5 Ways HR Software Solutions Can Streamline Your Hiring Process

1) The Automation Era: Automation is here – everything we do is aided, enhanced, envisioned – or, replaced! - by technology. With the advent of vastly advanced modern tech tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and the OCT 2022 phenomenon called “Chat GPT”, automation is deeply entrenched in our lives. Overly pervasive and potentially alarming too, as the debate rages. But, that’s a topic for another blog…   ~~~    In our “Automation Era”, business operations are rapidly transformed by technology. 75% of HR teams say technology now helps them perform their duties. They also believe the use of technology will spread across more HR departments as the benefits of automation become more prevalent   ~~~   Automation is the process of deploying technology or software applications to perform tasks that are repetitive (and, typically of low value). This allows employees to spend precious work hours on tasks of greater value.  Automation applications, too, have come a long way. Till even in the recent past, such automation necessitated huge CapEx expenditure, heavy infrastructure, trained workers for operation and maintenance, and other upkeep. However, with the cloud services and SaaS (software-as-a-service) facilities available today, automation has become affordable and easily accessed by companies of all types and sizes.  The purpose of this blog is to highlight how automation in recruitment tasks – via HR software solutions - can streamline a company’s hiring process, reduce staff workload, lower operating costs, and make it more efficient.    2) 5 ways HR software solutions can streamline your hiring process  

1. i) Automated resume screening: An automated resume screening process that assesses and ranks applicants by using predictive tools (e.g. to predict performance and growth) not only helps you to sift through thousands of resumes quickly but also to shortlist those that will be most likely to succeed. It also removes – even eliminates - hiring bias and improves diversity in your workplace. 

  ~~~  “Blind Hiring”    ~~~ ~~~   A technique that deploys automation to disregard elements such as gender, ethnicity, and age to focus only on candidate skills and job history. This fosters diversification in the workplace   ~~~     Importantly, automation also quickens the immense task – and, workload - of receiving and screening resumes. That moves the hiring needle faster, allows HR teams to spend more time on other aspects of their job, and improves the efficiency of it all. Also, by using HR systems that deploy relevant pre-employment criteria through the use of automation, the problems of error and oversight are effectively eliminated. As a result, HR teams and business leaders are assured that the best possible candidates are coming through the process.

1. ii) Using collaborative hiring: Collaborative hiring is a multi-step interview process, where the candidate meets with more than 2-3 employees they would generally meet.

In other words, it is a team-based recruitment process that involves company employees across a greater width and depth of the organization. Often, the applicant meets almost the entire team that they would become a part of.  Typically, collaborative hiring is most popular during the interview rounds, but it could also span a wider canvas with cross-functional employees getting involved during applicant screening, assessment, and selection. As you can imagine, this would require considerable coordination and streamlining. An HR software solution is an extremely helpful tool in this aspect - to manage applicant time slots, match them with employees involved, and ensure that results and feedback are communicated efficiently.   iii) Vastly improved onboarding and induction training: Onboarding and training for new recruits are one of the most beneficial uses of an automated HR software solution. While not completely eliminating the human angle from your onboarding - as it well shouldn’t, right? – it will improve the efficacy so that all involved derive maximum benefit while reducing the time spent on it. Firstly, each organization has its own requirements for onboarding and new employee training, whether for new recruits or for experienced hires. The HR Managers and Business Heads must collaborate to decide which elements of the onboarding process must be automated.    ~~~  HR Software Solutions   ~~~ Automation, including AI, allows HR teams to bypass mundane, repetitive tasks and concentrate on other high-value activities e.g. fostering and building candidate relationships.   A good place to start would be the current onboarding process, and which areas could be automated for time, efficiency, or both. From training to documents to recruitment videos, to video hosting…the list of areas that could be automated is extensive and you must judiciously come up with yours. Another example is the use of an automated workflow to help new hires get started on the job. It frees up manager work hours, ensures all the necessary areas are covered, and prepares the new recruits better for (possible) the next rounds of induction training that must be conducted in person. Other instances include ensuring document submission, scheduling informational interviews (etc.) where automated HR software can help companies in their onboarding and training process.   

1. iv) ATS (Applicant Tracking System): An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a popular use of automation to streamline the recruitment process. Organizations use ATS across every step of the recruitment cycle to receive applications, track applicants, and collect/maintain applicant data for their company database. 

Tracking begins when a candidate enters a company’s hiring process. Thereon, HR teams, and hiring managers can access all the applicant data, communication, and updates. It isn’t a secret that HR departments are regularly inundated with applications! An ATS helps to streamline, organize, and manage the process. After all, you wouldn’t want a potential star performer to fall through the cracks, would you?

1. v) Improve candidate experience: We tend to forget that an HR software solution doesn’t just benefit the hiring organization, but also helps the candidates! Numerous services exist that now automate the repetitive and low-value tasks of business processes. 

During the hiring process, candidates will have their own set of questions and concerns. Remember, they are also assessing you as an organization just as you are, their candidature. If the process of filling out application forms, uploading relevant documents, setting up interviews, travel (etc.) is painful and cumbersome, they would have already formed a below-par opinion.  Select such options carefully, keeping in mind the candidate's hiring experience, as well. Give your hiring teams enough time to develop a relationship with applicants. Using automation helps greatly here. For example, numerous services are available – e.g. outsourcing, BPaaS – that can automate repetitive and mundane tasks. This also enables hiring managers to provide answers, react faster, and give guidance.  Remember, all this is also applicable to those applicants that you don’t shortlist for future rounds. This is crucial in improving overall candidate experience, which goes a long way in improving company reputation, and ultimately, attracts better candidates.    Conclusion: To summarize, HR Software Solutions deploy automation efficiently and effectively to streamline a company’s hiring process. This helps HR staff improve productivity and focus on high-value tasks, thus improving the overall performance of the organization.    If you're looking for an innovative way to streamline your hiring process, HR management software is an excellent option.         Sign up for a Free Demo of Cyberium HR Management Software Now