More HR leaders are using analytics and other tech solutions for record-keeping, performance management, and other tasks.
This is the second of a two-part article documenting the results of the 2018 Pulse of HR Survey, which involved 300 HR decision makers in U.S. companies with 50-500 employees across a range of industries.
According to survey results, HR is using technology for a variety of purposes, including record-keeping (75%) and time and attendance tracking (58%). A majority (79%) of HR professionals said automated HR solutions helped them play a more strategic role in 2018, and 77% said it helped them increase efficiency. As companies are most likely to use manual processes to integrate new employees into the organization (28%), performance management (27%), and travel/expense reimbursement (27%), there are opportunities for HR to expand their use of automation to save time and money, as well as improve accuracy.
HR professionals expressed general satisfaction with their technology. A majority (86%) said their HR system is easy to use adjust over 77% said their systems improve the overall employee experience. Three-quarters of respondents said technology has improve their ability to contribute to company success; Nonetheless, nearly half (41%) said it’s difficult to keep up with the changing pace of HR technology.
Companies use workforce analytics most commonly to:
- Track employee benefits.
- Track time off and training.
- Justify HR decisions to senior management.
- Make more informed business decisions.
While this technology is increasingly popular, analytics and reporting still represent a top challenge for 25% of survey respondents, and 42% said it’s difficult to keep up with the demands that empirical data place on HR.
According to the survey, 58% of companies use artificial intelligence (AI) technology, such as voice recognition, chatbots, and virtual reality interfaces. However, while organizations may use AI, they aren’t particularly enthusiastic about the results. Only 22% of respondents said they apply AI effectively, and 12% say their use is poor or inconsistent. These will be interesting numbers to watch moving forward, as AI is a growing trend in organizations of all types.
