How cloud technology can make your business more efficient

Cloud technology has been one of the largest facilitators of efficiency for businesses. Not only does it speed up processes but employees are also benefiting from elements that improve performance and productivity.

This includes efficiency from a HR perspective, with cloud systems now in place to manage payroll, talent acquisition, data management and productivity.

Here are five areas that you can use cloud technology for your business to improve efficiency across the board.

1. Resource sharing

At its most basic level, business efficiency from a HR perspective has been sped up considerably by resource sharing via the cloud. It’s no secret that businesses globally have become more efficient when cloud-based document sharing became standard practice – and yours can too.

Resources relevant to people management such as CVs, appraisals or employee details can now be shared easily by your team. Sending documents via anything other than cloud-based software today is outdated and ineffective. Warehouses full of large storage units and filing cabinets are becoming a thing of the past.

2. Advanced security on sensitive information

The technological and security advancements in cloud technology such as end-to-end encryption ensures your firm’s sensitive HR information is safe on cloud networks. This also ensures the upcoming legislation of GDPR is adhered to, aiding the protection of sensitive information through cloud systems.

On this point, systems such as Google Drive are now being adopted by many businesses across the board as flexible, safe and free software. By using Google Docs instead of traditional alternatives such as word processing software, for example, you will be able to make workflows more efficient as all documents are instantaneously collaborative.

From a HR perspective, this means your data collection from multiple employees at once has become a simple and efficient process. It is also commonplace for payroll processes and systems to be tracked on collaborative systems such as these.

3. Employee productivity

The development of advanced cloud-based communication platforms have also emerged, further facilitating people management. These systems aid productivity as all of your employees can use one platform rather than many disparate systems.

However, the benefits of one system for phone calls, instant messaging, conferencing and video calls goes beyond just employee productivity. Cloud-based communications systems are able to manage the data that looks at how productively your employees are working.

The efficiency in an organisation is also increased by your staff being able to instantly see the availability of everyone else, putting an end to wasted phone calls trying to find those who are not available.

Additionally, they give an overview on how active people are being with their computers, so members of staff can view productivity, workflow and who is available.

4. Recruitment and talent acquisition

The ability to make video meetings and VOIP calls internationally is now the most accessible it has ever been. This is due to the increase in speed and availability of broadband globally, as well as the rise in inexpensive computers and processors that can handle more load, more efficiently.

Video calling today is just as good as being in the same room as someone, meaning talent acquisition internationally bridges geographical challenges. Not only does this help you with internal communications and efficiency in the working environment, but it expands your recruitment capacity for global business.

5. Payroll and expenses

Cloud-based tools today support payroll and expenses. Processes that were once lengthy and tedious, such as filing your expenses are now all sped up to excellent efficiency levels via a simple app.

Previously, you may have invested in expensive and maintenance heavy software and hardware to facilitate these processes. Cloud accounting software can reduce the need for this.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to set up direct debit collections, try using systems such as GoCardless, which collect direct debit in an integrated way with other cloud systems.

Cloud systems are widely seen as important for productivity in business goals but not seen as the heart of an efficient HR and people management policy. However, it is clear that cloud technology can be vital in facilitating more efficiency in your payroll system, performance management and talent acquisition.

As cloud technology moves forward, people management will only become further integrated within these advancements. It will become something that is absolutely necessary for your business to adapt to as part of your HR structure in 2018 and beyond.