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Many of today’s human resource professionals face challenges trying to manage mobile technology in the workplace.

For instance, employers now have to worry about lost productivity from people texting too often or playing on their phones when they should be working. Companies that allowing employees to use personal devices for work also need to be concerned about security risks, such as if someone loses their device or creates other vulnerabilities for hackers to access the phone’s data or company networks.

But even with all the increased vigilance of mobile technology, Texting Communication and mobile usage can be useful to Human Resources personnel. These tools can help improve efficiency, automate routine tasks and also provide additional recruitment resources.

Positive uses of a texting communication software includes:

• Emergency alerts. Not every employee may have access to a computer to receive emergency emails, or desk phones to receive automated alerts. But most will have their own smartphones. A corporate mobile usage policy can ask employees to provide personal numbers for emergency text purposes only. In a disaster scenario, managers can also ask their team members to text them to confirm their status, and then quickly relay this info to a central person.
  
  
• Company announcements. Items that can impact the whole organization can be sent quickly through a mass text system. This information can be received faster than emails and saves time trying to gather people together for a company or department meeting. It also can get information to staff before something is released to the public or media.
  
  
• Reminders. Texting can keep employees up to date with routine events, such as training seminars, company meetings or appointments. HR can set up automated texts, so everyone who signed up for an upcoming class receives a notification, rather than requiring someone to send confirmation notices individually.
  
  
• Better contact with remote staff. Off-site employees generally enjoy their freedom to not be in the main offices all the time, but sometimes may wish they could be better connected. With texting, it can be easy to have quick check-ins, and if necessary, follow up with longer phone calls or in-person visits. This keeps everyone more engaged.
  
  
• Employee benefits. When someone calls in sick or schedules medical leave, they can text a note to an automated number, which will register the situation/request and notify them how many medical hours remain. This can make the hours are properly logged and makes sure the right people have the information.
  
  
• Business trips. Texting Communication can make it easy to keep track of groups of employees including where people are, what activities are taking place and how to arrange various tasks or events.
  
  
• Time cards. Instead of the traditional punch in and punch out time clock system, people can text their comings and goings to a central number, which will sync with payroll and automatically keep track of the data. This can also be handy for on-call employees.
  
  
• Overall feedback. Texting can provide an opportunity to give suggestions for improvement for the whole organization. Or it can allow employees to recognize others, such as being able to vote on an Employee of the Month.
  
  

On the recruiting side, texting presents plenty of potential to make things efficient, automate some routine tasks and also attract quality personnel.

• Job listings. Companies can send out regular mass texts about open positions to anyone considering someday working for this organization. This provides current openings to subscribers without them having to check a site or call a job line daily, and also could encourage people to apply only for jobs they’re qualified for. Large companies with plenty of open positions all the time can even segment their subscriber lists to send different texts to people only interested in certain criteria such as location or certain positions.
  
  
• The submission process. An automated text can let candidates know their application and resume was received, and also keep their contact information for future notifications. If they are considered for an interview, HR can send them a text to give them the news, and automated reminders can let them know that the day/time is approaching.
  
  
• Extra help. Companies that use on-call staff can use Texting Communication to put out a call for help. This saves time trying to call everyone on this list and wait for them to respond via voice or hope they show up. They also can be asked to confirm via text if they’ll be able to make it, which can also help with staffing needs. Those who respond can also receive a text notification reminding them that they committed to this, which can also help ensure they’ll come in.
  
  

There are plenty of options available for Human Resource departments that are interested in communicating more with current or future employees via texting. Visit Trumpia for suggestions.

For more detailed information on how mobile solutions can help you solve common HR communication challenges, download our complimentary HR communications eBook.