Human resource is a part of business management that cannot be underestimated. How well it is handled determines how successful a business will be. The educational sector is not left out in the quest for good HR management. If employees are not properly managed, schools and other educational institutions will perform below par or even fold up with time.
Fortunately, with the advancement in technology, many tools make human resource management smoother, easier and faster for the educational sector. Sadly, however, only 49% of companies invest in HR management. Perhaps it is because they don’t know the benefits that abound in investing in HR tools.
If you’re one of those not harnessing the benefits of human resource software, then you need to know what you’re missing and how these tools can help your school or educational institution grow. Read on as we discuss what HR software is and the benefits you can get from using them.
What is HR software
Human resource software are tools that help you manage and optimize daily HR tasks in your business. These solutions assist you in actualizing your overall human resource goals and objectives. With HR digital solutions, your HR team can maximize their time and efforts by allocating them more efficiently and profitably. When effectively employed, these tools help improve learning standards in education.
Types of HR software
To know and enjoy the benefits of HR tools, it is best to first familiarize yourself with the available types. This will help you know the ones suitable for your business. Below are some types of human resource software.
Human Resource Information System (HRIS) software
Data management is a core HR function, which is what Human Resource Information System software (HRIS) helps with. This tool helps store employee data, manage payroll and staff benefits as well as maintain legal requirements. Data regarding leave management, performance appraisals and other important HR aspects are properly stored with an HRIS software.
This system handles data of previous employees, present staff and applicants. With this software, your HR process is streamlined as you can seamlessly collect, store and organize all staff data in one location. It is a database where you can access all your employee data whenever you need it.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software
The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software helps the HR team manage the hiring process. Going through thousands of resumes can be time-consuming and tiring for the HR team. With ATS, however, collecting and sorting resumes becomes automated. The ATS is used to post job openings on job boards, store applicants’ data and screen the applications for prospective matches.
Using ATS is quite straightforward and easy. You enter a job requisition into the ATS. This requisition consists of information like the job title, skills needed, required experience and so on. Then the ATS processes this input data and uses it to create an applicant profile. As resumes roll in, the ATS sorts and ranks them depending on how well they match the applicant profile.
HR onboarding and offboarding software
This software assists with onboarding new staff and offboarding leaving ones. Onboarding and offboarding processes like collecting information and closing official email accounts, among others, are done with the help of an onboarding and offboarding software.
Employee engagement software
Lack of employee engagement is one of the reasons businesses lose good staff. It takes a lot of effort to successfully engage and motivate staff, and many businesses, including schools and other educational institutions, struggle with it. The good news is that there is software that lets you engage your employees easily and effectively.
This software helps you motivate your employees, improve job satisfaction and retain your best hands. It automates processes like employee recognition, feedback and access to online benefits programs. Many of these software are gamified, adding fun and competition to routine work tasks.
Payroll Management System (PMS) software
A payroll management system software (PMS) automates the payroll process and assists businesses in tracking employees’ salaries and wages. With a couple of clicks, you can generate the total pay for an employee for a specific period, debit the company’s bank account and credit the employee. This tool can also be used to file tax returns and automate other related payroll processes.
Other HR tools are performance management software, employee monitoring software, learning management software and employee scheduling software.
What is an HRMS
A Human Resource Management System (HRMS) is one of the educational technology trends you shouldn’t hesitate to embrace. It is an all-in-one suite of digital tools used to manage human resources processes in an organization. It is a single software that offers a combination of HR solutions like the following:
- Onboarding and offboarding
- Payroll management
- Information management
- Employee monitoring
- Employee engagement management
7 reasons why HR software is essential in the educational sector
Retaining top educators is one of the challenges facing the educational sector. One reason for this is the lack of adequate use of HR software in the industry. Not leveraging these software is a sure drawback for the educational sector. Here are seven reasons why you should consider adopting HR digital solutions if you’re in the educational field.
- It makes the recruiting process seamless
Hiring good teachers and other educational staff can be stressful. However, you won’t have to break a sweat with recruitment when you adopt an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software. Your entire hiring process is handled by the tool. Everything is done in one platform and you’ll be saved from the stress of filling different spreadsheets. The software helps you post jobs, schedule interviews, perform assessments, manage offers and even onboard.
- It makes onboarding and offboarding smooth and easy
With onboarding and offboarding software, you can easily perform onboarding tasks like signing documents, filling out forms, and sharing security policies and handbooks. You say bye to the stress of manually entering data and uploading documents to onboard new staff. Also, for staff who are leaving, you’re able to sign them off easily. This saves time and effort for all parties.
- It makes attendance management easy
Attendance tracking is as important for teachers as it is for students and many schools struggle with it. However, with the software available for human resources now, attendance tracking has become very easy. Staff biometrics and attendance devices can be integrated with the HRMS to track attendance. Also, attendance can be marked through mobile phones with IP. Employees can also track their hours at time and time off.
- It improves communication among teachers
HRMS boosts communication in schools. With an internal chat system, important information is easily passed to all teachers and other employees. This makes work smoother and eliminates miscommunication. This software ensures all employees are on the same page and working towards a common corporate goal.
- It helps to monitor teachers and other personnel
An employee monitoring software helps you keep an eye on your staff, so you’ll know what they’re doing at any given time. This tool assists you in ensuring time and efforts of teachers and other employees are used productively. It helps you identify idle time, track overtime and monitor remote workers, if any.
- It helps in schedule management
A scheduling software lets you manage periods more effectively. With a few clicks, you can create periods, assign staff and publish online. This tool erases all ambiguity and lets your staff know the exact time they should be working. It also helps school administrators schedule replacement teachers when teachers are absent.
- It aids in information management
A central database is one of the great benefits of HR software, especially an HRIM. You have information about employees, like personal data, significant dates, work history, remuneration, all in one place and at your fingertips. This lets you access any data on the go, facilitating the smooth operation of the school.
Leverage human resource software and make your HR operations fast and seamless
With the many digital tools available, you no longer have an excuse not to simplify your school’s HR processes. Also, your daily HR tasks don’t have to be burdensome anymore. All you need to do is go through the types of HR tools listed above and choose the ones most suitable for your educational institution.
Whatever your needs are – recruiting, onboarding, managing attendance, monitoring staff, engaging employees, managing performance, scheduling periods and teachers or managing information – you will find a software that fits the bill.
Moyofade Ipadeola is a Content Strategist, UX Writer and Editor. Witty, she loves personal development and helping people grow. Mo, as she’s fondly called, is fascinated by all things tech.
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