Guest Blog: 7 Effective Ways HR Tech Improves Employee Engagement

This week we feature an article by Linda Ginac who shares effective HR tech solutions that help companies focus on employee engagement.

In highly competitive industries, companies large and small have a pressing need to stand out among their peers. One of the most effective business strategies for maintaining an edge on the competition is focusing on employees and their level of engagement. Without a workforce that is highly engaged with their work, organizations have little hope for retaining talent, delivering on necessary outcomes or sustainably growing the business. Now more than ever, a high level of employee engagement is necessary to thrive, but improvements in this area are not always simple.

Fortunately, the advancements in technology throughout the business world have made their way to human resources as well, giving HR departments, management and staff sound ways to boost employee engagement, and ultimately, improve company-wide outcomes for the long run. Here are seven effective HR tech solutions that deliver on this promise.

Collaboration and Communication Tools

A significant shift has taken place among employers over the last several years, with many recognizing the benefits of having a geographically diverse workforce. This has led to an increase in the number of employees who work remotely, either full- or part-time. A recent study shows that 43% of American workers spend at least part of their time working from a location other than a traditional office, but engagement remains a challenge when HR departments do not have the right technology to communicate with remote workers. There are several HR technology tools that lend a hand in this arena, giving employers a way to keep employees engaged via communication with peers and management from anywhere, anytime.

Career Pathing Resources

One leading reason why employees lack engagement in the work they do comes down to not connecting with the big picture. Career pathing has become increasingly important in reversing the trend of lacking engagement, but many organizations struggle with how to give employees the tools they need for designing, implementing and monitoring career trajectories. HR technology solutions can help tremendously in this realm as they allow HR departments to select pre-defined career pathways and share them seamlessly with employees. Over time, career pathing solutions can be integrated with performance review software to keep workers engaged for the long term.

Performance Management Software Solutions

Maintaining a high level of employee engagement also requires the right solutions for ongoing performance management. HR departments today often find it difficult to keep up with an employee’s performance over time and how that performance lends itself to the career pathway defined by the employee. Performance management software like TalentGuard works to bring together all aspects of this necessary HR component with the help of technology. A robust performance management solution gives both HR departments and employees a way to work together in planning, monitoring and reviewing work objectives against stated goals. When employees feel as though their work is being accurately reviewed, they are likely to be more engaged in the company.

Learning and Personal Development Software

Technology in HR is also changing the way companies provide training and education to their employees. Engagement often lacks in an organization when employees feel stagnant, either in the tasks they perform each day or their path toward professional development. Certain technology tools are focused on bringing fun and ease-of-use to corporate training and professional development initiatives. A sound education platform that can be accessed on the go and connects back to performance management is the key to successfully boosting employee engagement in this area.

Enhanced Scheduling and Work-Life Balance Tools

Employee engagement often wanes when individuals lack a balance between work and personal life. This challenge is hard to overcome without the help of technology, and HR departments realize the need for digital platforms to help with this obstacle. Technology tools are available for flexible scheduling solutions, promoting vacation day and personal leave use, as well as incentives and rewards for taking time away to work on pet projects not related to the organization. Employees are more likely to feel connected to their employer when work-life balance is made a priority.

Employee Recognition and Reward Software

A lack of employee engagement is also imminent when individuals do not feel as though their hard work is being noticed regularly. Many organizations are moving toward a full-scope performance management system with the help of technology, but they fail to round out the process with recognition and rewards solutions. Many HR tech platforms allow companies to integrate performance management with a recognition and rewards system, and they offer a streamlined experience for employees. These tech-infused platforms should be easy to use for both HR departments and employees, and they should allow for easy recognition of a job well done from all levels of the company.

Feedback and Analytics

Finally, HR technology has a significant potential to boost employee engagement through easy-to-use feedback and data analytics platforms. Employees need to feel as though their voices are heard to remain engaged in the business, and feedback through quick, online surveys may be one solution to this challenge. Making these feedback options available on mobile devices is helpful, as is keeping answers anonymous. HR departments can then integrate this data into analytics software that provides valuable insight into the experiences employees are having on the job.

Technology in HR has many implications for businesses across all industries, but the ability to improve engagement is proving invaluable for many organizations. One or a combination of the digital strategies mentioned here will lay the groundwork for a highly engaged workforce and positive outcomes for the business over time.

Linda Ginac is the Founder and CEO of TalentGuard, a leading global talent management software company. Inventive and driven, she is known throughout the industry for disrupting HR technology and is the inventor of the first commercially available career pathing software solution designed to optimize employee engagement and retention.

For more articles from Shep Hyken and his guest contributors go to customerserviceblog.com.

Read Shep’s latest Forbes Article: Dreamforce Recap: Five Ways To Create Brand Advocates