If you missed our Blog about HR software configurability, you might not be up to speed about the importance of configuration tools. It's a fallacy that the 'out-of-the-box' functionality of all Cloud HR software will meet the needs of every organisation. That's why you need to make sure that your HR software has powerful configuration options that enable you to adapt it to your unique HR processes. Essentially, you need to be able to bend your HR software to your will because we all know that one size does not fit all HR automation needs. If you haven't yet started your digital transformation and you're in the market for a solution that works for your business, here are five configuration tools your HR software needs to follow HR best practice in your organisation.
Configuration tools make it possible for the end-user (that's you) to do more with your software. Whether it's a dashboard, a wizard, a widget or an APP, configuration tools essentially reduce the time and knowledge you need to bend software to your will. They also remove the need for you to spend time or resources making changes at the code level to get that software to do what you need it to do to meet your needs. Not all software is created equal however, and there's no guarantee that a SaaS solution will even let you make changes at the code level. Which is where configuration tools become even more important. They make it easier, faster and cheaper for you to get up and running with minimal technical knowledge required. Let's take a look at the top 4 (plus an added bonus) configuration tools your HR software should have.
Configuration Tool #1: HR Dashboards
In case you missed it, this recent blog illustrates why you need HR dashboards. Human resources dashboards provide powerful data visualisation functionality that aggregates all your HR data points and presents it in a meaningful way. As a visual representation of the key metrics across the entire employee lifecycle, HR dashboards digest and simplify massive amounts of information to present it in a way that can be sorted, analysed, and presented to management, leadership and the board. Dashboards also provide an effective way to communicate with employees and ensure that everyone understands what's happening in your organisation at any given point in time.
Subscribe-HR's dashboards provide different information and a different user experience depending on which way you want to slice, dice and visualise your HR data, including (but not limited to):
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Employee Dashboard experience.
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Manager Dashboard experience.
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People and Culture Dashboard experience.
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HR Metrics Dashboard experience.
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Recruitment Dashboard experience.
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Onboarding Dashboard experience.
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System Usage Dashboard experience.
Configuration Tool #2: Widgets
A widget is a broad term that is used to refer to a GUI (graphical user interface) element or a tiny application that can display information and/or interact with the user. A widget can be as simple as a button, scroll bar, label, dialog box or check box. Or it can be something slightly more sophisticated like a search box, tiny map, clock, visitor counter or unit converter.
Configuration Tool #3: Wizards
Technically, a wizard is a feature that guides the user through the installation or setup of a software program or hardware device. Unlike a manual or on-line help, the wizard guides you through the process one step at a time, prompting you or asking a series of questions to lead you to completion. The word itself conjures up something out of Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings, and whilst it would be stretching the truth to say we've put some of those characters to work in our HR software, it is true that our wizards are every bit as magical as Gandalf or Dumbledore.
Configuration Tool #4: APPs
Most people have heard the saying 'there's an App for that.' But what does that actually mean? One of the first things to understand about application software (which is what APP is short for) is that it is exceedingly broad. Application software is commonly defined as any program or number of programs designed for end-users. That’s it, in a nutshell. In that sense, any end user program can be called an 'application.'
Definitions aside, APPs are often built specifically to enhance the end-user experience by making certain functionality available is a quick and easy to use format.
Bonus Configuration Tool #5: Permissions
Permissions are a means of controlling and regulating access to specific system and device level functions by software. Typically, types of permissions cover functions that may have privacy implications, such as the ability to access a device's hardware features (including the camera and microphone), and personal data (such as device storage, the contacts list, and the user's present geographical location). Permissions are typically declared in an application’s settings, and certain permissions must be specifically granted by the user, who may revoke the permission at any time.
Why do configuration tools matter? They're all about efficiency and flexibility. Configuration tools do the heavy lifting so you don't have to. That means users can do things faster, and easier. It also means you can tailor configurable HR software to meet the unique needs of your organisation. The result is better, happier, more productive employees. That's how you save your organisation time and money, as well as giving end-users (your employees) a great user experience.
Still not sure exactly what configuration is all about? We've created this video to help you understand configuration tools generally, as well as giving you a walk-through of all the fantastic new configuration tools available in Subscribe-HR.
Want to take a look under the hood to see what else Subscribe-HR's Codeless Cloud HR software has to offer? Try our self-paced discovery videos. Watch them in your own time from the comfort of your desk.
Image credit: Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
