Integrating new HR tools into current workplace technology is a key priority in 2019 for 89% of HR professionals, according to research from employee engagement company, Reward Gateway.

Moving away from manual

These results are unsurprising, as HR professionals continue to struggle with mundane, manual processes that could be automated.

The finding suggest that HR professionals are spending 366.6 hours a year manually checking, responding to and keeping up with multiple HR applications.

There’s a lack of unification, with many organisations are using different platforms for employee communications, recognition, applicant tracking, on-boarding and performance management; forcing all employees to access multiple apps a day.

Indeed, the same research found that a quarter of companies are using eight or more different systems and apps every day for work.

Simple is definitely better, as explained in this podcast on digital transformation and HR.

Data-driven leadership: Is HR technology the key to making better managers?

With the HR industry incorporating advanced technologies into their hiring processes, with the aim of harnessing big data and AI to make smarter decisions, can managers use these same tools to enhance their leadership qualities too? Read here

Workflow productivity stumbling

With these workflow interruptions, it’s no wonder the research, which polled 500 HR workers across the UK, also found that the top HR priority for 2019 was increasing workplace productivity.

On the research, Will Tracz, chief technology architect at Reward Gateway, comments:

“Many companies have systems-of-record in place with up-to-date details on their employees. Creating and maintaining data in other systems, outside of this, often takes time and is prone to error, particularly in fast-moving businesses. Through our expanding integration partner network, we want to help our clients’ HR teams focus on what they want to do using our solutions: create an engaged workforce, remove the need for multiple login and security processes, and keep data secure.

“Our clients are also looking to enhance the employee experience, and make it easy for them to access and use the tools that will help increase employee engagement. With the integration of key workplace applications such as Slack, Yammer and Okta.