IT and the changing role of HR (page 4 of 4)

Additional concerns include HR administrators fearing that self-service will make their roles redundant, or managers worrying about losing control over approval processes.

Winning buy-in by highlighting the benefits to employees above corporate cost saving is therefore crucial. Some employees are persuaded by speed - the ability to book holiday time online, for example, or the fact that expenses are paid more quickly because the approval process is automated. Others will welcome the convenience of being able to browse benefit information from home. Self-service functionality also empowers employees to take more control over their own career paths, by providing them with the ability to enroll in training courses or update performance goals online. There are indications that employees' support for self-service is largely positive; The Cedar Group survey indicates 50 percent improvement in employee satisfaction.

Better decision-making, significant employee benefits, increased efficiencies and reduced costs all create a compelling argument for implementing HRMS systems. For the HR department, these technologies provide the potential to break away from its administrative quagmire to become a front-line function embracing more strategic responsibilities that positively impact the success of the enterprise. Once time-intensive processes are streamlined, HR professionals are freed up to focus on achieving full workforce optimization, a key source of competitive advantage and, ultimately, profitability, as it means resources can be aligned with the company's business goals and used strategically.