AI is in every conversation and, whether visible or not, its uses have multiplied and one of its most exciting areas is conversational AI.
This innovation is revolutionizing the way companies approach human resources management (HRM). Indeed, it offers a personalized and efficient approach for Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) publishers.
In this article, we look at the features and benefits of conversational AI in the context of HRIS.
What is Conversational AI?
Conversational AI is a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating systems capable of interacting and dialoguing with humans naturally.
These systems use advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques to understand and generate discussions in French, English, or Spanish…
What is the difference between a Chatbot and Conversational AI?
We can recall experiments with Chatbots adapted to HR topics. Unfortunately, they left us with more or less satisfactory memories.
Now, with conversational AI, we are talking about a much more advanced user experience.
Indeed, a traditional chatbot is designed to satisfy “question-answer” type exchanges on a static and limited knowledge base.
A conversational interface goes far beyond this, enabling numerous natural language interactions with applications (notifications, queries, transactions).
How can conversational AI be applied to human resources?
On HR topics, conversational AI is emerging as an innovative solution for automating and improving many processes.
It offers a wealth of possibilities for human resources, particularly when embedded directly in HR applications:
• Recruitment and Interviewing
Conversational AI is transforming the way companies recruit, not least by automating initial exchanges with candidates.
It is easy to see how AI could be used to conduct preliminary interviews, ask relevant questions, assess certain skills, and even organize appointments with successful candidates.
The whole point is that these exchanges feed directly into the applicant management system (ATS) within the HR system. Time-consuming tasks with little added value are thus optimized.
As a result, recruiters can concentrate on higher-value aspects of the recruitment process.
• Onboarding
The quality of new employee onboarding is crucial to their success. Recruiting takes time and resources.
So, it is essential to ensure that once the new employee is on board, we give ourselves every chance of this new collaboration being satisfactory for both parties.
Conversational AI can provide a more interactive and personalized onboarding process while taking the burden off managers, trainers, and human resources.
A platform integrating messaging, a knowledge base, and HRIS can guide new employees through procedures, answer their questions, and simply provide them with practical information that makes all the difference.
• 24/7 HR Support
Employees regularly have questions about benefits, vacations, reimbursement policies… And they are often the same!
Result: the teams in charge of these subjects spend a considerable amount of time answering legitimate but recurring questions.
A conversational AI integrated into the HRIS can provide instant and permanent answers to frequently asked questions.
As a result, HR teams – who let us face it, are overloaded – are relieved of these requests. And users benefit from the information they need on a self-service basis, thanks to NLP.
• Leave and absence management:
Employees can submit leave requests via a simple conversation. Conversational AI can check availability, follow company policies, and automatically update team calendars accordingly.
No more dunning, process reminders, or late reporting, as everything can be sorted out in a message from WhatsApp or Slack.
There are many other examples relating to skills management, training, internal communication… Because the HR function has indeed expanded as the professional world has changed.
And teams are overloaded with work. So, we might as well make life easier for them.
For example, we have explored how the experience of HRIS users can be significantly enhanced by integrating conversational artificial intelligence.
What is more, the publishers who design these business solutions have much to gain from this trend toward integration.
Conversational AI also benefits HRIS publishers
Indeed, by integrating conversational AI into its solution, a software publisher can offer its end-users a third type of workflow. Different from what is possible with a mobile application or web access. This enables it to:
• Increase efficiency:
Conversational AI enables HRIS vendors to create solutions that automate many time-consuming tasks, freeing up time to focus on higher value-added activities.
When presenting their product to potential customers, this is a real competitive advantage over other vendors‘ offerings.
• Enhanced user experience with conversational AI:
Employees benefit from a smoother, more user-friendly experience by interacting from a WhatsApp, MS Teams, or Google conversation capable of instantly answering their questions and proactively guiding them. This is incredibly positive for the publisher’s image and reputation.
• Free yourself from the need to develop costly mobile applications:
Today, it’s unthinkable not to offer a mobile experience. However, as the medium does not always offer sufficient ergonomics, the publisher has to make choices (aesthetic, functional…) and finance regular developments, sometimes with disappointing results.
And here again, the user experience is not particularly intuitive. Users must download the corresponding mobile application and find out what they can and cannot do. Even though they already have the messaging applications they’re used to. No more UI questions, all they must do is ask for what they want.
• Make informed decisions:
ata collected from conversations can be analyzed to identify trends and employee needs. This semantic data goes beyond the fairly basic statistics of usage or availability.
It can be used to collect qualitative data, detect weak signals, and automatically identify anomalies or topics not covered.
This can help HRIS publishers make strategic decisions based on accurate information.
Focus on the essentials, without forgetting the human element!
The idea is not to disengage the human element.
On the contrary, it is about helping them to access the right information. In this case, conversational AI can simplify the customer’s workflow and relieve him of repetitive or low-value tasks.
In 2020, Deloitte revealed in a study that companies were using AI to improve the relevance and quality of work.
Talent shortages, difficulty in retaining key personnel, changing scopes of responsibility, decentralized organizations… The challenges facing human resources are numerous. And technology can play a key role in meeting these challenges.
Conversational AI opens exciting new prospects for HRIS publishers and HR professionals alike.
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Agora Software deploys conversational application interfaces to enhance the user experience of applications and platforms. We create rich, multilingual, and omnichannel interactions with all your users.
If you would like to find out more about our conversational AI platform, please visit our Solution page.
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