Clever Ways to Use Your HRIS System’s Self-Service Function

    

HR employees gathering around a computer

An HRIS (Human Resource Information System) system offers many time-saving features. One of these features is the self-service function. HR professionals often think of the employee self-service portal as just a better way for employees to update their contact information and other data.  

Sure, your HRIS system can handle mundane and routine tasks. However, it can also help everyone do a better job, such as your HR (human resources) managers, HR staff, and others.

Three Clever Ideas for Using Self-Service HRIS Portals
  1. Skill share: Everyone brings specific skills and talents to their job, but they may not get a chance to use all of them every day. Set up a special place on your HRMS system where employees can check off the skills they possess. When you need someone with a specific skill set, you can find them on the HRIS. This can be particularly helpful for HR managers, who can utilize manager self-service functions to allocate resources. 
  2. Knowledge bank: You can also allow employees to find others in the company with the specific knowledge that they can tap into for a project. This can save time in terms of search.

    A technology firm may need someone who understands the world of banking to critique software being developed for a bank. By looking in the knowledge bank, they can find someone who has worked in the banking sector before. This enables them to tap into their internal network of experience to improve their products. 
  3. Alternative Languages: As companies increasingly go global, the need for translations has never been greater. While computer translation programs offer some help, only a skilled speaker can translate the nuances of language effectively. 

    Listing languages spoken in the HRIS system enables your employees to find someone who can help translate or understand documentation in another language. You can use the system to find native speakers of various languages where your company does business. 
Data Privacy and Confidentiality

Since you are collecting information beyond the normal employee relationship, it’s a good idea to make participation completely optional. Create a sound data privacy and confidentiality policy! Make sure you have safeguards in place on your HRIS system to maintain people’s privacy at all times.

An HRIS system’s self-service portal is often viewed as something that all systems have but isn’t exactly a very exciting feature. However, the self-service portal can be the gateway to improvement within your company with a few creative applications of its functions.

BAASS Business Solutions

BAASS Business Solutions partners with clients to help them improve efficiencies for greater profitability. We do this by matching business software solutions, including HRIS solutions, like Sage HRMS, to your business needs. The results offer powerful productivity enhancement, time and money-saving results, better data and more. For more information about HRIS and its different service features, please contact us.

 

Nancy Pearce

About The Author

Nancy Pearce

Senior Business Consultant, HRIS Practice Leader - Nancy is our HRIS Practice Leader and has over fourteen years of experience with BAASS. Nancy started as a Senior Business Consultant with Sage 300 ERP (Accpac) with emphasis on the Not-for-Profit sector specializing in Payroll & HR Management Systems. She became certified in Sage HRMS in 2006 and eventually moved her focus to strictly Human Capital Management consulting and development of the HRIS Practice at BAASS.