Software Should be Used to Maximum Personnel Today, March 2004 The HR industry is preoccupied with demonstrating its value and justifying its existence to the board, yet, as Keith Rodgers pointed out in ’Wanted: faster, better metrics’ (2 March), HR does not always make full use of the reporting capability offered by its existing software. Technology will become increasingly important to HR professionals as they seek to demonstrate to their boards that they are accountable and understand the wider business context. But often, in our experience, HR departments use software solely as an electronic version of their old paper processes, rather than harnessing technology to provide the metrics that business leaders demand. As Rodgers said, part of the blame for this must lie with the software vendors themselves. It is all very well developing ’bells and whistles’, but if the client doesn’t know how to use them, it’s a waste of time and money on both sides. As well as continuing to develop new technology for human capital reporting, vendors need to take a more consultative approach, offering support and guidance long after the contract is signed to make sure the software’s full potential is exploited. Only then will HR be able to move from the backroom to the boardroom with confidence. Michael Richards |