5 Reasons You Need an HR Mobile App

HR mobile app Did you know that 63% of all website traffic comes from mobile devices? That’s a 7% increase over mobile usage in 2016, and it’s an even faster shift than predicted. Mobile usage is also in a dead heat with desktop usage in terms of total time spent on a website, average time spent on a website, and bounce rate.

It’s what experts have foreseen all along: we’re becoming more and more dependent on our phones not only for recreational use but also for accomplishing our personal and work to-do lists. We bank online, make airline and hotel reservations, communicate with colleagues and friends, view paystubs, and request time off from work, and most of us would rather do it on a phone or tablet than on a laptop. An ADP study found that people are 60% more likely to check pay stubs on a mobile device than on a desktop or laptop, for example.

Mobile has become essential for marketing and ecommerce, and it's becoming essential for HR too. Here’s why.

5 Ways An HR Mobile App Benefits Your Company

Mobile devices are simply more convenient than desktop computers. You can access information anywhere, anytime with a tablet or smartphone, which means employees can take care of business on the go. And that’s not the only reason you need a mobile app. Let’s take a look at five more benefits for HR:

Efficiency– Mobile apps give your employees real-time access to HR information like pay statements, schedules, and time clocks. They can also facilitate onboarding by providing remote access to training videos and documents.
HR Productivity– If your employees can find the information they need with a few taps on their phone, your HR staff will spend less time fielding phone calls and answering questions. That frees them up to focus on value-add activities like recruiting and engagement.
Speed of Task Completion – The convenience of mobile devices helps employees complete tasks quickly without having to wrangle time at their desk for shuffling paperwork or submitting performance reviews.
Access from Remote Worksites– With mobile time management, employees that work in the field can clock in and out on the worksite rather than having to find a desktop computer at the beginning and end of each day.
Engagement– Mobile apps pull HR information together into a single place so employees can find the things they need quickly and without wading through lengthy spreadsheets or lists of links. You can also use push notifications to remind users about tasks, feedback requests, updates, internal notices, and even coworker birthdays. It’s all part of boosting engagement to add value.

What to Look For in an HR Mobile App

Almost 90% of mobile users spend their time in apps as opposed to browsing the web. That means it’s not enough to direct employees to the mobile version of your HR website. To make the most of your employees’ propensity toward mobile devices, you’ll need an HR app.

Here are six features to look for as you compare options:

Clock In/Clock Out – Clocking in and out on a mobile device is especially convenient for workers not based in an office. Some apps also include geofencing, so that when the employee arrives on the worksite they are automatically clocked into the right location based on geographic coordinates.
Employee Portal – Employees can access information like benefits, pay statements, and HR data (address, phone number, etc.) through the employee portal. And studies show that they're more likely to make changes when needed if they can conveniently access their account on a mobile device.
Time Off Requests – Using an app, employees can view schedules and submit vacation requests conveniently, even if they're not at work.
Communication –When you send announcements, notices, or news items to employees, the app can send push notifications to mobile phones so they know there's a message. It's also a great way to facilitate communication between managers and teams.
Performance Management – With some apps, employees can fill out performance surveys or provide other feedback, and managers can check off performance review task lists. Apps can also deliver reminders and alerts when there is a performance review deadline coming up.
Branding – Employer branding creates connections with employees and can communicate the tone and values of your culture. Some apps allow more branding than others, so consider how important a strongly branded app is to your organization.

Don't underestimate the value of an HR app for connecting with your employees and fostering engagement with your company. It's an important part of boosting the value HR brings to your organization by giving managers and team members the tools they need to complete essential HR tasks efficiently.

Ready to find the right app for your HR department? Check out our HRIS Comparison Tool to find out which software vendors offer an app with the features you're looking for!

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