For HR departments, intelligent process automation like AI and other new technology advances can help deliver dependable people processes. In fact, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 56% typical “hire-to-retire” tasks can be automated with the technologies now available and limited process changes. Imagine the possibilities!

While changes brought on by automation always produce some fear—remember when factory jobs were automated?—the current digital transformation presents great opportunities for HR. In fact, automation software, AI, and machine learning are all becoming ubiquitous in the modern workplace, taking repetitive tasks out of many jobs.

Working together, HR and IT must figure out how people and machines can work together for the good of the company and its talent. Here’s why it’s such a critical undertaking.

Enhanced Talent Management

Talent acquisition has historically involved a huge amount of manual, repetitive tasks. AI dramatically reduces the amount of time and effort it takes to recruit, onboard, and retain talent. And it lets leadership focus on what’s really important like crafting new strategies, delivering a stellar employee experience, and improving productivity and retention rates.

Performance management tools let you give and receive feedback on a regular basis and easily manage performance review. And automation makes it easier for employees to become aware of the skills and competencies they need to advance in their careers.

Data Security

Automation lets you back-up important data to cloud services, protecting it from loss in a natural disaster or catastrophic failure. It also reduces the risk of errors that are common with manual processes, saving your organization from big problems like tax issues and legal disputes.

Consistent Processes

Organizations with multiple locations often struggle to maintain consistent systems that work with and for everyone. An automated system that meets company-wide needs means improved workflows and better efficiency and productivity across the board.

Improved Global Communications

Automated HR processes offer real-time solutions to questions, requests, and other issues that used to take days or weeks to resolve. With options like virtual messaging and other mobile employee engagement tools, communication between in-house and remote employees is quick, effective, and low-cost. And applicant tracking systems can be used to communicate with job candidates during each stage of the recruitment process.

Leveraging Data Analytics

A data-driven HR is transforming recruitment and other HR functions. With automation in place, you now have access to huge amounts of data which can be analyzed and used in making better talent-related decisions and overall business strategies. You’re better equipped to find the best possible person for any given job and save time by narrowing the field to the most suitable candidates.

If your organization’s HR and IT departments are not yet collaborating on automating HR processes, your business is already light years behind the competition. If you want a better way to address the challenges of talent acquisition, performance management, and talent development, now is the time to make automation a component of an overall digital HR strategy.