Mobile-First HR: Driving Engagement Through Apps and Technology

Raise your hand if you can’t imagine life without your smartphone! Mobile devices, for better or worse, are like our third arm these days – and this mobile revolution has completely transformed how we work too.

Employees want access to HR information from their phones now – whenever and wherever they need it.

No more being stuck at your desktop to fill out forms or check your schedule. People simply demand everything to be mobile-first – and companies are catching on. 

According to Statista, over half of organizations are embracing mobile HR tech. That number jumps even higher for startups and tech companies who want to be on the cutting edge.

In this post, we’ll look at how leading companies are making their HR platform mobile-first.

What key features are they adding to apps and sites to make them easy and intuitive on our phones?

How is mobile HR tech transforming operations and the employee experience for the better? Let’s dive in and see what the future of work looks like.

The Rise Of Mobile HR

The rapid adoption of mobile HR technologies is being fueled by several key trends in the modern workforce and workplace.

The Rise Of Mobile HR

For both HR departments and employees alike, going mobile is becoming a necessity rather than a nice-to-have.

On the employer side, companies have become more geographically dispersed and global.

With remote employees and distributed teams, there is no central office where everyone gathers to fill out paperwork or access systems. HR needs mobile platforms that can reach and support employees wherever they are.

Meanwhile, workers are becoming more mobile, relying on smartphones and tablets for work on-the-go.

They expect seamless mobile experiences rather than being chained to a desktop. A mobile-first HR platform meets these new employee expectations.

The rise of millennials and Gen Z in the workforce is also accelerating mobile adoption. These digital natives thrive with the flexibility and connectivity of mobile.

An HR platform that is not optimized for mobile risks disengaging these key employee segments.

Finally, the pandemic necessitated remote work and accelerated reliance on digital tools. Mobile provides continuity for HR processes like onboarding, learning, and communications.

In a mobile-first world, HR can continue engaging and supporting employees wherever they are.

Key Features Of Mobile HR

Mobile HR platforms provide a variety of features and capabilities to transform traditional processes. Here are some of the key features driving adoption:

Onboarding and Administrative Workflows

Remember when starting a new job meant spending hours in a crowded HR office, endlessly signing forms, and navigating confusing paperwork? Talk about a headache! Well, those days are gone thanks to mobile onboarding. 

Now new hires can complete forms, upload documents, and verify their identity right from their phone.

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No printing, faxing, or driving to the office is required. Mobile makes the entire process seamless and automated with reminders and notifications along the way. 

New employees start off on the right foot with a modern experience that meets their digital expectations.

Even ongoing administrative tasks like leave requests, policy reviews, and updating personal info become simple with mobile forms. It’s the end of HR paperwork as we know it.

Learning and Development

Trying to improve skills and learn new things on a tiny mobile screen sounds like a challenge, right? But today’s mobile learning options are extremely engaging and effective.

Through microlearning, employees can access bite-sized training content optimized for smartphone viewing during small pockets of downtime. 

Social learning apps allow coworkers to collaboratively master new material together. And let’s not forget that generations raised on video games love earning badges and points through gamification of learning.

Plus, the ability to learn on the go increases opportunities for professional growth. With intuitive design and meaningful content, mobile learning eliminates barriers and unlocks human potential.

Employee Communications

In a distributed workforce, communication is critical (but tough). Mobile provides a lifeline between employers and employees.

Employee Communications

Instant push notifications about important events, policy changes, or alerts keep everyone in the loop.

Two-way messaging enables easy collaboration with managers and peers. And integrating social feeds gives that sense of community, even if you’re not in the office. 

By leveraging the power of mobile for HR communications, organizations can nurture productivity, engagement, and a positive culture.

Information and human connection are always within reach, right in the palm of your hand.

5 Tips For Driving Employee Engagement With Mobile HR

Implementing any new HR technology requires careful planning and execution to drive adoption.

While the benefits of mobile are clear, how can organizations ensure a successful rollout? Here are five quick tips to get you started:

  • Implement pulse surveys – Send quick surveys to gather instant feedback from employees. Take the pulse of engagement levels and concerns.
  • Offer peer recognition – Let employees acknowledge each other’s great work through social recognition features like badges and points.
  • Communicate achievements – Publicly celebrate wins, milestones, and successes to build energy and pride.
  • Encourage social connection – Chat features foster team bonding, idea sharing, and inclusion.
  • Make learning bite-sized – Microlearning through mobile apps enables continuous development and growth.

With these types of simple but impactful mobile engagement features, HR can create a more positive, connected, and empowered workforce.

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, mobile HR is totally transforming the work experience for both employers and employees.

With smarter workflows, better communication, and next-gen engagement features, HR can create a connected workplace for the digital age.

Employees get the modern experience they expect on devices they already use daily. It’s really a win-win if you adopt the right mobile-first strategy for your organization. 

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