Today’s workplace is changing drastically. As organizations adapt and move away from traditional in-office models, HR departments must now adapt to hybrid or fully remote workers, evolving employee expectations, and a seismic shift toward digital transformation.
AI-powered tools and technology have emerged as true game-changers in fostering employee engagement, operational efficiency, and workplace culture. AI is enabling employers to better support their teams by automating repetitive tasks, anticipating employee needs, communicating more quickly and efficiently, and even providing predictive analytics.
This article explores the practical applications of AI. We show you eight examples of AI enhancing employee support, so you can envision how it can transform the processes in your own organization.
A recent MyPerfectResume survey found 67% of employees feel it’s hard to get a timely answer from HR teams. In the same survey, 31% of respondents said they’d rather solve the issue on their own. This shows a need for better employee support processes and options.
What’s more, employees want it and are embracing the move to AI. A recent McKinsey study showed that 73% of employees currently see a “moderate-to-full” level of support for the move to AI in their organizations, with an expected increase to 87% within the next three years.
Artificial intelligence is being integrated into various facets of business operations, significantly influencing HR processes, employee experiences, and decision-making. By automating repetitive tasks and leveraging machine-learning algorithms, AI tools streamline workflows and enable human resources professionals to focus on strategic initiatives. The use of AI-driven solutions enables organizations to optimize employee support, enhance well-being, and improve overall workplace culture.
Here are some of the ways you can use AI to enhance employee support in your organization.
One of the most compelling examples of AI enhancing employee support is the deployment of AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants. These bots handle routine tasks, such as responding to benefits FAQs or helping employees find policy documentation. With 24/7 availability, AI-powered chatbots’ instant responses provide timely employee support, regardless of time zones or business hours.
Additionally, when a request needs human intervention, an AI system can automatically categorize, prioritize, and route requests to the appropriate HR agent. Plus, since the HR team has been relieved of fielding more basic, straightforward inquiries, they’re able to provide quicker resolutions and better service quality when a complex request is routed to them.
Onboarding is a critical, yet often overlooked, phase in the employee lifecycle. Employees who have been onboarded effectively are 82% more likely to remain with a company than their peers. However, only one in eight employees think their company provides new hires with an excellent onboarding experience. This means most companies have room for improvement that could boost their retention rates.
Implementing a platform with AI tools can streamline the HR processes for employment paperwork and new-hire training programs. For example, accept digital signatures for offer letters, or create a customized automated journey to get new hires up to speed quickly, address skills gaps, and enhance employee engagement from the outset.
Administrative tasks often consume a significant portion of HR professionals' time. AI-driven automation can alleviate this issue by handling mundane and repeatable tasks such as:
By eliminating manual processes and busywork, HR teams can focus on more strategic functions that drive employee satisfaction and organizational growth.
When you use an AI-powered platform for employee management, you can better support professional development.
For example, with digital goal setting, employees can set and track their goals, monitoring their own progress. Plus, AI-suggested resources can ensure they have what they need to achieve their goals.
Training programs can also be automatically assigned to employees based on their job title, location, and more. This ensures compliance requirements are being met and job development opportunities are widely available.
Does this sound familiar? Your current HR and employment forms are in PDF and Word files. It’s hard to keep track of which version is the most current or prevent outdated forms from floating around. Once forms are filled out, the HR team has to manually enter the information into a spreadsheet or otherwise file the document.
With AI, you can leave those headaches behind. Turn legacy forms and manual processes into digital fillable forms with automated workflows. You can completely overhaul the way you manage:
Central Garden & Pet is a perfect real-world example of how an AI-powered platform enhanced employee support across the organization. They achieved a more efficient incident investigations process when they implemented Pulpstream.
After ditching a time-consuming and manual process, employees can now access forms straight from their phones, include images to support their written report, and receive digital signatures. All the data goes straight into a dashboard where it can be easily viewed and analyzed by the executive team.
When you bring automation to the LOA management process, you enhance employee support for both HR teams and the wider company population. Complex federal and state regulations make it challenging to stay in compliance. But with machine learning, you can automate the process from start to finish and receive accurate regulatory guidance.
In addition, when an employee needs to take a leave of absence, they are often dealing with a stressful personal situation, such as an illness. Submitting an LOA request shouldn’t add another layer of stress. With an automated system, they will know exactly what steps they need to take for their LOA to be approved. Plus, employees will receive automated email and SMS notifications throughout the process.
99 Cents Only Stores used Pulpstream to automate their LOA management and got to say goodbye to manual processes and compliance headaches. The digitization of their LOA forms centralized their records and significantly reduced the amount of time their Benefits team had to spend on each leave.
The platform also provided an easy self-serve solution for employees who needed to submit a leave request. They didn’t have to question that they were providing the right information or following the right process.
Machine-learning algorithms can analyze historical data and employee sentiment to predict trends like turnover risks or skill gaps. In addition, predictive analytics help HR teams and employers improve talent acquisition, optimize performance management, streamline the workforce, and reduce costs.
For example, Pulpstream’s platform uses predictive analytics to identify employees at risk of burnout based on workload patterns, enabling managers to adjust allocation proactively.
AI solutions are pivotal in monitoring and enhancing employee performance, satisfaction, and productivity.
Surveys and reviews can all be tailored with AI. HR teams can implement sentiment analysis tools to quickly analyze employee feedback from surveys to address concerns more quickly.
RapidBee, for instance, is an AI-powered app that offers real-time feedback and performance tracking. These tools empower employees to self-assess and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
AI is quickly modernizing the HR and employee experience by:
By leveraging AI, organizations can create a more efficient, supportive, and engaging workplace that empowers employees and drives overall success.
If you’re looking to increase the effectiveness of your employee-company relationship, request a demo to see how Pulpstream and RapidBee’s advanced AI technology can help.