Human resource automation expected to rise, new report says

Jewelle Kimotho Channels & Marketing Lead - East Africa, SeamlessHR at the recently concluded 27th Institute of Human Resources Management (IHRM) National Conference. [Gerard Nyele, Standard]

Human Resource automation is expected to rise in the next five years in East Africa as organizations recognize the power of technology in monitoring employee performance and improving productivity amidst a tough economic environment.

The impact of digitization on commerce and trade remains on the increase, compelling companies to leverage tech beyond the IT department.

According to the 2023 World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report, 86 per cent of companies surveyed are likey to adopt digital platforms and apps in the next five years to keep up with tech trends in big data, cloud computing and AI.

Speaking during the just concluded 27th Institute of Human Resources Management (IHRM) National Conference, Seamless HR articulated to participants on the importance of aurtomating organizational processes to enhance efficiency and increase compliance especially in the wake of the newly instituted Housing Levy in Kenya.

"We are proud to be powering nearly 1000 organizations and SME's across Africa with SeamlessHR cloud-based solutions for storing employee records, managing leave applications, monitoring performance management, payroll disbursement across markets and every other task from hire to retire," said CEO and Founder Dr. Emanuel Okeleji.

"Beyond simplifying manual HR tasks, automation facilitates HR professionals to extract critical data and analytics such as attendance and absence, turnover and retention, training and development, which improves overall organization performance," he explained.

Okeleji said HR departments want to provide great service but too often find themselves saddled with repetitive, transactional tasks as some HR processes are highly manual with unstructured work processes, leading to complexity and productivity drain.

"Businesses that want to experience sustainable growth should prioritise leveraging automation for sensitive processes," expounded Dr. Okeleji

"Those still tethered to manual practices, like Excel spreadsheets for payroll management, not only leave themselves vulnerable to costly human errors but also squander the opportunity to redirect resources toward growth-driving initiatives," he added.

More importantly, automation support organisations to effectively comply with local labour laws as compliant requirements in the region continue to evolve.

The landscape of compliance requirements for businesses in the East African region is ever-evolving; in June 2023, the Government established a housing levy in Kenya which is expected to enhance social infrastructure and provide affordable housing for citizens-two objectives that are crucial for continued economic development.

"In response to the new Housing Levy, many businesses have been looking for tools that can help them remain in compliance with the law. The additional payroll tax has tested organisations' ability to adapt quickly enough-an already complex system," he revealed.

The firm's platform's capability to automate complex payroll processes while seamlessly integrating new legal and regulatory policies ensures businesses can remain agile and compliant in a dynamic environment.

The solution effortlessly absorbs any changes in the legal framework - such as the Housing Levy - into its payroll module, enabling businesses to achieve compliance with minimal effort.

"One of the most appealing characteristics of SeamlessHR is its African inclusiveness. While other Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms may be developed abroad, SeamlessHR is proudly made in Africa for African organisations," Okeleji concludes.

This means that the platform comes with an innate understanding of the region's ever-changing legal framework and the unique challenges it poses to businesses.

The firm began operations in the East African Region in 2021.