In yesterday’s Advisor, we revealed some of the results of our HR Technology Survey. Today, we present more findings from this timely study, including how new innovations in software are affecting costs and how far HR professionals are really trusting tech when they make decisions.
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A total of 483 individuals participated in this survey, which was conducted in January and February 2015.
The Impact on HR Costs and Productivity
Among the HR professionals surveyed, the majority agreed that technology saves time and money, increases productivity, and simplifies HR activities. This majority was very slim in one case, however—specifically, regarding the issue of if tech significantly reduces HR costs. On this point 35.7% agreed, but 35.4% neither agreed nor disagreed (a difference of only a single respondent!).
The statement that seemed to generate the most positive response was that HR technology reduces time spent on routine tasks, to which 29.3% strongly agreed. While noteworthy percentages neither agreed nor disagreed with the statements presented, few disagreed (and even fewer strongly disagreed) that technology has a desirable effect on productivity and/or cost.
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Please indicate the degree to which you agree with the following. |
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In our HR department, technology: |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neither Agree Nor Disagree |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
|
Significantly reduces costs of HR activities. |
18.7% |
35.7% |
35.4% |
8.5% |
1.6% |
|
Increases HR productivity. |
26.2% |
42.8% |
24.6% |
5.8% |
0.6% |
|
Simplifies HR activities. |
27.3% |
44.4% |
20.9% |
6.3% |
1.1% |
|
Reduces time spent on routine tasks. |
29.3% |
42.5% |
20.1% |
7.0% |
1.1% |
How Far Do You Trust Technology?
Participants clearly believe that the human factor must always have a place in HR decisions—technology is not widely trusted. 50.7% of respondents either only trust tech in the minority of their decisions or do not trust it at all in their decision-making process. Only 20.1% trust technology while making the majority or all of their HR decisions, while 29.2% trust it about half of the time.
Where Tech Is Most and Least Helpful
Far and away the HR arena where tech is considered the most helpful is payroll—41.3% of participants responded as such. This was followed by benefits management (15.8% found tech to be most helpful here) and recruiting (which 12.5% of participants found to be helped by technology). A mere 3% did not find technology helpful at all.
A little over a quarter (26.1%) of all participants find technology to be helpful in all HR arenas. However, the same percentage of respondents indicated that engagement was the HR arena least helped by technology.
Technology is redefining a great many HR tasks. Find out how with the free (thanks to sponsor BambooHR) summary report, HR Technology Trends: How New Innovations Are Shaping Human Resources in 2015 and Beyond. Learn More
Time and Budget for Technology
The slight majority of respondents (31.3%) are able to invest 1% to 10% of their time or budget on HR tech, while 27.4% are able to spend 11% to 25% on trying new innovations. 17.5% do not spend any time on new technologies (or don’t have the budget for it).
What Else Is HR Doing with Tech?
The final question of our HR Technology Survey was open-ended: “Are there uses for HR technology that are not mentioned above that you find helpful? If so, please indicate here.”
We received a variety of insightful (and sometimes amusing) responses from the pool of 46 participants who chose to share a little bit more about their views on how innovations are affecting human resources. Here are several of their parting thoughts on tech and how they use it.
- “I think technology in HR can be most helpful if utilized correctly. The key is in the selling of the technology to the right people to make the investment.”
- “I’m sure there are [more uses for technology], primarily for tracking time and benefits. We’re a small nonprofit company and it’s beyond our budget.”
- “Learning new things when you are a new HR manager of one.”
- “I just wish my ‘dinosaur’ company I have to work for right now had HR Technology! I enjoy the environment and the people but ownership puts emphasis on so many other areas and it sure isn’t in HR or my salary.”
- “We use technology to discourage personal use of computers. The technology can track what websites they visit.”
- “We are in the process of looking at a variety of technology options because we know we’re lacking, and some of the products can make [processes] more efficient.”
- “Complaint management. However, that could come under compliance.”
- “I am no developer but I do have a fair understanding of IT. Considering what developers can accomplish it’s so confusing why there isn’t a system coded with all laws and available HR tasks/projects.”
Based on our survey results, the technology takeover is more prevalent in some areas of HR than in others. Human resources professionals appear to be embracing many new innovations (or would like to if they had the time or budget for it), but they are also meeting some aspects of technology with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Thank you to all who participated!
Want to see the full results of our national survey on HR tech? Six times a year, the HR Daily Advisor Research Team conducts detailed research into contemporary HR challenges to highlight best practices and common policies and procedures. Our latest survey, HR Technology Trends: How New Innovations Are Shaping Human Resources in 2015 and Beyond, sought to learn how technology is affecting the field of human resources. Thanks to report sponsor BambooHR, we are providing the summary report of our findings free of charge!
No question that technology is taking over many HR tasks; how many is too many? What functions are being automated, how is software coming into play, and how far do HR professionals trust technology to make decisions? See the results of our national survey, courtesy of BambooHR.
How is tech shaping benefits? Recruiting? Decision making? It’s all in our summary report HR Technology Trends: How New Innovations Are Shaping Human Resources in 2015 and Beyond. Click Here to Download
This free summary report includes full results to our survey, including findings regarding:
- How many respondents use a computer/software applicant tracking system (ATS)
- Use of social media among participants and its effect on traditional recruiting
- How technology is affecting payroll as well as healthcare and retirement benefits
- How far our respondents really trust tech when it comes to making HR decisions
- And much more!
Technology advances at a rapid pace—don’t be left behind! With the information in this report (free courtesy of sponsor BambooHR), you will get some insight into the effects of HR tech—and maybe learn a little about what your competitors might be up to.