When it comes to recruiting and maintaining employees, the market is more competitive than ever. Candidates are more knowledgeable and have more requirements than 10 or 15 years ago. Companies need to be able to demonstrate that they’re a fulfilling place to work, can offer employees new opportunities and give them the flexibility to work the way that they want.
So, how can a company attract (and keep) the best employees in a competitive market? And can ERP software even go so far as to help you attract and retain them?
The wonders of automation
Nobody wants to spend eight hours a day working with outdated processes that are complicated to learn and cumbersome to use. That’s why having the latest software can make a big difference to the happiness of your employees.
With an ERP like SAP Business One, all the processes – which vendors have spent years perfecting -- are included out of the box. This could be payments, planning, material requirements or any of the other features. The simplicity of use doesn’t just streamline processes for you as a business, it also means more knowledgeable workers. Because even if the employee isn’t an expert in that particular field, they can rely on following the simple steps to gain knowledge of the process and develop an entirely new skillset that they might have never expected.
This results in employees that are happier and more skilful – and that’s a win for any business.
Beat the boredom
Boredom is another factor that can mean less productivity (and motivation) and even contribute to employees leaving your business for greener pastures and more opportunities. After all, if you’re not constantly challenged, you’re going to stagnate.
When you can automate the finicky processes and let employees focus on the things they enjoy, they’re much more likely to stay with you. Let’s take for example the process of sending an invoice to a client.
Without ERP software, this is needlessly complicated and an exercise in busy work. The employee has to create the invoice, double check that all the details are correct (opening the possibility of human error), open your email, attach the file, then send it.
Now, we got a little bored just writing that (and we’re sure it was a chore for you to read as well!). So, spare a thought for the poor employees who actually have to go through all those steps, all the time.
Keep things central, keep things convenient
An ERP can keep things much more organised and centralised – which can save employees a whole heap of headaches (and streamline things for you as an employer). For example, imagine that one of your workers is looking for an important order form or contract. They search everywhere, but cannot find it. Eventually, they discover that the only place it’s stored, is on another employee’s computer – and they happen to be working from home that day. Which means having to get in contact with them to send the file over.
With an ERP, all the information – along with all the documents and background that went into that contract – will be kept in one place and accessed by everyone. It’s a small thing, but it greatly improves things in terms of convenience. And in a competitive market, every little thing matters.
Staying flexible
The idea of workplace flexibility really gained traction when COVID-19 forced employees and employers to rethink the way they approached work from home. This trend has continued to grow, reaching the point where flexible working arrangements aren’t just a “nice to have” anymore, they’re expected as standard.
With more software moving to the cloud, as well as the advent of technology like Microsoft Teams, remote working is easier than ever. ERPs are no different. With SAP Business One Cloud, your employees are no longer chained to the office. They can access the information and tools they need to do their work anywhere, at any time.
How we can help you (and your employees)
Of course, there are plenty of other reasons why you won’t be able to retain an employee.
There could be cultural misalignments, where an employee’s values or ethics don’t quite mesh with your workplace.
Or disparities in pay, where employees perceive that their compensation is not commensurate with their skills, experience, or market standards.
Or perhaps there will be life circumstances, where an employee decides to move states or opt for a career change.
And no software or productivity tool is ever going to be able to help you with these issues.
But when it comes to crushing boredom, encouraging career progression and streamlining previously complicated processes, SAP Business One is the software you want in your corner. This is because it’s been optimised to do great things not only for you and your business but also for your employees.
If you have any questions about your SAP Business One, contact our team. Alternatively, If you're interested in making the switch to our software, click here to learn more.
