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Nine critical reasons to automate performance management

A strong performance management process helps organizations better motivate and retain top performers, more closely align individuals' goals with those of the organization and create a more engaged workforce -- all of which leads to greater productivity, and ultimately, improves the bottom line.

But if your company is like most, your current performance management process probably relies on manually collecting annual evaluations or using other labor-intensive, paper-based procedures. Even if you have managed to automate the process somewhat through the use of standardized word-processing documents, database templates or other rudimentary electronic methods, you've discovered that these tools can often create more headaches than they alleviate.

Today, a profound transformation is taking place across the business landscape as it relates to performance management. A growing number of businesses are turning to innovative technologies to help improve their performance management processes. These forward-thinking organizations are replacing their often painful and tedious manual procedures with affordable, Web-based solutions that offer streamlined implementation and require absolutely no internal IT support. By automating much of their performance management, these companies have realized many financial benefits -- including increased employee productivity, improved worker retention, optimized compensation and more.

Reaping the benefits of performance management automation
There are nine key ways in which your company will benefit by automating its performance management process:

1. Implement performance management best practices more easily.
   To be most effective, your company's performance management process should follow best practices established by the leading companies and experts in your field.
2. Increase goal visibility and boost shared accountability.
   According to leading industry analysts, nearly 95 percent of workers are unaware of their employer's specific corporate objectives. How can your organization expect its people to deliver the bottom-line business results it wants when individuals are unclear what's expected of them?
3. Gain powerful insights by using collected data more effectively.
   To be valuable, information needs to be collected and aggregated in a way that allows people to actually access and use it. Instead of simply filing away employee reviews in a drawer somewhere, automated systems allow you to easily access important company-wide data at any time. Through performance-related dashboards and reporting options, managers can capture and analyze -- on demand -- the detailed information they need to make the best strategic decisions possible.
4. Ensure compliance.
   Through automation, it becomes much easier for you to closely monitor the entire performance review process to ensure compliance across your organization.
5. Eliminate paperwork hassles.
   With automated online systems, you eliminate many of the headaches associated with paper-based processes.
6. Improve feedback quality and strengthen management skills.
   Leading automated systems often include a writing assistant, coaching tools and other advanced functionality to improve the overall quality of review feedback.
7. Save time.
   Automated solutions often include tools that not only help managers and employees write better reviews, but also complete them in considerably less time.
8. Gather feedback that's more honest, objective and open.
   Online performance management systems let you easily request and collect anonymous 360-feedback from anyone in the organization at any time. By introducing total online anonymity to the 360-feedback process, you create a safer environment where participants can comfortably provide both positive and negative feedback without fear of retaliation. Additionally, unfavorable feedback is more likely to be thoughtfully considered if it's anonymous.
9. Improve your bottom line.
   Automating your performance management process can provide huge returns for your company, generating thousands of dollars annually through increased employee productivity, improved retention and compensation optimization.

To learn more about Ceridian's performance and talent management solutions, offered in partnership with SuccessFactors, contact your Ceridian representative.