As typical functions handled by the HR department become increasingly complex, more companies are considering integrated workforce management solutions for payroll, time and attendance, benefits administration and other tasks. If you’re one of them, you might be overwhelmed by the array of options available, which makes it difficult to choose one that suits your needs. It’s true that there’s a lot involved with finding the right Workforce Management Platform, but there are some best practices developed by experts to help lead you in the right direction.
Determine the Workforce Management capabilities you need and how they’ll optimize efficiency. Before you can start researching vendors, you must consider what you expect from your Workforce Management solution. There are many features available and most solution providers include modules or tools to streamline such tasks as:
- Payroll
- Human Resources
- Recruiting
- Applicant Tracking
- Onboarding & Training
- Benefits Administration
- Time & Attendance
- Compliance
- Employee Performance
Still, it’s important to understand how these features will work together to increase efficiency. These are powerful tools, but they must interact seamlessly if you want to maximize usage.
Make sure the Workforce Management solution is scalable for future growth. You’re making an investment in Workforce Management technology to serve your existing needs, but you should always bear in mind future expansion. As your company grows, you may need to be overseeing your workforce from a nationwide – or even global – view. Maintaining separate systems in different locations will lead to challenges in consolidating key processes and data. Disparate solutions will eventually lead to hassles in the HR department and can create a compliance nightmare, so consider Workforce Management platforms that brings operations under one umbrella.
Confirm security measures and ownership of Workforce Management data. The data stored within your Workforce Management platform is precious to you and your employees, so look for solutions that offer top security measures. Data privacy laws are especially important in a world where government surveillance strikes fear in employees, and your system must safeguard information for compliance purposes. For instance, there are some international jurisdictions that require employee data to be stored where the individual lives. These factors are especially critical for cloud-based Workforce Management solutions.
Consider integrations with current systems, especially non-Workforce Management solutions. While your Workforce Management solution will consolidate your HR-related operations, there are other systems to consider within your company’s technology landscape. Some of your software might use employee data for permissions and hierarchy purposes to ensure an individual performing a certain task has the authority to do so. It’s important to integrate the solutions instead of using time-consuming manual updates where input errors are common.
Look into delivery methods and off-site access. A cloud-based Workforce Management platform is your best bet for management of workforce data. Cloud deployment of your Workforce Management system enables your organization to be up and running quickly, while automatic updates ensure your technology is always current. Plus, your team has access to the solution and database from anywhere, anytime. Of course, security is always a concern for organizations and employees, so your selection of a Workforce Management platform should include a hosting environment built up on a secure infrastructure with multiple layers of reliable security and encryption.
It’s wise to follow industry best practices when selecting a Workforce Management platform, but you must also consider what’s right for your company and how a solution will help you meet business objectives. Paypro is a provider of workforce management solutions that are customizable to your unique requirements and that are accessible anywhere, anytime in the cloud. Please contact us to hear more about how our Workforce Management technology streamlines HR functions and improves the employee experience.