Human resource consultancy is a multi-billion industry that is driven by the need to address complex issues relating to hiring, rewarding, providing health cover, planning for retirement and studying the factors that affect employees’ welfare. HR consultants are also often brought onboard when there is a merger, acquisition or a hostile takeover so as to facilitate the transition. They are time and again confronted with difficult situations where they have to offer sound counsel to companies.
Occasionally, some companies call upon HR consultants to offer their services whenever the company intends to invest in HR software. Incidentally, HR consultants use HR software to carry out their duties, and without a doubt, have benefitted immensely from this practice.
HR consultants are always on the move. They are busy people with numerous clients demanding for their services. The fact that current HR software are web based (also known as SaaS or cloud based) allows the consultants to access information of their clients while they may not be able to be at the physical address of the customer. That way they are still able to respond to the clients’ requests even if they are far away. It is an advantage that would be eroded if they had to personally travel to the office of each client to deliver their services.
With SaaS HR software, consultants are actually able to analyze the data of their clients and the reports generated therein can be used to offer high quality services that will keep the clients hooked up. Being in a position to customize a solution to a specific customer is a strength which is admired by many, and with the help of the software, consultants are able to do exactly that. Their function is to find workable solutions to the problems of a client. It thus makes perfect sense for them to turn to HR software to analyze the problem before offering a feasible way out.
Like many other businessmen, consultants offer their services at a fee. They also aim at maximizing their profits by cutting down on costs. While scouting for suitable software, they will be on the lookout for that particular one which offers them a lot for less. Some vendors offer software as a service, with monthly payments that work out just fine, even for those who are at the bottom of the ladder. Minimizing costs is a strategy that works for many, and HR consultants often utilize this plan of action.
The best HR software is one which is easy to use, with simplification of technicalities. Consultants prefer that which will take a short time to come up to speed with. As alluded to earlier, they are busy people, with too little time on their hands to do a lot of stuff. Complicated software wastes their precious time and money is lost in the process. That is why software developers have come up with products which are easy to install, with online support being provided to those who might get stuck. The products are extremely user friendly, and the installation only takes a few minutes.
Some online HR systems have been built with HR consultants in mind. People have come to appreciate that it would not be such a bad idea to allow consultants to distribute their products, but to protect themselves, they attach a few conditions. For example, they will allow the HR professional to install the software at the base of the client, but for a limited time, beyond which the client has to purchase the full product if he or she intends to reap of the benefits of the software. It allows the clients to try out the product before finally committing themselves.
Graig is an HR consultant with a lot of experience in small businesses. Griag recommends HR SaaS BreatheHR for web based central human resources management.