The 10 Reasons You Need to Automate HR in Healthcare

If you type ‘Human Resources’ into Google, this is what you get:

‍

human resources

/hjuːmən rɪˈsɔːsɪz/

noun

• the personnel of a business or organization, regarded as a significant asset in terms of skills and abilities.
  "our core skills are in building pan-European businesses and managing human resources"
• the department of a business or organization that deals with the hiring, administration, and training of staff.
  "director of human resources at the company"

‍

The Human Resources department within any organisation - big or small - deals with personnel. From hiring to on-boarding, training, support and even departure; the entire journey from entry to exit and everything that happens in between.

It’s all about the people, right? Well, yes. And no. It’s true that HR staff are the backbone of any organisation, with an extensive skill set that cannot be replaced by computing power. That said, there is a role for HR automation. Understandably, many HR professionals are skeptical about automating a process which is historically, and intuitively, about people. But introducing the right systems into your HR processes will mean that staff spend less time on repetitive manual tasks, giving them more time to work on crucial areas - which cannot be automated - such as decision-making and strategy.

Here are our top ten reasons why HR automation is a good thing: 

1. It takes care of menial tasks such as filing, organisation of personnel files etc. which do not require a high skill level but are labour intensive.
2. Computers are more efficient than humans. We might not like to admit it, but it’s true: when it comes to managing payroll, keeping on top of annual leave records, staff training requirements, appraisal schedules etc., automated systems can manage the same information in a fraction of the time it would take one of us. This is particularly true for larger organisations with greater numbers of staff. Like an NHS Trust, for example.
3. HR automation actually improves performance - as found by a recent KPMG survey - by completing certain tasks more efficiently and reducing human error.
4. It’s a cost-effective way to manage the more straightforward HR responsibilities, particularly for SMEs and start-ups which might struggle to meet staffing costs early on.
5. Automation enables HR professionals to spend more time on valuable, highly-skilled work such as planning, strategizing and supporting staff members.
6. Advances in technology, such as AI and computer modelling - which have the potential to bring positive outcomes to the industry - can only be accessed and capitalised on if we embrace the automation process.
7. Recruitment and on-boarding are much easier to manage with an automated system in place. From organising initial interviews, to reference and credential checking, through to offering the post to a successful candidate, this labour-intensive process is a prime example of one which could be effectively simplified by the right automated system.
8. In the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many of us are now working from home and completing tasks remotely. By automating HR processes such as recruitment (which can be achieved via online interviews, virtual on-boarding etc.), we can maintain safe social distances and protect ourselves and others.
9. HR automation enables us to stay on top of compliance, meet the exacting standards laid down by the CQC and comply with the regulations laid down in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
10. Automation makes life easier. Let’s face it, we’re in the year 2020 and automation, like it or not, is the future. The right software and automated platforms not only make life easier, they enable us to capitalise on trends and patterns that might otherwise be invisible to us.    

As a HR professional, it’s time to embrace the changes and capitalise on the advantages that enhanced computing power, AI, connectivity, analytics and integration bring with them. Used well, technology can make the difference between an effective, efficient and smoothly-run department and one which is struggling to keep up with the crowd. Don’t get left behind.

Book your free demo of Credentially today to discover first-hand how HR automation could benefit your organisation.

‍