HR integrations streamline processes, eliminate data silos, and enable HR teams to spend less time on platform maintenance and manual reporting. It also allows them to focus on more strategic tasks that grow your business.
Automated Data Entry
When information is spread across disparate systems, keeping the data synchronized between them can be challenging. HR integration tools streamline these processes by automatically transferring data between applications — eliminating manual data entry, and saving time.
In addition to streamlining employees’ workflow, automated data entry helps reduce the number of errors that may be introduced in the process. Having to enter the same information in multiple systems increases the chances of mistyping, whether it’s the wrong decimal point for payroll or a mistake in an employee record. This means the information isn’t as accurate as it should be and isn’t delivering the best value for your company.
For example, an HR team might need to submit expense reports to their finance department and also have access to employee health and safety records for compliance purposes. When these two systems are not integrated, the data has to be manually copied between the different software — a very inefficient and error-prone process. HR integration software allows this information to be merged into one system so that it’s always up-to-date and available for reporting.
You can choose from a few HR integrations to automate this process. If the applications you want to connect offer application programming interfaces (API), this is the most reliable way to transfer information between them.
Single Sign-On
Gusto integrations enable you to use a single platform or API for all your business systems. This way, any changes made to one system (like payroll) will automatically sync with the rest, making it easier for your HR employees and managers to access the information they need.
Another benefit of HR integrations is that it helps reduce the time your team members spend on repetitive tasks. This will help free up HR specialists and technical resources to work on more important projects for your business.
For example, you could integrate your employee database with your learning management system to enable employees to move freely between programs and tools (such as LMS and e-learning platforms). You can also integrate your HR software with background checking or screening applications so that incoming hires are vetted more thoroughly before they start work and that any potential issues are flagged immediately.
Some HR solution providers offer prepackaged connectors for connecting their products to other popular solutions. Still, if yours doesn’t, an iPaaS can provide a custom connection through APIs, the standard language for linking different systems. When choosing an iPaaS provider, ensure it offers SSO so users can sign in to all their systems with one username and password.
Streamlined Reporting
Many HR processes require constant reporting, and with different systems, it can be a nightmare for your team to stay on top of it all. Whether it’s approving leave requests, processing expense reports, or running pulse surveys, the time spent on these tasks could be significantly reduced with integration.
By integrating your various HR apps, you can ensure that the information entered into one app automatically updates every other connected tool. This eliminates double-entry and data errors in one swoop, saving your team time for more important things.
For example, if you integrate your ATS with your internal HR tools and payroll management software, the information on an applicant’s application can be automatically transferred when hired. This streamlines the hiring process and removes the need to enter the same information into multiple platforms manually.
However, suppose you integrate your HR technology rather than buying point solutions for each task. In that case, it’s important to remember that the systems will likely have very different interfaces and workflows. This can cause some friction between previously separate and independent departments. So it’s crucial to get your team on board with the new system by clearly communicating your plans and focusing on user experience to boost adoption.
Real-Time Access to Information
If your HR department uses multiple programs for different services, coordinating data transfer between each one can be time-consuming and tedious. When you use a single app for every function, it simplifies the process. Plus, it reduces inconsistencies and errors resulting from manual transfer (like a decimal misplacement messing up payroll).
HR integration can be achieved with API integration or using low-code/no-code software tools that let you create apps without knowing how to write code. To ensure your integration’s success, ensure all stakeholders (HR, IT, and payroll management) are involved in the planning and execution.
Aside from the apparent benefits of streamlining your HR processes with data integration, it also makes meeting workplace regulations and compliance requirements easier. For example, if your team is responsible for completing employee training and certifications, these must be recorded in the system.
Having integrated systems can save you a lot of headaches, especially regarding reporting. Depending on the number of disparate systems in your organization, manually pulling together reports can take days because you have to collect, cleanse, and aggregate data from different sources. With integrated systems, all the necessary information is stored in a single database and updated when changes are made.