Actually there are plenty of possibilities for the usage of self services within HR. One major reason is the reduction of touch points for the business functions for standardized scenarios which ideally lead to an increase of efficiency.
Interestingly, many companies falsely believe having a „self service“. Offering the target group to request something digitally (online request forms) is not a real Self Service. The crucial precondition of having a self service is the fact that the target group can act independently without additional manual effort from the HR area.
The change of bank account information is a classic Employee Self Service (ESS). Following this scenario, the employee has technically the authorization to change the latest data set directly within HR systems. The updated data is used without any additional manual effort for the next upcoming payroll run.
The amount as well as the content of real self services is strongly connected to the company culture and dependent to the accountability of business units for HR master data.
Besides the employee facing Self Services, the Manager Self Services (MSS) targeting the line managers which are accountable for HR product & service without any additional action from HR. In general the amount of real MSS scenarios is quite low.
A very prominent real self service is standard HR reporting directly consumed from the business accessing HR core systems. In today’s business world, it is crucial to have all relevant data available on demand. Instead of asking HR for assistance to get all requested data, the management would make use of HR technology offered in robust and aligned frame. Key statement: Freedom within a frame. HR is defining the frame; management can act absolutely independent within this frame.
Key component within the defined frame: The frame should be established agile. If the business is demanding additional information which is not part of the MSS, the system should be enhanced in frequent time frames based on the management feedback. Working with the feedback will lead to a strong acceptance of the management towards the self service function.
What kind of self services an innovative human resource department should offer? Think beyond the boarder of hierarchy and old fashioned guidelines in case you want to if gain the most efficient way HR should deal with.
Dream big and be confident posting your ideas about potential self service scenarios!
