Say goodbye to these 3 frustrations with spreadsheet-based processes

 

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Handling HR processes on paper, spreadsheets or in a Sharepoint / Google Drive is a good starting point for any new business. It's free and easy to access, not to mention that most people have used these systems before so the required training to help employees adopt the process is next to nothing. For smaller businesses, they've got the time and capacity to put into the manual effort required to manage HR responsibilities in this way. Let's talk about what spreadsheets, Sharepoints, or Google drive have to offer a new business.

 

It's free

Every computer comes with a spreadsheet application and Google Sheets is available to anyone who wants to use it, so there’s no upfront cost to using spreadsheets.

 

It's easy to access

The learning curve might as well be flat. Everyone is exposed to spreadsheets – while data manipulation takes some time to learn, it’s not a completely new tool to introduce.

 

It's a good starting point

If you’re starting your reporting journey as an independent business then it makes total sense to start using spreadsheets. As a 1 location operation, they may fulfil all of your needs and you have the time to put into them as well as the capacity to implement any insights garnered.

 

What doesn’t work with spreadsheets

 

There’s no denying that spreadsheets can work as a first step. But, we’ve seen that they can become increasingly frustrating as a business matures. Unfortunately, as businesses grow these spreadsheets become overwhelming. There’s too much information, too much data, and too little insight. The more complex they become, the less visibility there is and the less engagement from employees. 

 

The challenges with spreadsheet-based processes are:

 

1. They're time-consuming

Pulling reports and keeping spreadsheets up to date takes significant time and effort. Whether its general managers having to log a performance review manually or tick off that checklists have been completed, it takes the team away from what it is that they do best.


2. They're unreliable

With manual work comes the risk of human error, so often reports are incorrect or there are multiple versions floating around (or worse, being used) that cause confusion amongst teams. Additionally, these reports are usually one person’s responsibility so if that person is ill or on holidays, the updates to spreadsheets stop.

 

3. They're static

By the time spreadsheets and drives are updated, they are already frustratingly out of date. Any business that moves quickly needs to be able to be sure that the data they've got reflects the most recent circumstances - not weeks or month's ago.

 

Start handing over spreadsheet-based processes to a system like Workforce.com HR

 

By moving your HR processes into a platform like Workforce.com HR, you’ll bid farewell to the frustrations that come with managing processes in spreadsheets, like wasted time, outdated data, and human errors. You'll be able to make sure data is up-to-date and prevent stuff from slipping through the cracks through the use of automation. 

 

Ultimately, you want to ensure everyone has what they need in the easiest way possible: managers and employees can access their tasks in a mobile app right within the palm of their hand, and you can report across locations, teams, and positions to keep processes consistent.

 

Learn how Workforce.com can streamline your shift scheduling process, especially if you're considering a move to a 12-hour shift schedule. This transition can greatly benefit from automated tools that handle the complexities of longer shifts, similar to how they simplify HR processes.

 

For more on Workforce.com HR, speak to one of our specialists who can help you streamline your HR processes or sign up for a free trial today.

 

 

 

 

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