In the second instalment of our Change Management blog series, Alan Stevenson (Change Solutions Manager at Electra Learning) continues our exploration into the world of organisational transformation. This time, we shift our focus to the pivotal role that automation plays in unlocking real business value. Join us as he delves into the insights and experiences of industry experts, uncovering how automation can streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and drive sustainable growth.
Human Resources (HR) teams are under increasing pressure to do more with less – more strategic planning, more employee engagement, more compliance – often with fewer resources and limited headcount.
One of the most effective ways HR can meet these demands is by embracing a fit-for-purpose form of automation. What HR needs these days is a modern, state-of-the-art learning platform) that goes far beyond a traditional Learning Management System (LMS) with a dusty library of underwhelming eLearning modules.
Today’s learning platforms have evolved dramatically. They’re now powerful, intelligent systems capable of transforming how HR operates – streamlining repetitive tasks, enhancing employee experience, and providing strategic insights that help shape the future of the business.
Let’s look at how HR teams can make this happen
1. Onboarding That Practically Runs Itself
Onboarding is one of the most resource-intensive processes in any HR function. In my experience it comes in varying shapes and sizes and is never as effective and consistent as you wish it would be.
Between scheduling welcome sessions, sharing documents, assigning training, introducing policies, and ensuring new hires feel integrated, the traditional onboarding process can easily consume hours – or even days – of HR’s time per employee.
A modern learning platform, like Electra’s Learning Toolkit, changes that narrative. It can:
- Automatically assign and track required training modules
- Send welcome messages and introductory content
- Trigger reminders for both new hires and managers
- Provide real-time dashboards showing onboarding progress
- Integrate with HRIS systems to sync user data and access rights
Through automation, onboarding becomes a smooth, engaging, and consistent experience for every new employee, without constant oversight from HR.
2. Effortless Training & Compliance Management
Gone are the days when training was simply a matter of uploading a few compliance videos and hoping employees clicked through them.
Today’s learning platforms are dynamic ecosystems that can manage everything from skills development to certifications (and importantly, re-certifications) to role-specific learning journeys.
Through automation, HR can:
- Auto-assign courses based on criteria such as; job role, location, department, or manager
- Send reminders before training expires or when re-certification is due
- Generate audit-ready compliance reports instantly
- Personalise learning pathways for career development
- Integrate seamlessly with performance management systems
Instead of chasing down employees to complete training or manually tracking completion, HR teams can focus on analysing results and fine-tuning learning strategies.
3. Streamlined Performance & Skills Development
Change is now a constant and this is where teams can find themselves overburdened. Upskilling and reskilling have become non-negotiable in a workforce that is constantly adapting to new tools, technologies, and business models. However, identifying gaps and delivering the right training at scale can be daunting without the right tools.
An intelligent learning platform can use data and automation to:
- Assess employee skills and recommend relevant training
- Create development plans aligned with career aspirations
- Automate manager check-ins and feedback collection
- Track progress against company-wide skill benchmarks
This approach doesn’t just improve learning outcomes – it empowers HR to take a proactive role in workforce planning and talent development.
4. Reducing Administrative Load
HR professionals tell me that an incredible amount of their time goes into repetitive, low-impact administrative work – emailing reminders, generating reports, chasing completions, updating spreadsheets…and they are not alone!
A modern learning platform can eliminate much of this manual burden through:
- Automated workflows for enrolments, notifications, approvals, and reporting
- Self-service access for employees to track their own learning
- Real-time analytics dashboards replacing static reports
- Integration with calendar tools for scheduling sessions automatically
By cutting through this admin clutter, HR is free to focus on what really matters: supporting people, building culture, and driving strategic initiatives.
5. A Strategic Partner – Not Just a Training Tool
Perhaps the most overlooked benefit of a modern learning platform is its potential to become a strategic HR partner. These systems no longer just house content; they generate actionable data.
With the right system, HR can:
- Identify organisational skills gaps
- Measure training ROI
- Predict future learning needs
- Track engagement trends across teams or departments
- Support succession planning and internal mobility initiatives
This shift turns the traditional LMS from a passive platform into a central hub for talent intelligence and people development. If businesses are all about their people, then what’s not to love here?
Final Thoughts: The Time for Automation is Now
HR departments are at a crossroads: continue battling with manual processes and fragmented systems or embrace the full potential of automation through a modern learning platform.
If we take the very relevant example of the new Employment Rights Bill now road mapped and travelling at pace towards every UK business, the first path seems destined to cause stress and strain across existing processes and procedures through the creation of capacity bottlenecks.
The second path offers not just efficiency gains, but a genuine transformation in how HR operates and how it delivers value to the business. HR can reclaim valuable hours, allowing them to focus on these new, high-intensity, initiatives.
By automating onboarding, training management, compliance, development, and reporting, HR professionals can free up their time to do what they do best – build an engaged, capable, and future-ready workforce.
Modern learning platforms are no longer just “where e-learning goes to die.”
They are smart, scalable, and strategic. They might just be HR’s most valuable ally in this digital age of change. Because when your system works for you, you have more time to work with your people.
Help me get the message out there: Let the automation begin!
If you want to learn more about how to automate HR processes, visit our Learning Toolkit page for a free demo.