// EDITOR ’ S QUESTION //

Every month , we pose industry experts a question pertinent to the issues of the day . This month . . . .

Luke Shipley , CEO and Co-founder , Zinc

AUTOMATED SYSTEMS CAN PROVIDE FASTER RESPONSES , INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND QUICKER BACKGROUND CHECK RESULTS , WHICH IMPROVE THE OVERALL CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE .

S AN ORGANISATION

GROWS and its need for new tools increases , it will need to decide where it ’ s best to invest and where it ’ s best to automate processes . Luke Shipley , CEO and Co-founder , Zinc , discusses this topic below .

Typically , organisations will only bring new software into the business where employees are already experiencing challenges and can clearly define the problem they want to solve . From there , a decision is made between bringing software in or hiring for extra hands with specialist knowledge . With a growing business , these tools and processes might be brought in to address scalability issues , such as expanding the tech stack , investing in HR , workflow and communication platforms or introducing new CRM tools .

This decision is crucial for ensuring that an organisation doesn ’ t become too overburdened with new processes and tools in a phase of the business where there ’ s an unlimited number of burning fires . Fundamentally , automating processes helps the organisation stay focused on business critical issues . But which processes should be automated first ?

HR , hiring and background checking processes are critical areas for a growing business and well placed for automation . Automating these functions not only streamlines operations but also enhances efficiency , reduces errors and ensures scalability .

1 . Efficiency and time savings : One of the most time-consuming aspects of business growth is managing the recruitment and onboarding of new employees . As businesses expand , the need to hire talent quickly becomes paramount , yet traditional hiring processes can be slow and cumbersome . Automating tasks such as posting job listings , screening resumes , scheduling interviews and conducting background checks reduces manual effort . Automated systems can sift through large volumes of applications to highlight candidates with the best fit for the role , cutting down hours of administrative work . This allows HR teams to focus on more strategic tasks like nurturing company culture or employee engagement .

2 . Consistency and reduced errors : Automation in HR and hiring ensures that processes are conducted uniformly every time . Without automation , human error is inevitable – whether it ’ s misplacing essential documents , errors in data entry or overlooking information in a background check . Automated systems maintain a consistent process for every candidate , ensuring that no critical step is missed . This is especially important for background checks , which must comply with legal regulations globally and be performed accurately . Automation ensures that the background check process is standardised , timely and thorough , thereby reducing the risk of costly hiring mistakes .

3 . Scalability : As businesses grow , the volume of hiring increases . Manually handling hiring processes can become overwhelming for HR teams . Automation enables businesses to scale their recruitment efforts without having to drastically increase the size of their HR department . Tools that automate job postings , candidate tracking and onboarding processes allow businesses to hire at the same rate they grow , preventing bottlenecks and delays . With automated systems in place , HR departments can handle large volumes of applicants and new hires more efficiently , which is crucial for sustaining growth .

4 . Improved candidate experience : A smooth and swift hiring process also creates a positive impression on candidates . Automated systems can provide faster responses , increase transparency and quicker background check results , which improve the overall candidate experience . This is vital in competitive markets , where a poor or delayed hiring process could cause a business to lose top talent .

20 Intelligent SME . tech