If you're looking for ways to maximize employee engagement and ROI with your people data, consider the benefits of people directory software. People directory software can help you collect and analyze employee data to identify trends and insights that can help improve your workforce. The right directory software can further help employees connect with each other, identify potential career opportunities, and buy into the company culture.
What is People Directory Software?
A people directory is an online database that stores employee information and makes it accessible to authorized users. People directories are commonly used by HR departments to manage employee data, but they can also be used by employees themselves to find contact information and connect with fellow employees.
Today, people directory software is more important than ever. With employees frequently working remotely or with remote team members, it's easy to feel adrift. A good people directory can help employees feel more connected to the company and their fellow employees.
To learn more, check out our ultimate guide on choosing the right employee directory software.
How Can People Directory Software Help My Organization?
The right people directory software can help your organization run more smoothly and efficiently. People directory software is quickly becoming an HR essential — and a major way to improve company culture.
1. Enterprise Analytics
It can help you collect and analyze employee data to identify trends and insights that can help improve your workforce. By collecting large volumes of data, people directory software can help you dig into and analyze trends or patterns that would otherwise go unseen.
2. Connects Employees
It can help employees connect with each other. Employees will no longer feel siloed within teams or departments. They will reach out to connect with each other, talk to each other about potential opportunities, and otherwise be able to interface on an entirely new and accessible level.
3. Internal Communication Platform
It can provide a searchable database of employee contact information that can be used for internal communication or marketing purposes. Companies can extend their branding through these one-on-one connections with employees, as well as ensure that all employees are on the same page.
4. Onboarding Automation
It can automate the process of onboarding new employees and tracking employee departures. As organizations scale, it becomes even more important to be able to reliably track employees.
5. Performance Metrics
It can help you track employee performance and compliance with company policies. It's not always easy to otherwise see how employees are performing. But employee performance and compliance can be automatically tracked with the right HR and people directories.
6. Data Consolidation and Security
It can provide a secure place to store employee files and records. If all data is stored within a single system, then it will become far more efficient and effective. It also becomes far more secure and likely to adhere to regulatory standards.
7. HR Integration
It can help you manage employee benefits and other HR-related data. HR will only need to use a single system and its integrations to manage their people data.
People are a company's most important resource. Despite this, many companies focus on managing their enterprises as a whole rather than their people. Through a people directory, companies can form and inform a people-first ethos.
How Can Employee Directories Build Connections?
It's important to break down silos and promote connections across the enterprise. An employee directory is a tool that can do just that. By storing employee information in a central location, an employee directory makes it easy for employees to find and connect with each other.
1. Trust
Employee directories can help build trust among employees. In order for trust to flourish, employees need to feel like they can rely on each other. An employee directory can help build this trust by providing a central location for employees to find accurate contact information.
2. Company Buy-In
Employee directories can help employees feel more connected to the company. When employees can easily find and connect with each other, they'll feel more connected to the company as a whole. This connection can lead to increased engagement and loyalty.
3. Community
Employee directories can help employees feel more connected to their coworkers. Feeling connected to your coworkers is essential for a positive work environment. Employee directories make it easy for employees to find and connect with each other, fostering a sense of community. This goes beyond trust at work and into trust as each other as people.
Companies must trust that the more employees interact with each other, the more they'll feel bound to a common culture. And the more they feel bound to this common culture, the less likely they will be to pursue other opportunities.
How Can People Directory Software Drive Retention?
Match people to internal opportunities so they can learn, grow, and thrive. Frequently, employees find themselves leaving an organization not because they are unhappy, but because they don't feel they can excel. They don't see a path for themselves. They stagnate.
1. Internal Opportunity Matching
Employee directories can help match employees to internal opportunities. When employees can easily find and connect with each other, they'll be better equipped to identify opportunities for growth and development. This can help reduce employee turnover rates.
2. Employee Performance Tracking
Employee directories can help track employee performance. When all employee data is stored in a central location, it becomes easier to track employee performance. This data can then be used to identify high performers and match them with internal opportunities. Not only will employees be retained, but the right employees will be retained.
3. Turnover Mitigation
Employee directories can help identify employees who are at risk of leaving the company. Data can be mined to indicate employees who may be on their way out, such as employees who are frequently taking time off or who appear to be working less. This data can then be used to take proactive measures to address the issue and prevent the employee from leaving.
An employee directory is a powerful tool that can help companies build trust, foster connections, and drive retention. By storing employee information in a central location, an employee directory makes it easy for employees to find and connect with each other.
How Do Employee Directories Facilitate Remote Work?
Employee directories can play a huge role in facilitating remote work. When employees have access to a directory of coworkers, they can easily connect with each other regardless of their location. This can help reduce the sense of isolation that often comes with working remotely.
Many employees today want to work remotely. But if they don't feel connected to the company or their coworkers, they are far more likely to just leave. Employee directories can ensure that employees connect with each other and with the company on a much deeper level.
Challenges When Adopting a People Directory Solution
There are a few challenges that organizations face when adopting a people directory solution. The most common challenge is data governance. When an organization stores employee information in a central location, it becomes responsible for maintaining the accuracy of that data. This can be a challenge, especially for large organizations with many employees.
Another challenge is data security. When an organization stores employee information in a central location, it becomes responsible for protecting that data. This can be a challenge, especially if the organization does not have a strong data security infrastructure in place.
The third challenge is user adoption. When an organization adopts a people directory solution, it must ensure that employees actually use the directory. This can be a challenge, especially for employees who are resistant to change.
Improving User Adoption for Employee Directory Software
There are a few things that organizations can do to improve user adoption for employee directory software. The most effective way to improve user adoption is to ensure that the software is easy to use. Employees should be able to find and connect with each other quickly and easily.
Another way to improve user adoption is to make the software relevant to employees. The software should be designed to meet the needs of employees. For example, the software should allow employees to search for other employees by skillset or location.
Finally, to improve user adoption provide training and support for employees. Employees should be given the opportunity to learn how to use the software and should be able to get help if they need it. Ambassadors should be introduced to support the software and the software solution itself should come with internal help.
How to Find the Right Employee Directory Software
You now know you want employee directory software. But how do you find the right one?
Here are some important features to look for:
- Automated profiles. Automatically generate profiles using data from all business systems. Many solutions have profile functionality, but no one fills their profiles out. Employees just don't have the time. When profiles are rich with data, these data points provide valuable, instantly searchable information.
- Accessibility. An employee directory solution should be both easy to use and easy to access. Integrate the solution directly into other core areas of your business to increase adoption.
- Security. An employee directory solution will, by necessity, collect a lot of information about your employees and their behaviors. Make sure the entire system is secure.
Ultimately, you need an employee directory solution that will be easy to use, will support your business and will facilitate employee connections.
How to Maximize ROI with People Directory Software
People directory software helps you save time, retain employees, and analyze your organizational strengths. A people directory software solution will reduce organizational silos, improve productivity, and ensure one-on-one communications throughout the industry.
LinkedIn encourages people to leave. If people can't find opportunities to grow and thrive in their careers they will find those opportunities elsewhere. People directory software can help.
