The importance of a unified HR solution in 2023

The value of HR technology is often overlooked, as many business leaders focus on driving their initiatives while trying to keep their employees engaged and locked in on creating great customer experiences. Yet, modern HR tech solutions are integral to an organization’s success.

Think about all the time spent on payroll, tax filings, PTO management, reviewing resumes, or setting up open benefit enrollment programs. Also, think about the time spent communicating information to your employees or providing organization and role clarity. Consider the accessibility and function of your current HR tools for employees and think about the last time your organization used these tools strategically.

Today, an integrated HR solution should deliver simpler employee access, a robust payroll solution, enhance the candidate experience, and more. Pulling these tools into one platform saves time and resources while enabling employees to focus on their highest and best use, which improves employee retention and keeps your company ahead of the curve. If you haven’t already, your organization should consider implementing these tools today.

Employee perspective

Having the right unified technology platform affects your employees in many ways. Primarily, it empowers your workers with the necessary capabilities to manage their benefits, paid time off, and tax status, all in real-time, giving them the confidence to execute their roles at the highest level.

Your staff begins to interact with your HR technology even before their first day of work. A streamlined HR platform and user experience are essential to the new hire candidate and onboarding processes, as these are new employees’ first impressions of your organization. A smooth and efficient process can set the tone for their future with your organization.

If you have implemented the right technology, employees can fill out benefit information, update tax documentation, and even complete any necessary onboarding training before their first day. These tools also allow them to focus on the job itself, empowering them to be as productive as possible — ultimately creating efficiency and productivity for the individual and business.

So what is the best way to implement a unified HR solution for your workforce, and what specific tools should be included?

Implementing the right HR tools for your business

Software comparison tools will tell you the main functions business owners need to centralize are process automation and reporting. The tediousness, though, is within the in-between steps. Administering and managing employee benefits, running open enrollment, timekeeping, and filing taxes or printing/sending W-2s are all examples. How technology fares in these in-between areas — the less flashy elements — are where you will see clear distinctions between service providers, and where you need to keep a discerning eye to stay a step ahead in 2023.

There are two main functions to look for in an integrated solution:

• Ability to manage custom reports, new report requests, and breadth of base report offering
• Flexibility of the software and the ability to scale with your business

If automation is a top concern when shopping for new technology, think first about how your processes are structured. Refine and redefine processes before you get started to ensure they make sense for software automation. Will you require the use or connection with an API? Would you prefer more of a “plug-and-play” solution?

For small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), a professional employer organization (PEO) could be a great partner by providing these ready-made tools and services to your workforce. The best PEOs can provide a comprehensive solution for businesses to manage all HR functions from a single dashboard or experience. By partnering with a PEO, businesses reduce their workload and streamline these processes, freeing up time and resources to focus on other important tasks and initiatives that drive customer experience. It’s been shown that SMBs who invest in PEO services can save up to 35% on HR administration alone and are 50% less likely to go out of business.

It’s important to note that as SMBs scale, refine their customers, and reimagine their long-term goals, their partners may also need to change.

So, what are some of the common benefits companies experience with these integrated HR tools?

Time and efficiency

Implementing a unified HR solution can address time challenges and vendor fatigue in many ways, primarily by providing a detailed, bird’s-eye view that brings all HR functions under a single roof. This eliminates the need to switch between multiple vendor systems, reduces complexity, and streamlines HR processes. With a unified platform, HR departments keep their historical data intact, making it easier to tell a stronger and more consistent story to vendors or employees.

This reduces the time and effort spent on managing and maintaining multiple vendor relationships and ensures data consistency across processes. These solutions can also provide a single point of contact for support, reducing the need to work with multiple vendor support teams. Plus, an all-in-one platform can provide a more seamless user experience for employees, reducing the need for HR administrators to adapt to different systems and user interfaces.

Implementing a unified HR platform for your workforce leads to positive outcomes for employee retention as well. Positive changes like adding built-in mobile capabilities makes HR processes less arduous and increases employee loyalty to the organization.

Engage your employees in these ways to unleash their potential to create better customer experiences, which ultimately improves services and offerings as well as the bottom line of the organization. But don’t forget to solicit feedback to continue making improvements over time!

Further streamlining your efforts

A streamlined HR solution can automate many administrative tasks associated with the onboarding process, such as sending offer letters, collecting paperwork, and setting up employee accounts and benefits. This helps HR departments efficiently manage large volumes of new hires, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring a consistent experience for all employees.

Modern tech can and should provide real-time visibility into all of your most critical HR processes, allowing your HR department to track project statuses and quickly identify and resolve any issues that arise.

Read more: HR more bullish on value of benefits than plan members

Overall, an integrated HR technology solution can improve efficiency, consistency, and quality – ultimately creating a positive first impression for employees and vendors while establishing a strong foundation for their future with the organization.

Abraham Gonzales-Pollick, VP of Client Development for Vensure Employer Solutions