Modern HR professionals face more expectations today than ever — they should find top talents who will perfectly match the team, organize and control remote processes, process payroll, and keep all employees motivated to work. No matter how professional and effective an HR management is, they cannot handle it all without help. This is where technology enters the stage. Special software and digital tools make all processes faster and allow HR managers to focus on communication with the team more than on paperwork and analytics.
Organization of employee schedules, attendance tracking, productivity analysis, and many more tasks are on the list of HR specialist's responsibilities. Depending on how well they manage all of them, the business either enjoys the right people working at the right times or suffers from constant employee turnover. So, workforce management is a system of measures taken by an HR specialist aimed at helping employees work safely, effectively, and comfortably.
In the past, many of the tasks mentioned above presupposed that a human resources expert had to do them manually, which took much time and effort. As a result, instead of communicating with team members and solving problems they experienced at work, HR managers drew tables with schedules and filled out dozens of similar papers. Today, with automation tools, the work of the HR team is much easier.
Let's consider a simple example: A restaurant needs to schedule employees across different shifts. Without a proper system, they might end up short-staffed or overstaffed, which will trigger a lot of problems, from slow service to customer outflow. Who will want to wait for two hours until a waiter accepts their order and two more hours until they get the food cooked? In this case, an effective scheduling tool is a life-saver: it allows the manager to assign shifts based on availability, track employee hours, and even approve vacation requests with just a few clicks.
Another issue many HR specialists face is the need to deal with too many documents. Every new person joining the team must sign an employment contract that outlines all the terms of cooperation. If an HR manager drafted every document manually, it would take hours, while legal platforms like Lawrina allow them to do it within just a few minutes. More than that, if an employee changes roles or gets a raise, HR can quickly adjust the contract without needing piles of paperwork.
The tasks that used to take hours just a few years ago now take minutes. New digital products have completely transformed the way workforce management functions. They have reduced the amount of paperwork, minimized mistakes, and given HR teams more time to dedicate to communication with employees.
One of the biggest changes has been in hiring. To find the perfect candidate, human recruiters have to sift through stacks of resumes, choose those who meet the minimum requirements, and contact them over the phone. The whole process could take weeks and even months, and during this time, the company lost its money. Now, applicant tracking systems (ATS) automatically scan applications and CVs, filter out unqualified candidates, and even schedule interviews.
Payroll processing has also improved. There is no need to calculate wages and tax deductions manually because special software handles everything. In such a way, the risk that someone gets paid too late or too little is much smaller. Employees can also access payment history online and track their earnings.
The tech market keeps bringing new trends that reshape how businesses interact with employees. Here are the most popular now:
AI for recruitment
Artificial intelligence helps companies find the right people faster. It scans resumes, checks how well candidates match job descriptions, and ranks applicants based on experience and skills.
So, an HR does not have to drown in hundreds of similar CVs and recommendation letters.
Cloud-based platforms
Such systems let human resources experts access employee records, payroll, and schedules from anywhere at any time. This is especially helpful when a growing number of companies have remote workers. Besides, huge corporations with several offices can also benefit from this tool: there is no need to hire an HR manager for every location; one person can control all the teams at once.
Self-service portals for employees
These platforms allow workers to request time off, check pay stubs, and update personal details without contacting HR.
People analytics for performance tracking
Companies now use data to analyze employee productivity and engagement. If a business notices that performance in a department is dropping, it can identify causes — whether it's work overload, lack of training, or other issues.
Chatbots for employee support
Online chat systems offer quick answers to common HR-related questions. If an employee wants to know how much paid leave they have left, the program can provide that answer instantly.
The choice of software to handle HR responsibilities is truly impressive and allows every company to find what meets its needs best. Here are some of the most popular platforms:
HR Cloud is a global employee management software designed to simplify HR processes from onboarding to offboarding.
BambooHR is a great all-in-one tool for small and growing businesses. It helps HR professionals to track employee records, handle vacation requests, and deal with payments.
ADP Workforce Now offers payroll processing, scheduling, and performance analysis. It is mostly used by huge companies that require complex solutions.
Workday is a cloud-based platform that covers all HR tasks, from resume review to employee development.
Zoho People is perfect for companies that want something simple and easy to use. The program has user-friendly navigation and solves all basic HR tasks.
SAP SuccessFactors is best for businesses that focus on training and long-term employee growth. It includes learning programs, goal-setting features, and career development tools.
The choice of software depends on many factors, such as company size, work policies, long-term goals, and, of course, the preferences of the HR team.
Effective workforce management is one of the backbones of business success. On the one hand, employers should always keep track of the effectiveness of the team’s work, discipline, and issues that arise. On the other hand, employees feel much more secure when they know they will get all payments on time and should not wait for a few months until a busy HR manager approves their vacation. Automation software helps a great deal with such routine yet important tasks, leaving more space for the human resources team for communication with employees.
Author:
This article is written by Krishna Surendra in close association with HR Cloud. HR Cloud is a leading provider of proven HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee communications & engagement, and rewards & recognition. Our user-friendly software increases employee productivity, delivers time and cost savings, and minimizes compliance risk.