7 reasons cloud HR is vital for managing an agile workforce

Is it the end of the road for on-premise HR software?

There’s no doubt that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted the way we work, with many organisations moving from offices to remote working practically overnight.

As a result, the sudden and swift shift of tens of millions of workers has created a new dawn of agile working, challenging organisations to become nimble, adaptive, and responsive to change.

Cloud technology and working flexibly go hand in hand.

For HR and People leaders, having the right technology is mission critical as companies look to build agile and resilient workforces to survive in this changing landscape of work.

Why cloud HR?

We’ve said it before: cloud really is a no-brainer.

A modern cloud HR and People system enables companies to design better workforce experiences for employees.

It’s secure, flexible, and can be used globally, as well as on mobile and on-demand.

In comparison, on-premise technology can be clunky, outdated and can struggle to cope with managing a mobile, social and multi-generational 21st-century workforce.

Prior to the pandemic, our research report, The changing face of HR, showed 43% of HR teams had moved to the cloud, and two thirds were planning to fully automate their HR within the next two years.

The pandemic has catapulted many things that were lower down on the HR agenda to the top of the list, with cloud being one of them.

HR and People leaders now realise cloud tech is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but essential to driving an agile workforce.

Still need convincing? Here are seven ways cloud HR is mission critical for enabling an agile and remote workforce:

1. Manage and engage your workforce remotely

Cloud HR solutions can be accessed anywhere, anytime, on any device, meaning HR and People teams can manage and engage the entire workforce remotely.

Employees can also have 24-7 access to things such as employee records, vacation requests, reviews, training and rewards schemes.

Cloud HR keeps the whole company digitally connected, which is essential in an uncertain climate.

2. Increase HR productivity through automation

How would you feel about freeing up 30% of yours and your team’s time? Automation of traditional HR tasks streamlines processes to free up HR and People teams from time consuming and repetitive admin.

Self-service also empowers employees to own their data, reducing the dependence on HR to provide assistance and information.

With the admin duties automatically taken care of, HR can focus on more strategic and people-focused initiatives.

3. Deliver great employee experiences

Cloud HR enables you to improve employee engagement and performance, and build great workforce experiences, wherever your employees are.

Great employee experiences, already on HR’s agenda, is now top of mind for progressive organisations who know the value of an engaged, motivated, and productive workforce in today’s uncertain world.

Things such as flexible working, employee wellbeing, tailored and personalised communications, and sustainable performance management are all made easy through cloud HR technology.

4. Boost workforce visibility

Greater workforce visibility is vital with a remote dispersed workforce, and People data will equip HR and People leaders with actionable insights to share with the C-suite.

Cloud HR solutions provide instant access to reliable workforce insights through People analytics, helping the business to make informed decisions and react to changing circumstances as and when they’re taking place, rather than after the event.

5. Hire and onboard employees seamlessly

Almost 60% of job seekers lose interest in a position if the hiring process takes too long.

Cloud HR and People software makes acquiring the right talent effortless and fast, with automated onboarding functions.

It also opens up the talent pool as you can interview and onboard candidates remotely meaning that location is no longer a restriction.

6. Performance and talent management all in one place

Working flexibly shouldn’t make a difference in how your employees are set goals or how they are rewarded.

Employees whose managers involve them in goal setting are 3.6 times more likely to be engaged, then employees who aren’t involved.

Cloud HR makes managing your peoples’ performance, skills, and development easy by having everything in one shared system.

Managers and employees can access and update performance reviews, development plans can be tied directly to competencies, and HR and People leaders can manage and monitor succession planning and attrition levels.

7. Effectively measure employee engagement and wellbeing

Building an agile and resilient workforce relies heavily on high employee engagement and wellbeing, but with a disparate and remote workforce organisations must find new ways of supporting them.

HR cloud software enables you to communicate effectively through targeted, personalised messages to specific groups of employees or send updates directly to employees’ work mobiles, while in-built tools such as pulse surveys can help gauge and measure wellbeing and engagement.

Enabling the agile workforce

Fewer than one in three HR leaders told us they were organised for speed, agility and adaptability prior to the global pandemic.

With more people working from home than ever before, and HR now with their seat at the table, there’s no better time to consider cloud HR for your organisation.

Ultimately, building an agile and responsive workforce relies on having agile and responsive working practices. Cloud HR is the answer.