A study by Ema found that 62% of employees use chatbots for their HR requirements. The strong inclination of employees to use this emerging technology has led to the increasing popularity of AI-based HR chatbots across India.
Whether you have a question about upcoming holidays or are looking for available learning and development options, AI-based chatbots can assist you in seconds or even less. These chatbots can impressively increase workplace efficiency thanks to their NLP (Natural Language Processing) modules.
The combination of AI’s efficient data processing and the accessibility of HR chatbots have made these virtual assistants a must-have within the workplace. From recruitment to routine administrative tasks, chatbots have started to make HR processes faster and more efficient.
How HR Chatbots are Transforming the Workplace
92% of HR departments have stated that they guide new employees to bots for accessing information. The practice is a stark indication of how easily chatbots have found a place for themselves within modern workplaces.
Recruitment Assistants
Many companies have started to use AI-based chatbots for their recruitment processes. In other words, virtual assistants are slowly becoming responsible for a company’s first impression on potential employees.
The latest chatbots within the talent acquisition sphere are capable of multiple functions, including:
- Candidate Screening: Through their interactive approach, modern chatbots ensure that candidates have the minimum requirements for the job. The information can include years of experience, preferred working model, current location, and much more.
- Document Compilation: Recruiting chatbots can ensure that candidates submit any documents required for the hiring process. They can automatically request a resume, cover letter, work portfolio, etc, as needed.
- Assessment Assignment: Many companies require job candidates to go through specific assessments. HR chatbots can provide the same links to candidates and keep track of progress and results.
- Application Updates: The hiring process can be a long journey. With HR chatbots, candidates can easily ask for updates on their application without hesitation. This can make the process much more relaxing for all the parties involved.
- Interview Scheduling: Based on application status, HR chatbots can automatically schedule interviews and notify the relevant parties, ensuring an organised experience.
First Point of Contact
HR chatbots can be a godsend for new employees who might be trying to learn the ropes of their new company. Their easy accessibility and instant responses help make the onboarding process much smoother.
- Providing Basic Information: With their automated responses, HR chatbots ensure that all employees are given the most basic information regarding their company. This can include dress code, reporting times, points of contact, and much more.
- Document Collection: HR chatbots can be used to make sure that new employees submit all documents on time. This reduces the responsibilities of HR professionals immensely as the virtual assistants collect and file the documents properly.
- Prompt Answers: When entering a new company, new employees are often plagued with similar questions that may feel routine to HR professionals. HR chatbots solve this issue by answering these frequently asked questions easily and are accessible 24/7, much to the relief of new employees.
- Feedback Collection: Each day can be a different experience for new employees. For companies who want to collect their honest feedback, HR chatbots can act as the medium through which new employees can interactively provide their honest feedback.
Keeping the Employees Engaged
More than anything, HR chatbots have become crucial in maintaining a good relationship between employees and employers. Their easily accessible information makes employees feel much more comfortable in seeking answers from a non-human party.
Acting as HR assistants, AI-based chatbots can provide basic employee information and keep workers up to date with company-wide changes and moves.
- Accessible Personal Information: Through HR chatbots, employees can easily access data pertaining to them within the company. They can easily ask for information such as remaining leave days, scheduled meetings, upcoming events, etc, and receive information instantly.
- Feedback Collection: Using HR chatbots, employers can collect employee feedback on a regular basis and maintain employee anonymity. This allows for more honest feedback in increased numbers.
- Company Announcements: HR chatbots allow HR professionals and company leaders to easily make company-wide announcements regarding policy changes, upcoming events, and other major information.
- Employee Wellness: In a similar vein to feedback collection, HR chatbots can keep a regular check on the health of the employees. By asking for regular updates and following up on the answers provided, the chatbots ensure that the employees feel valued by their employers.
Chatbots: A tool to be handled carefully
While chatbots can provide many HR-based services, HR professionals must ensure that they remain a helping hand that augments their work rather than becoming the sole face of the department.
Using chatbots for routine tasks can be a boon, but they must be adequately trained to recognise any potential areas that may require human intervention.
If an employee has a grievance, they must feel heard by their company’s human voices rather than receiving only automated or AI-generated answers. While the chatbots act as assistants, companies need to ensure they do not exceed the parameters of their tasks.
Companies using HR chatbots should conduct regular assessments of their chatbots to ensure they align with the company’s core values and policies. Ensure that the data used to train the AI models are refined and accurate to ensure reliable communication between the chatbots and employees.
Working with chatbots for efficiency
For HR professionals, chatbots can act as a boon that easily increases the efficiency of their tasks. From routine information gathering to answering frequently asked questions, AI-based virtual assistants can take a lot off the plate of HR professionals.
Like any piece of technology, HR chatbots can make errors, but with proper assessments and checks in place, they have proved their usefulness in many aspects. Their increasing popularity among employees and employers is a testament to just how much efficiency and accessibility they can provide to all parties.