When it comes to business process automation, there are misconceptions about what can be automated. Automation is often thought of as the solution to technical issues only—such as manufacturing inefficiencies or data extraction. But almost any process in the workplace is ripe for automation, regardless of the industry.
What’s more, there are potential benefits for every department. Here we’re going to focus on automation in HR and, in particular, the vital role it can play in improving inclusion.
Automating inclusion
When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, there’s always more to be done. The organizations that provide the most inclusive workplaces are the ones that continually strive to improve. In a way, this is much like process automation, which is an iterative art in itself. Businesses must keep innovating and improving processes to move forward. And there’s no reason that diversity goals cannot be a part of this.
Driving digital transformation while improving diversity, you say? What a combo.
Whether it’s eliminating unconscious bias, enabling diverse gender identity and expression, accommodating for a multigenerational workforce, providing mental health support, or incorporating flexible/remote working options that work for everyone—there’s most certainly a process underpinning it which can be improved upon, streamlined, and automated.
Automation success is easier than you think
In the past, implementing projects like process automation would have been the sole remit of IT departments. These projects would be time- and cost-intensive, meaning there was a lot of scrutiny over what was given the green light. And there were far-reaching consequences to this. Worthwhile projects—such as those associated with diversity, equity, and inclusivity—would be skipped over for those with a more immediate ROI and profitability. This has all changed with the emergence of low-code/no-code solutions.
The low-code/no-code movement is all about providing non-developer employees with the powers to make the digital change they want to see. Employees who lack coding expertise or experience can build apps, analyze data, and automate processes. This means HR no longer has to wait its turn or compete with other departments for IT resources or budget. They can run their own digital transformation projects. And they can prioritize processes that align with their specific targets, whether that’s meeting diversity targets or anything else.
The no-code/low-code movement is especially relevant to diversity, equity, and inclusion because it empowers everyone to get involved. It not only democratizes the conversation around how IT can make a difference, but it democratizes the process of making that change happen.
Automation in HR examples
Let’s look at two examples of how process automation could help to create a more inclusive workplace.
- Tackle pay inequality
Automation can be used to close gender and racial pay gaps and ensure that your company is generating pay bands without discrimination. One way to achieve this is to use robotic process automation (RPA) to take a deep dive into your organization’s data surrounding pay. You can program bots to assess data from multiple sources and systems and look for patterns where pay is discriminatory. By using automation in this context, you not only remove human bias but can analyze larger datasets faster, more accurately, and without human error.
- Reduce hiring bias
AI can be used to remove racial, gender, or any other socioeconomic bias from the recruitment process. Automation can take care of key tasks around analyzing a candidate’s skills, experience, and suitability for the role before sending the best to the relevant teams. By taking key tasks out of the hands of your employees, you are freeing up time for employees who would be manually scouring through résumés and CVs at the same time as removing any subjectivity and bias from the initial vetting of candidates.
Create a more inclusive future with Nintex
Many organizations are hiring specialized diversity professionals. Maybe that’s your role—and why you’re reading this. Hopefully the above points will help you to make more informed decisions about automation in HR.
The Nintex Platform provides the full range of process automation solutions—from process mapping to document generation, from workflow automation to robotic process automation. And as a low-code solution, it empowers employees to make the change they want to see. Not only is it a great way to accelerate organization-wide digital transformation, but it allows employees to take ownership of the processes they use every day.
Learn more about automation in HR and how Nintex can help your organization foster a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Surpass your digital transformation goals and get in contact with the Nintex team today.
