Artificial intelligence (AI) has a growing presence in many industries, but what is its role in human resources? Can AI-powered chatbots help HR departments when it comes to answering employee questions and increasing employee engagement?
While setting up an HR chatbot might seem like a lot of work, modern HR automation tools like RapidBee make the process straightforward and efficient.
Here’s how HR professionals can roll out their own AI-powered chatbots to speed up HR processes and provide employees with more self-service options.
An HR chatbot is an automated tool that can respond to employee queries and resolve common employee relations issues. Instead of waiting for a response from an HR team member, employees can get the answers they need in real-time. An HR bot can direct the employee to your knowledge base or route them to the correct human agent.
Since HR bots come in many forms, it’s important to understand the different types of chatbots out there. Here are two that HR leaders should be familiar with:
A rules-based chatbot can help employees access simple HR services by pointing them to your FAQs, while an AI-driven chatbot can act more like a virtual assistant, providing relevant information or even guiding them through a complex HR process.
An AI-powered chatbot won’t replace your HR team members, but it can assist them in responding to employee issues and meeting their needs. Here are three ways an HR chatbot can facilitate HR operations and streamline human resource management.
AI chatbots can streamline workflows by automating repetitive tasks and taking care of basic HR functions. By getting rid of some of the time-consuming HR tasks your team members have to perform, you can free them up to focus on strategic initiatives.
HR chatbots can improve the employee experience by giving them more ways to ask for support and meet their HR needs. An HR bot with a conversational interface can be more appealing to employees than a traditional helpdesk, especially if you combine it with a self-service portal and a mobile app for on-the-go access.
An HR chatbot isn’t just for resolving incoming issues. You can use them proactively to request employee feedback on company policies and support workplace wellness. For example, by using an AI-driven chatbot to administer pulse surveys, you can get the information you need to support real-time, data-driven decision-making.
Unlike rules-based chatbots, AI-powered chatbots learn as they go along. You’ll need to provide them with relevant information, like your company’s HR policies, to ensure they give accurate responses. Here are five ways to get started with HR chatbots.
HR teams can use a recruitment chatbot to guide candidates through the recruitment process. Today’s AI recruiting tools can field job applications, sort resumes, and even schedule interviews with candidates. Use an HR chatbot to screen candidates and conduct skill assessments as they progress through the hiring process.
Getting new employees up to speed can be a time-consuming process, especially for remote employees who can’t visit the workplace in person. Use an HR chatbot in the employee onboarding process to ensure that new hires fill out the right onboarding documents and get a thorough introduction to your company culture.
Employee benefits may include health insurance, personal leave, wellness perks, and other benefits. Employees can use a self-service portal to submit leave requests and check their leave balances, or ask your HR chatbot for clarification or support.
AI tools can also help with performance management and professional development. For example, RapidBee features certification tracking software and a built-in learning management system. Use our AI-powered chatbot to collect 360-degree feedback, conduct performance evaluations, recommended training programs, and more.
Finally, the employee exit process is another great opportunity to use an HR chatbot. Avoid awkward departures by using an AI-powered tool to conduct exit surveys and gather information you can use to improve employee retention.
The features you need in an HR chatbot will vary depending on which HR functions you want to use it for. Here are five key features to look for in an AI-powered chatbot.
One of the most important features is the ability to provide fast responses to employee queries, even when your HR team members aren’t currently available. An HR chatbot can direct employees to relevant information in your FAQs or knowledge base, or create a ticket that your HR team can respond to later.
When you use RapidBee’s AI-driven employee support center, you can provide 24/7 support, accommodating team members in different locations and time zones.
Automated ticket management helps you keep track of incoming queries and ensure that they’re all resolved in a timely manner. RapidBee’s ticket management system automatically routes incoming messages and escalates complex cases to the right human agent, saving time and facilitating faster resolutions.
Plus, our Asset Library stores all of your important documentation in one place so employees can fill out forms without having to leave the platform.
Integrating your HR chatbot with other HR tools allows you to eliminate data silos and develop a seamless HR ecosystem. By synchronizing your data across multiple tools and platforms, you can use predictive analytics to make more informed decisions.
RapidBee’s integrations include SharePoint, OneDrive, and Google Drive, as well as leading human resource information systems like ADP and Workday.
No two employees will have the exact same journey through your organization, and they’ll need access to different HR resources along the way. Use employee journey mapping to understand the employee experience, and deploy your HR chatbot at strategic points in the employee lifecycle to increase employee retention.
RapidBee allows HR teams to build a unique journey for each employee, including personalized onboarding experiences and a customized training program.
Finally, consider AI-powered chatbots one tool among many. While some employees may appreciate the convenience of an HR chatbot, others may prefer an interactive helpdesk or knowledge base. Offer multiple ways to reach your HR department by integrating your HR chatbot with other messaging tools like Slack.
RapidBee makes it easy to field messages from multiple sources, including email, forms, and SMS, so you can provide true multichannel support.
An HR chatbot is a type of software that can respond to employee queries in real-time, and provide relevant information or route them to a human agent. AI-powered chatbots are more powerful than rules-based chatbots because they use machine learning and natural language processing to provide a human-like response.
RapidBee’s AI-driven chat and ticket management system features a conversational interface that employees can use to ask questions about leave entitlements, employee benefits, and other HR policies. Plus, our self-service tools allow employees to update their information in real-time and fill out key forms and documents online.
Request a trial today to try it out for free!