Tablet uptake in businesses across the globe is on the rise, and shows no signs of slowing down. A survey by Dell at the end of 2014 revealed that in more than two-thirds of UK businesses, tablets are either a standard part of the company’s IT offering, or employees are allowed to use their own tablet to access workplace applications. More agile than PCs and more functional than mobile phones, tablets are becoming an integral part of how modern workforces operate – and that’s good news for HR.
Why?
There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that employees are perfectly happy blurring the line between work and personal life when it comes to managing HR-related data. In fact, in today’s digital democracy they expect to be able to access and update their own details in the company HR system just as easily as they can edit their LinkedIn profile.
By making it easy for employees to access their data in your HR system through their tablet or smart phone, HR not only improves employee engagement, but also saves a lot of time too. So, instead of trawling through endless spreadsheets or paper forms to update contact details, process holiday requests, or manage timesheets, you simply provide employees with the option to do it online, at a time that’s convenient to them, using the device of their choice.
Playing a big part in the growth of mobile devices for work use (which research suggests is alongside desktop use, as opposed to replacing it) is the developments in the way we work today…
The results of the 2015 V3 Mobility survey reveal that almost two-thirds of UK workers no longer have a fixed desk in a traditional office – which includes those that are hot-desking, working mostly from home, and working from other sites. Given these changes, it makes even more sense that businesses take advantage of all that the go-anywhere, do-anything devices can offer to all aspects of the modern business operation – not just in the one or two areas where they were initially introduced.
Global, Cloud-based HR software from Cezanne HR has been built using the latest HTML5 technology, offering complete functionality across all mobile devices – including your mobile, tablet, and phablet – as well as web browsers on laptop and desktop computers. There’s also the mobile app dedicated to managing absence, making it easy for staff to request (and managers to approve/decline) time off, from anywhere, and at any time – available on both iOS and Android systems.
Cezanne’s clients have been making full use of the mobile and tablet capabilities to streamline everyday tasks – such as home workers requesting time off and sharing news with colleagues via the HR system’s embedded social portals from the device of their choice; line managers quickly responding to time-sensitive tasks while away from their desks; employees checking their holiday entitlements and submitting time sheets while working remotely or on the move; and HR displaying charts and analytics of employee data on tablet in board meetings.
As mobile technology and flexible working continue to disrupt and challenge the way businesses are engaging with their customers and employees – and act as a foundation for new, innovative start-ups – it’s crucial that the core tools employed to help businesses run aren’t inadvertently anchoring them to outmoded and unnecessary practices, or creating friction towards potential developments. Utilising HR software that’s both Cloud-based and mobile/tablet-friendly provides organisations with the flexibility and freedom to grow and adapt to the needs of a rapidly changing marketplace, without having to compromise or worry about their support systems being able to keeping up.
You may be interested in reading: Cezanne HR unveils a fresh new interface for a better tablet experience
Sue Lingard
Sue studied Personnel Management at the London School of Economics before taking on management roles in the travel, recruitment and finally HR software industry. She's particularly interested in how technologies enable HR teams - and the people they support - to work better together.