Why Automation Training Is Essential for Today’s HR Processes and Workforce Preparation
As HR teams consider how they can retain their organizations’ existing talent while also attracting future generations of tech-savvy workers, offering automation training to workers stands as the answer, according to Tom Clancy, senior vice president of learning, UiPath.
With a new year on the horizon, many HR teams are strategizing how to support their organizations’ workforces throughout 2022 and beyond and stave off the Great Resignation. To retain their talent in the coming months, companies will need to offer more than trendy benefits, though. They will need new tactics for positioning employees for long-term success at the organization, which starts with making their jobs more rewarding today.
The solution? Automation.
Automation technologies like robotics process automation (RPA) can efficiently and accurately execute various repetitive and manual tasks within employees’ jobs so that individuals are free to focus on the more satisfying aspects of their work, such as thinking creatively and collaborating with colleagues on the next big idea. Likewise, when they are not bogged down with endless tasks, they will feel more agency over their workloads, contributing to increased career satisfaction and fostering a sense of loyalty to the business.
However, to unlock automation’s full potential, it is essential employers also invest in accompanying training opportunities to teach workers how to make the most of the technology. In fact, UiPath’s 2021 Global Office Worker Survey found that 91% of those who trained in automation in the past year believed it improved their job performance. In addition to boosting business productivity, offering these trainings will empower employees to:
Keep Up With the Current Pace of Innovation
As future-forward as automation may sound to some, the technology is already commonplace in business today. Software robots are being deployed to perform a wide range of essential tasks, from invoice processing to hiring and onboarding to customer service assistance. Many enterprises have already put such technologies to use, with Gartner predicting that 90% of large organizations globally will have adopted some form of RPA by 2022. This pace of adoption means it is necessary for the modern workers who will be wielding these technologies to possess a digital skillset, not only to excel but also to keep pace.
There are a variety of accessible educational resources for HR teams to kickstart training opportunities as soon as possible. The UiPath Academy, for example, offers free training courses on the basics of RPA as well as job-specific courses for business users to begin their automation journeys. Online-based programs like this offer employees the flexibility to learn on their own time and in an environment where they feel comfortable.
In addition to showing employees how to apply automation that they have learned, these trainings should also teach workers how to identify new processes to automate, which they can either flag to the team overseeing their organization’s automation rollout and governance or automate themselves. This way, employees play a far more active role in the initiative — again fostering a sense of agency — and can help scale the program to address the most pressing areas of business.
Once organizations’ automation initiatives are established, they can also assess future applicants by whether they have already completed automation training so that introducing them to an automated work environment is easier.
See More: The Future is Here: The Evolution and Implications of AI in the Workplace
Unlock Their Future Potential
Today’s standout companies, in the eyes of workers, are those that treat their staff as a long-term investment. That means, not only do these organizations set employees up to succeed at the jobs they hired them for, but they foster employees’ professional growth as those roles naturally evolve. Workers are aware of this potential, too; UiPath’s survey also found that 63% of respondents believe skills related to automation are critical to their future career success. Offering the upskilling opportunities today’s workers want will also make organizations more attractive as employers, which can help them retain current talent and encourage prospects to join their teams, as individuals will see the business as one committed to its employees’ development.
Offering on-the-job automation training demonstrates that employers are committed to supporting their employees within increasingly IT-intensive work environments. Additionally, offering employees an understanding of automation itself can propel them into new career opportunities. That is because, as organizations grow their automation programs to tackle new goals over time, they will need professionals within the business dedicated to facilitating this growth. LinkedIn even named artificial intelligence practitioners one of the most in-demand jobs on its 2021 jobs report, underscoring the prevalence of automation-related roles across today’s organizations. By sponsoring training, employers give existing employees the chance to rise within the company as the organization solidifies these types of roles, rather than hiring externally, which can be both costly and uncertain.
As HR teams look for new ways to support their teams and battle widespread resignations, automation is a practical answer. There are many HR organizations implementing RPA today to streamline processes such as recruiting, onboarding, and performance reviews. And more than boosting operational efficiencies, offering automation training will answer employees’ calls for upskilling opportunities and give them a framework to grow within their organization. This will save HR teams from having to manage cycles of off- and onboarding during a particularly competitive time in the job market. With educational resources more accessible than ever, HR teams can start preparing their colleagues for the future of work today.