5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Automated Onboarding

As the economic winds continue to move in a positive direction, what does this mean for the recruitment industry moving forward? The candidate experience remains a top need for recruiting agencies to attract and retain candidates in a tight labor market. Implementing an onboarding system that will quickly and efficiently transition new hires onto the assignment saves staff time and provides candidates a positive user experience. Those in the industry who have cracked the code for reduced time-to-fill ratios all share a similar weapon when it comes to bringing in new hires – automated onboarding. Whether they’re used for transactional onboarding, dealing with the forms and processes involved in onboarding an employee or guiding a new hire to effectiveness more quickly, automation of these systems is a proven time and money saver. As with other recruiting software that is steering the hiring industry in a new and more efficient direction, automation is changing the face of onboarding at big and small companies alike, and here are 5 reasons why…

Cost Savings

The first benefit any company looks for is obviously the effect on the bottom line of the business. While it seems intuitive that automation in onboarding processes would naturally save money when cutting out extra administrative time on behalf of both new employees and internal team members, the savings reach beyond the obvious. The elimination of needless paperwork is proving to be a cost-saving center that more hiring companies are recognizing. According to the Recruiting Edge Newsletter:

“The average company has 15 corporate policies, procedures, and forms that are required for the new hire to read, review, and sign prior to their first day of work. That does not include the US federal and state forms that are required, such as the Form I-9, W4, state tax withholding forms, and the optional 8850 WOTC form. These forms and policies, along with your required corporate forms, often total more than 40 pieces of paper, which staff copies, distributes and then collects – or hunts down – from each new hire.”

However, automation stops that wasteful process, especially when combined with electronic signature capabilities, eradicating needless paperwork and associated administrative time.

Improved Data Collection

Oftentimes, the challenges of data collection reach beyond those regular client-specific forms. Government agencies and contractors, for example, must also obtain legally-mandated background checks, drug screening and medical/fitness exams, verifications and licensure certifications – all under the umbrella of overall confidentiality. With the addition of each new piece of data comes the possibility of mishandling. Any mistakes in the onboarding process can come back to haunt HR departments when auditors visit. But with automated onboarding, both collection and management of the data can be maintained virtually problem-free.

Reduction in Errors

By integrating all the relevant systems incorporated with onboarding, automation can significantly reduce the chance for errors. No longer must new employees wade through mounds of paperwork, potentially entering incorrect information or missing essential details altogether. And internal staff shouldn’t have to worry about having to check for errors. Automation ensures that all forms are correctly completed. The benefits of errorless data are far reaching. From avoiding the added hours of payroll backtracking from incorrectly filed forms to managing WOTC (Work Opportunity Tax Credit) programs more effectively, companies can save thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours.

Heightened Security

One of the hottest topics around onboarding practices is the safety of employee data. Hiring companies must protect the integrity of data collection, transmission, storage and backup of personal employee information. Automated onboarding solves these issues by providing data security through web-based cloud storage available through Software as a Service (SaaS). Data taken in through automated processes is stored in the cloud and secured more effectively than information that is stored in on-site systems thanks to encryption and access control. Such web-based protections provide multiple layers of security measures, both virtual and physical, to ensure that data is protected from breaches. Ultimately, the securely stored data resting in the cloud eliminates the need to hold onto countless file boxes of information for years on end.

Happier New Hires

What connection does automated onboarding have with the emotional well- being of new employees? More than you might think. When automated onboarding is part of a hiring process, the time spent on administrative paperwork is eliminated, giving internal staff more time to focus on revenue-generating activities. In addition, the user experience of automated onboarding reaches across generations when it comes to employee use. Technology-challenged associates will appreciate the simplified process. The hours saved through automated onboarding makes the solution a difficult tool to ignore for your agency’s recruitment software system. Staffing agencies and recruiting firms charged with the complicated challenges of onboarding can see impactful changes in a short amount of time when they move to automated processes.

Contact us today

As hiring continues to ramp up this year and beyond, automated onboarding within a recruiting software system is a game-changer when it comes to success in the hiring marketplace. Learn how our recruiting software can help you achieve your placement goals by contacting us today.