be used for organizations' HR processes is known as an enterprise content management system. Among other features, these are able to handle document management, security and compliance and cloud content management.
Two police departments see benefits from HR automation
According to HR Technologist, two police departments in the U.S. reported numerous benefits and improvements as the result of their implementation of ECMs for certain processes. Overall, the two noted benefits to shared areas including key processes in candidate recruitment, as well as document management and data security.
Osceola County Sheriff's Office
In Kissimmee, Florida, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office used an ECM as a solution to its HR process-related difficulties in recruiting new officers. Before automation, recruitment relied on a paper-based process that often resulted in a communication breakdown between departments and applicants due to lost forms and largely untouched stacks of forms accumulating each day.
The office said that the most observable benefit of using the ECM has been the marked increase in applications; in 2012, for example, the organization received 446 paper applications and received 1,305 in 2019. Other improvements reported included higher-quality candidate hirings, digitization of employee files, and time and cost savings related to the use and purchase of less equipment required for processes.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Up until recently, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department also used manual HR processes to conduct background checks of potential recruits that involved the creation of individual jacket files for each one. Processing and digitization of these files required approximately 10,000 man-hours each year, according to HR Technologist.
After implementing the ECM for this area of its recruitment process, LASD has reported that it takes much less time to hire new candidates than the 18 months expected with manual processes. In addition, the department stated that information is much easier to access and, like Osceola, is much more secure.
