In the ever evolving corporate world, change is taking place faster than you can say, well, “change”.
Emerging technologies are transforming the way we work and indeed impacting employee expectations. This evolution is making it critical for businesses to keep pace in order to attract, nurture, and retain top talent.
This can be an immense strain on HR teams, who can often find themselves bogged down by labour-intensive, repetitive tasks, leaving little time for strategic initiatives that truly impact the employee experience and drive business success.
This is where process automation comes into play, acting as a catalyst for transformation.
Process automation at Ricoh
By intelligently and strategically automating routine processes such as CV screening, payroll, and onboarding, we can liberate HR teams from tedious administrative burdens, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – cultivating a thriving company culture and maximising talent potential.
This is all about working smarter, not harder.
At Ricoh, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of process automation firsthand. British retailer B&M approached us with the problem that its HR processes were struggling to match pace with its rapid growth. Using Ricoh’s technology DocuWare, B&M implemented a new onboarding system, speeding up the onboarding process for new employees from a matter of weeks to a matter of hours, meaning that the continued growth of the business was supported and sustained.
Ricoh itself is also in the midst of automating our own HR processes, and constantly looking to develop and invest in this area of our portfolio. As part of this approach, we acquired Axon Ivy, a leading provider of intelligent Business Process Management Suites (iBPMS), in 2022. Axon Ivy’s platform seamlessly integrates cutting edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA), optimising and automating business processes by connecting people, data, and systems. What this means in real terms is the ability to streamline workflows and enhance productivity across various job functions and departments.
Unlocking human potential with process automation
While emerging technologies represent an exciting prospect for efficiency and workflow, the real value they bring is the power to unlock human potential. In the B&M example outlined above, the time saved in onboarding by automation was just one benefit, but we also saw much stronger staff engagement too.
We view process automation as more than just a technological solution but rather a mindset shift that puts people at the centre of the equation.
It’s about finding the perfect balance between automation and the human touch, which in turn creates an environment where our people can thrive and reach their full potential.
Automation is fast becoming a not-so-secret weapon, particularly for HR departments and, perhaps paradoxically, helping to put the ‘human’ back in human resources.
By leveraging emerging technologies and personalised learning paths, we can foster employee engagement, tailor career development opportunities, and ultimately transform everything from recruitment to retention.
At Ricoh, we understand that true productivity hinges on cultivating a culture of continuous learning and skill development. That’s why we’ve implemented programmes designed to upskill and cross skill our service workforce, enabling them to work with our complete portfolio and future proof our organisation.
The future of a people first approach lies in embracing process automation as a strategic enabler, not just a tactical solution.
By harnessing the power of intelligent automation, we can unlock new levels of efficiency, agility, and, most importantly, employee satisfaction – paving the way for people to truly shine.
- Digital Strategy
- People & Culture
