To enhance employees’ experience, HR departments are getting more mobile, with help from HR apps.
If the phrase, “There’s an app for that” sounds like something you’d never hear from a colleague, you may be missing out on the handheld HR revolution—currently underway at a human resources department near you.
Despite the immense growth of consumer apps in recent years, business-related mobile apps haven’t been as abundant, according to the Washington Post. They are picking up speed, however, in some sectors — including human resources, where it’s completely feasible to look for a mobile device-friendly solution and be able to confirm that yes, there is indeed an HR app to help you manage records, track time or conduct other tasks.
Social and mobile app use is on the rise in the HR community, according to tech consultant Sierra-Cedar’s most recent HR Systems Survey, which tallied 482 results from global organizations that operate in multiple countries. Forty-six percent of organizations use workforce management HR apps and other tech tools today, according to Sierra-Cedar; 55 percent utilize talent management tools.
Use of both items is expected to increase by 19 and 25 percent, respectively, in the next three years.
As the popularity of smartphones — nearly two-thirds of Americans have one, according to Pew Research Center data — and tablets continues to increase, mobile apps that either function as standalone products or as compliments to a cloud- or desktop-based platforms are likely to become a more popular choice among HR professionals.
If you haven’t examined the array of HR apps in awhile, consider the following options:
HR tools that offer time-tracking and other employee management services: Tech information provider Gigaom’s HR app recommendations include TribeHR, a human resource management app that provides vacation approval and tracking; employee development and other tools, and BambooHR, which offers the ability to manage employee records and record training time — and iEmployee, which has online paystub and timesheet capabilities.
Talent acquisition HR apps: Apps like Kenexa 2x Mobile and Jobvite, according to tech review publication Software Advice, include functionality to help hiring managers complete crucial talent search-related tasks, such as signing off on job requisitions, obtaining referrals for available positions and tracking applicants’ statuses during the hiring process.
Mobile apps to improve employee experience: Although Achievers’ employee recognition and reward cloud-based platform can be used on computers, HR professionals and employees can also use their smartphones and tablets, according to Workforce magazine, to provide real-time acknowledgement for employee achievements.
Apps to gather data: In the past few years, workforce analytics offerings have increased, according to DataInformed, which noted some of the HR app rising stars include Visier’s cloud-based solution, that includes a variety of metrics, ranging from head count to high-value workers who are likely to leave and other complex predictive analytics. DataInformed also gave a nod to Talent Analytics, a predictive tool that helps employers estimate which hires are likely to perform well or poorly and predict employee flight risk.
Mobile apps that work well with specific devices: Using an iPad? iGeeksBlog.com suggests several HR app options, including HR Management, which provides best practice strategies, human resource industry news updates and the ability to post openings in Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. MacRobert HR Adviser, another one of iGeeksBlog.com’s HR app picks, offers a calculator to help you estimate the cost of employment law and payment issues, such as redundancy and unfair dismissal. A word of advice: Before downloading an app — or purchasing a platform that includes a mobile app — make sure the app will be compatible with your teams’ mobile devices. If your HR departments’ phones and tablets weren’t supplied by your company, you may need to survey team members to find out what type they use.
Earlier this year, Inc. and several other publications wrote about Amazon’s Anytime Feedback Tool, which lets employees share thoughts about coworkers’ performance with management members. Amazon isn’t the only company to offer that type of technology. In 2010, Workday announced new features for its Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) solution, which included a Collaborative Anytime Feedback tool — providing the capability for managers and employees to solicit and provide feedback at any time, across teams or to direct supervisors.
GE launched a similar item last year, according to the New York Times, a mobile app that lets employees get feedback from coworkers and their boss immediately after a meeting, presentation or other event via their smartphone.
Obtaining individualized feedback about specific job performance aspects through an HR app can be helpful; however, your organization may also benefit from gaining insight about how employees feel about your company culture, benefits and other policies that affect your organization as a whole.
An employee survey can help you determine how programs are being received. For tips on crafting the best possible set of questions, check out our recent blog post on creating the most effective employee value proposition.