The Benefits of HR Automation: How to Make Work a Breeze

Before I discovered the benefits of HR automation, I filed papers. One. After. Another.

For four years.

At first, I worked as a human resources coordinator, then as a talent acquisitions manager, and finally as a human resources management assistant. No matter the job, I would spend entire days inserting papers into the correct employee files. The task never ended. 

And when an auditor came, my team had to pull employee records. We descended into panic mode, sorting through stacks of papers to find the “not yet filed” documents. 

Thankfully, my life in HR has changed. For the past two years, I’ve run the HR department for SuiteDynamics. And automation has rid my world of perpetual filing and panic sorting.

So, if you haven’t discovered the benefits of HR automation yet, I’m begging you to try it. Automation will take the friction out of your HR operations and cut your stress level in half. Try tackling these two processes first.

Documentation

As I said, manual HR documentation will chain you to a file cabinet. But automation sets you free.

Today, I don’t have to sift through papers, update binders with current documents, or pass hard copies between department heads and HR. Instead, our company has gone completely paperless, using fillable forms that save time and automatically update documents.

We also use an eFileCabinet that allows us to keep and manage every document in the cloud. That way, all documentation stays at the right person’s fingertips. And we can limit the eFileCabinet based on class or department, so HR can find employee records, accounting can access IR/AR documents, and project managers can retrieve SOW and agreements. 

Employee Relations

Without automation, onboarding gets clumsy. For example, you might have to use system uploads and supervisor approvals to complete employee record entries. And the entire process often gets hampered by missed approvals, meaning that documents aren’t always ready and available for start dates. 

So, if this sounds like your work life, maybe it’s time to switch things up. 

NetSuite's cloud ERP features customizable performance reviews that allow you to create multiple questionnaires based on company and review needs. I can even schedule 90-day and annual employee reviews the day we hire a staff member. The software does this task automatically, so I don’t have to worry about manual creation, scheduling, and assigning. 

The system also has a digital employee center, where staff can manage their own information. For instance, they can add goals for supervisors to use in performance reviews, providing a starting point for growth and development planning. The employee center even allows staff members to submit expense reports for timely processing. 

And, when employees need time off, they can request it themselves. The program also displays approved and pending requests to notify other employees of overlapping vacation days. 

Life After Automation

This software has changed my entire office experience. Instead of drudging through paperwork and data entries, I can focus on more fulfilling tasks. I have more time to administer our 401(k), source applicants from our job postings, create training plans, craft handbooks and policies, and, of course, research NetSuite automation options. 

So, if you want to make a difference in your company, talk to your company leadership about the benefits of HR automation. A more efficient system will save them money. And it will give you more time to reach your personal performance goals.