Working in a Solo or Small HR team in Malaysia? Find Out Why an HR System is Essential For You

For many SMEs in Malaysia, HR departments can be very, very small. In fact, many smaller organisations can even operate with one-man HR departments, where a single practitioner is in charge of everything — from processing payroll, to hiring and retaining employees. 

Obviously, this can be a challenging situation for HR managers in similar situations. This can be made even more difficult with the nuances of managing the modern workforce, with many organisations and employees now preferring flexible work arrangements such as remote work models and hybrid setups. 

To help some of you in similar situations, it’s crucial to understand the importance — and the difference — that a powerful HR system can make for smaller HR teams. Here are a couple of key things to note. 

1. HR systems reduce paperwork and repetitive tasks

One of the most obvious benefits when it comes to HR systems (also known as HRMS: Human Resource Management Systems) is a significant reduction in paperwork and repetitive tasks. Smaller HR teams sometimes find themselves overwhelmed with the sheer amount of administrative tasks — which can lead to burnout, or even impact the business. 

Instead, systems such as altHR come with powerful modules that can streamline how HR professionals handle expense claims, payroll (available on assessment basis), and even things like track employee performance. This frees up HR leaders to focus on more important matters, such as overall strategy, planning, and overall HR goals. 

2. HR systems improve employee productivity

Regardless of whether your company’s workforce is operating remotely or in the physical workplace, HR systems are key to ensuring that employee productivity is maintained and improved. In today’s fast-moving digital world, it’s important to invest in the right infrastructure and tools to achieve business objectives and key deliverables. 

Many HR systems don’t simply cover the basics of core HR, such as time tracking or leave entitlements. Powerful apps and platforms can now help HR practitioners improve employee engagement and happiness — both critical elements of employee productivity. A highly engaged team, after all, will be happier, and consequently, more productive. 

3. HR systems offer peace of mind with data security

Employee data is clearly a confidential matter, but this can be challenging to maintain when relying on paper-based documentation. Documents such as employee contracts, remuneration, and performance appraisals can comprise very sensitive information, which is why HR departments have the responsibility of ensuring that the privacy of employee data is maintained. 

With a secure digital HR system, HR practitioners can rest assured that the security and privacy of their employees’ data is maintained — although it’s important to rely on a HR system that is backed up with the right infrastructure. In this regard, altHR is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers, a top ranked cloud infrastructure that is trusted by banks and Fortune 500 companies all around the world.  

4. Empower hybrid work models 

As mentioned above, employees in today’s digital world are increasingly showing a preference towards flexible working arrangements. However, to ensure that modern work models are implemented effectively to achieve business and HR goals, be sure to look out for an HR system that can handle the demands of the modern workforce. 

For example, altHR comes with powerful modules specifically designed to manage the digital workforce. These include Rostering, Asset Management, Time Tracking, and even Spaces — a handy feature that allows management to easily track and monitor the availability and occupancy of facilities and locations at any time.