Even before the pandemic, there was a lot of talk about ‘digital transformation’ and what it would mean for businesses. Now, after over a year of working remotely and making greater use of digital platforms, it is easy to understand why more and more recruiters are benefiting from the shift.

Defining digital transformation

Digital transformation has been on the business agenda for some time now. At its simplest, it’s all about using new technology to solve traditional problems – the process of adopting technology and data solutions to simplify or eliminate altogether basic admin tasks and work more efficiently.

But what exactly does digital transformation mean for recruitment companies?

As a result of the mass upheavals in the job market due to the pandemic and lockdowns, it’s estimated over 200 million workers globally will have lost their jobs. According to Glassdoor every corporate role now attracts at least 250 applications on average; so you’ll need to be working as efficiently as possible to cope with such high demand.

In a nutshell, recruiters are going to be busier than ever, making now the perfect time to explore the benefits on digital transformation and how your agency can benefit.

The benefits for recruiters

For some organisations, digital transformation has meant completely changing the way the way they work.

For recruiters, the transformation allows the utilisation of technology and automation to tackle some of the most time-consuming, every-day admin tasks – making calls and sending emails to schedule and reschedule interviews, logging into multiple job posting sites and editing endless spreadsheets to try to calculate time to hire or record temp/ contractor time sheets.

So, if you’d prefer to spend less time wading through spreadsheets and paperwork, and more time on recruiting, you’ll find digital transformation and the tools it provides a real godsend.

 

  • Better productivity

As we’ve already mentioned, the most obvious benefit is how digital tools help you speed up everyday processes in various ways. Administrative tasks such as keeping records can be fully automated, saving time. If you use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), you’ll be able to screen candidates faster, with all their information in one place – invaluable with the current high number of applicants for many jobs – while a Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) system will help you build and maintain your pool of talent, saving you time and giving candidates a better experience.

  • Improved data

Gathering and analysing data used to be time-consuming and even prone to inaccuracy – but with it taken care of automatically as part of your day-to-day processes, you can use it much more effectively. For example, you can get a real-time, up-to-date overview of your hiring process so you can see where bottlenecks occur, or analytics reports that show where there may be gaps that affect the time and cost to hire. Naturally, the security of all your data is paramount, and whatever technology you adopt will need to be GDPR-compliant with the necessary cybersecurity measures in place.

  • Assessing candidates

We’ve all become familiar with video interviews and assessments of course, but digital transformation also covers AI and other tools that can be used to assess shortlisted candidates – saving you even more time.

  • Improved agility

As we’ve seen over the past year, things can change very quickly and have a huge impact on your business. Having the right digital tools together with a fluid approach to the way you work can pay dividends in situations like this, helping you become more adaptable to making rapid changes.

Obstacles to a successful transformation

Of course, we wouldn’t pretend that undergoing a digital transformation is all plain sailing. Any change on this scale can be uncomfortable for those who prefer doing things the old way, or see technology as unimportant, and you might find a certain amount of resistance. Persevere with the transformation though, and you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.

And don’t worry, we know many recruiters fear the adoption of a digital first strategy will hinder the personalised service their clients and candidates most value from them, but the use of automation can enhance the personalised experience you offer.

Need a little help?

Whether you find the prospect of digital transformation daunting or exciting, there are an awful lot of options out there. At Back Office, we’re familiar with all the most common systems and software, and can help you make the right choice for you. We can also help you with other aspects of your admin, such as payroll, invoicing, credit control and compliance. And like making the digital transformation, our services can help you work more efficiently and cost-effectively, giving you more time to focus on the business of recruiting.

If you’d like to find out more, just talk to any of our team on 01260 280 290 or just drop us an email.