New role of the HR department as a strategic asset for the company

The role of the HR department has changed dramatically in recent years. Often, many companies limited their HR teams to managing back-office tasks. Today, digitalization makes the picture very different. Faced with the need to achieve efficient performance of human capital, HR is now a strategic asset to guarantee business success. 

The purely administrative tasks related to personnel management -payroll, termination, vacation, etc.- are repetitive and manual tasks that can be automated through HCM solutions such as those offered by Talentia. In this way, the HR department can focus on creative tasks that add value to the company. The HR manager thus has more autonomy to focus on programs that promote, for example, well-being, the most prominent trend in terms of importance in the 2020 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report. 

Employee well-being is an ‘important’ or ‘very important’ factor for organizational success, according to 80% of 9,000 respondents to a survey by the consultancy. It is key in keeping motivation high and safeguarding employees’ mental health. It also plays a key role in attracting and retaining talent.  

Automating allows repetitive tasks to become less of a burden. The challenge now lies in developing innovative human capital management strategies. This is precisely what the new role of HR is all about: it must be a key player in helping the organization achieve maximum performance. 

Human resources: how to play a strategic role 

HR can show its strategic value by developing wellness policies or strategies that help increase productivity. But there are also ways such as creating adequate workspaces, fostering communication with employees, implementing solutions that enable efficient teleworking or offering a wide range of training programs that improve employee skills.  Workspaces are no longer just physical, they are also virtual. In this respect, the HR department is an essential player in minimizing the risks of remote working. One of these is that employees have a reduced sense of connectivity and team spirit, according to KPMG’s Leading practices for remote working report. This risk can be mitigated by selecting e-HR applications and widgets best suited to our needs. These tools enable greater employee collaboration and autonomy. 

HR can also demonstrate its strategic value by helping to envision what the new role of the office will be in an increasingly digital world. It is important to rethink what role the office will play within the organization. And, thanks to automation, we have more time to develop creative approaches to try to make the most of a hybrid work model. 

According to a PwC report, 83% of employees want to telecommute at least one day a week, while 32% would like to never return to the office. This demand for working at least part-time must be met. In the meantime, HR should also explore how to leverage the office as a physical space that encourages cooperation, according to Forbes.  

Technology is changing organizations profoundly. Each department is undergoing its own transformation. As such, HR is positioned as a key department to address the constant organizational challenges presented by technology. Automating processes helps HR focus primarily on responding to those changes. The days of managing only back-office tasks are over. HR is now a strategic asset.