Does Automation of HR Process Make Sense for Small Business?

HR process is always hard pressed for time and comes with a set of deadlines which are most often difficult to adhere to. Gone are the days of manual computing and record keeping, every company, big or small grows at a faster pace and needs to be constantly on its toes to remain ahead of the competition.

HR automation helps in reduction of workload and enables better use of available resources. It is easy for a business owner to ignore its benefits and say that such automation is only beneficial for the big companies and smaller ones can’t afford to invest in it. However, the truth is that smaller and growing businesses require such HR process automation more than the bigger and more established companies.

There can be many evident reasons which can be quoted in favor of workflow automation. You can think of this HR process automation as a medium for cutting down work, speedy delivery time, usability and flexibility, scalability, etc. All of which works in favour of small businesses. However, if you are still apprehensive or skeptical about business process automation and the benefits of HR automation, let us break it down into smaller chunks and help you appreciate it better.

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How automation of HR process makes sense for your business?

Let us start this by asking this question- What does HR documentation mean to you? If your answer is long, tedious and manual uploading of HR related information and data into highly complex excel sheets fully loaded with formulas, then think again. Is it benefitting your current business operations? We sure hope not! So how can automation of HR documentation be better for your business?

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#1. Eliminates repetition and duplication

One of the major concerns of manual HR documentation is repetition and duplication. Imagine having to search for duplicates every time you have a huge batch of employees getting inducted. Tiresome, right? You might end up wasting more time on checking for duplicates and removing them manually. This not only increases your existing workload but also paves the way for a lot of errors and redundant data. Not a smart way to work.

However, when you deploy workflow automation and enable the services of the best HR software, most of your worries ends there. The software would automatically check for duplicates and remove any without you having to manually verify each time.

#2. Reduces monotony and helps saving time

Now everyone can safely agree that most of the HR processes and HR documentation are more than just tiresome. They are point blank monotonous. Imagine having to employ an HR professional just to send invoices or to manage employee files when his skills and expertise can be employed elsewhere? Most of these documentations do not require any special skills and can be handled by anyone. Instead of wasting a human resource for such a task, HR automation can make the operations more efficient and interesting for the employees.

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#3. Efficient management

Often, small companies have the additional task of hiring and managing virtual staff and freelancers. This is ideally to cut the cost of hiring an employee. However, hiring such a workforce can become really challenging. More so, if they are spread across and don’t work on different modes of payment.  HR automation services can help you manage even this challenge with the greatest ease.

Every HR process automation software comes with its own set of tools and application which can help you keep a record of your virtual team, freelancers, and contract staff. It would also help them with data access and task management in a virtual environment.  It also keeps a record of all the work done by them help in seamless communication between you and your virtual team. No more excel sheets and numerous follow-ups every time you require services from your virtual team which is not part of your payroll.

With HR automation, you can easily track an employee’s work hours, break time, manage his/her leaves, monitor over time hours, etc easily and effectively without having to go through various excel sheets and leave trackers.

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#4 Employee friendly

Small businesses, as a rule, have a small workforce and rely greatly on them. By automating HR process, you are not only making the business employee friendly, but also ensuring maximum productivity for your core business. By not spending countless hours on HR documentation, you are making them feel useful and productive in the organization. This has a huge impact on their morale and job satisfaction level.

#5 Streamlined approach to documentation

These documentation jobs might not require any skill sets and might be the most monotonous jobs ever, but they are also extremely essential. It is very important that all HR related documentations are done carefully in a streamlined fashion. This ensures consistency in the process and also makes searching for a particular data easy and hassle-free. However, when the entire HR process is manual, such consistency is just a distant dream and you would have total chaos in case you lose even a single file.

HR automation software takes these documentations to a whole new level and enables seamless updating and data security. You can automatically schedule an interview, file candidate information consistently, streamline the documentations, and enable automatic follow ups with the candidates. It would also help you in updating employee details and update employee on boarding, exit, and transfers efficiently without a lot of paper trail. All your processes would be accelerated thus saving a lot of time.

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HR process automation definitely makes a lot of sense for small businesses and is a great first step towards business growth. It certainly costs a great deal lesser than hiring, training and managing an additional employee. In addition, you are also fast tracking the otherwise monotonous and time-consuming documentation process. If you haven’t already invested in good HR automation software, now would be the best time to reconsider your options and invest. There is never a too late for business development, right?

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