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data integration in HR

In order to make logical business decisions, it is imperative to collect and interpret data, but this task becomes much harder when your company’s data is inconsistent and unstructured out into different databases without an integration platform. 

Data integration is a major way to increase productivity within your human resource department due to the money and time savings when making solid data-driven decisions. When your data is consolidated into one centralized database, your HR managers will be able to identify and present trends found in the data more accurately and quicker. This will also provide scalability for data migration and have a better grasp of data  governance. 

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What is Data Integration?

Data integration is the practice of combining numerous types of data stored in different software or databases into one unified system. Especially in your organization’s human resource department, data and analytics are more important than ever before as there is an increase of unstructured data that comes with newer technology. When your company combines different data sources into a unified system, your employees will be able to identify data trends, data cleansing, end-to-end data visualization, and provide a solution to business-intelligence data warehousing.

For human resource data integration, your HR department will be able to combine many HR analytics, such as payroll, time and attendance, performance management, and applicant tracking, in a simple human resource platform. There is no reason to pay high monthly fees for different subscriptions and switch between different tabs to access the information your company’s HR department needs. Use one centralized system to prevent these issues and integrate it into a cloud data to provide a higher master data management.

Why Should I Use Data Integration Tools?

Data integration tools can solve many issues that HR departments may be having, such as lack of communication, unreliable data, low data-driven decisions, and more. As your company grows, your employee experience efforts must as well.  

An integrated HR system can promote communication and collaboration in or amongst departments or locations by bringing all key employee data into a central platform.  

A unified employee profile tool can allow employees to access their own data at any time through their personal accounts and view company news from their desktop or mobile device. This help HR focus less on the administrative tasks and requests and more on the strategic side of the job.

It may seem odd that data integration can improve the employee experience at your company, but it can truly make a difference when HR systems save employees time and many headaches. Plus, an informed and valued employee is a much happier employee!

By combining your company’s people data into a singular platform, your organization will save HR employees time when creating visuals or reports, use accurate real-time data, provide better employee experiences, boost communication efforts, and make better HR decisions.

 1. Create Data Visualizations + Reports

Typically, when using a data integration tool, the system will allow you to use any of those data items to create dashboards full of key metrics, business analytics, and graphics.

The dashboards can help HR employees pull together human resources reports in no time and update information as your company receives it. Since all of the data will be organized, filtered, and prepared, your HR staff can spend more time searching for trends and solving real issues that your company is encountering.

Since HR dashboards are customizable, your human resource team can select key metrics based on data quality, company goals, and other filtering factors. A centralized, online database will also allow many users to view the same data at once which will help your HR department with collaboration, and your company’s internal communication between departments when dealing with company-wide issues.

 2. Increase Speed & Save Money

Gone are the days of switching between tabs, comparing wrong data, and wasting time when viewing human resource, or people data. An effective and competent human resource database is designed to save your company time, headaches, and money. For your company’s HR staff, integrated systems, allow for customization tools, records of key metrics, and collaboration.

For your company’s managers, data integration tools simplify daily administrative tasks through employee tracking tools, feedback options, and securing your company’s data in one location. For your company’s non-HR employees, having a centralized platform can boost employee engagement since all staff members know exactly where to view their personal information such as contracts, or chat with HR. This can help employees address specific requests without all of the hassle since they can independently manage their tasks.

 3. Use Accurate Data

When everything is in one centralized location, it is easier to access which helps your organization make fast and data-driven decisions. In order to make impactful data-driven decisions, your company must rely on quality and accurate data.

Avoiding data entry into multiple systems or multiple spreadsheets eliminates the risk of errors in the data. When a single source of truth is established, data becomes more error-proof, accurate and reliable.

When you choose relevant information for your company to measure, your business decisions will be based on numbers and not misinterpreted thoughts or feelings. This can help improve the employee experience, work culture, and profitability of your organization. With a central database, all employees will be impacted in the best way possible.

 4. Provide Better Employee Experiences

In addition to enhancing HR analytics, integrated data can help boost the employee experience at your company. It can allow your employees to have autonomy with administrative tasks, such as data entry. Employees will have the ability to view their own data, like performance reviews, pay slips, and more, while also being able to input requests.

Also, the employee experience will improve thanks to the ability to streamline workflows and tasks that cross multiple software or departments. Employees will be able to view real-time updates of their projects and have the contact information of all team members within a few clicks.

 5. Boost Communication Efforts

By tracking HR metrics, HR directors can see the performance of each employee and the completion of workplace tasks. One of the perks of having a centralized database and communication tool on the same platform is the ability to solve issues before they become serious. For example, if a project is not yet finished and the due date is approaching, HR managers can view the progress and data which can help delegate tasks to cross the finish line.  

Many HR systems are also mobile-friendly, so your employees can view notifications or reminders from their phone, or computer which can boost communication efforts company-wide. This is extremely helpful for fully remote teams since the biggest challenge in working from home is communication.

 6. Make Better Business Decisions

When your company’s human resource department can view the correct data in a unified and customizable way, HR professionals can spend more time doing what they are trained to do instead of focusing on confusing manual processes and paperwork. Since you’ve unified your data and made it accessible from anywhere, your company can have all of the information necessary to make important decisions when needed.

In addition, you can generate reports and dashboards which will allow human resource professionals to spot trends and other employee information faster than ever before which will also lead to higher-quality business decisions in all aspects of your company.

Which Data Integration Tools Should I Use?

When searching for different HR data integration software and tools, you will need to see if the solution allows for unified employee profiles, enables internal communication, simplifies data edits, and promotes HR technology that fosters collaboration amongst departments.

PeopleSpheres is a highly effective, centralized database that has the capability to accomplish these goals. This solution is for organizations that want to take data from all their disparate HR and business systems and centralize them on a single interface. Such organization tend to have three main goals:

  • Better HR data

  • Better HR processes

  • Better employee experience

Book a demo here to see how PeopleSpheres can help your organization achieve all three!

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Conclusion

Data integration and unified databases can be a big game-changer for your company and its decision-making process. Companies are discovering the impact that integrated people data can have on data analytics and work culture, but only 48% of businesses have embedded analytics within their human resource department.

Out of the companies that participated in this study, 5% of low-maturing organizations based decisions on people data, while 55% of high-performing organizations based their decisions on people data. It is apparent that embedding people analytics may be worth the initial input since your company could see an increase in profit and lower turnover rates.

The combination of data integration tools and your company’s human resource department can create a huge change in your company. Your company will definitely take notice of the amount of time and money saved, and ease when creating visuals or reports, using accurate real-time data, providing better employee experiences, boosting communication efforts, and making better decisions.