Click here to get this post in PDF
Automation involves using machinery or software to carry out a task automatically without any human intervention. This helps to save time, as well as making sure that the task is carried out to a consistent standard.
There are so many different business tasks that can be automated, from sending marketing emails to calculating the revenue tax. One particular aspect of business in which automation can be valuable is managing employees
Many employers find that basic HR tasks can be time-consuming. Errors can also lead to unhappy employees or a lack of productivity. By finding ways to automate these tasks, you can ensure that they are accurately taken care of while also saving you some time.
Below are just some of the different business tasks that can be automated and how you can implement this automation.
Screening candidates
When initially looking at potential candidates, there may be hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of applications to look through. A lot of companies have found that they’re able to speed up the process of going through applications by using automated resume screening software. Such software can detect keywords to highlight candidates that may be more suitable than others.
Automation can also be used to send emails to candidates telling them whether they are successful or not. This is much easier than having to manually message back every applicant. You can use screening software or automatic emailing software to do this.
Obviously, automation within recruitment does have its limits. Automation is best used for narrowing down candidates before a manual screening process, which could include reading more deeply into applications and conducting interviews.
Onboarding new recruits
Once applicants are successful and you’re ready to recruit them, the next stage is onboarding them. There could be contracts that you need them to sign, handbooks that you need them to read through or e-learning tools that can help with training. All of this information can be set up automatically in stages using automated onboarding software.
Manual training and an introductory meeting will still be necessary; however, much of the paperwork can be automated to make life easier.
Scheduling employee hours and tasks
Having to manually create rotas each week can be very time-consuming. Consider whether it could be worth automating this process by adopting workforce scheduling software. Such software can help to automatically schedule when employees are working and what roles they will be performing, taking into account each employee’s needs and strengths. There are many other benefits of using workforce scheduling software. Compare different programs to find the best one for your company.
Clocking employee hours
Automation can also come into use when clocking employee hours. Instead of using traditional timesheets filled out using pen and paper, you can easily record and document each employee’s hours digitally using a digital time clock calculator or software. This software could allow employees to clock in from a time clock machine or an app. You can even set up alerts to be sent to you when employees don’t clock in by a scheduled time. Such software helps to ensure that employees are indeed working the hours that have been set for them.
Paying your employees
It’s important that employees are paid the right amounts and that they’re paid on time. A great way to ensure accuracy is to automate the payroll process. Most payroll software platforms can allow you to do this, even linking up with digital time clock software to automatically count up pay based on the exact amount of hours an employee has worked within the week. It’s much easier than manually calculating pay and making payments.
Monitoring work performance
You can also use automation software to check the work performance of your employees. On top of recording work performance, you can automate alerts to be sent to you if an employee is underperforming or overperforming. This could include an email to tell you when an employee is not submitting projects on time or not making enough sales, or when an employee is submitting projects fast or making an above-average amount of sales. Such a feature could ensure that no underperforming or overperforming employees go under the radar.
Scheduling one-on-one meetings
It can be valuable to regularly conduct one-on-one meetings with employees to check how they are doing. Using automated diary planning software, you can automate the scheduling of all of these meetings. This can ensure that you get around to talking to every employee and that no employee goes too long without a meeting.
You may also like: Automation Intelligence in Tough Times Can Lead to Big Rewards
Image source: Shutterstock.com
