HR Automation: 5 Benefits of Automating HR Agreements and Forms

HR has always been about people. However, outdated processes—such as paper forms, repetitive workflows, and disconnected systems—can prevent organizations from delivering the experience employees expect and the efficiency they demand.

HR teams are moving fast to digitize. They’re not just adopting new tools—they’re transforming how they hire, onboard, engage, and retain talent across the entire employee lifecycle.

Here are five key reasons to consider digitizing HR now:

1. Deliver a better employee experience

Employees expect the same ease from their workplace interactions that they get from ordering food or streaming a show. But manual HR processes can frustrate both candidates and employees.

Digitization can address this frustration in the following ways:

• Candidates can review and sign offer letters when and where it’s best for them

• New hires can complete all onboarding forms in one secure, online location

• Employees can use mobile apps and portals to manage benefits, policies, and updates virtually anytime, anywhere

Why it matters: Deloitte research shows that new hires complete onboarding paperwork 33% faster when organizations have more mature agreement capabilities. According to Deel, 82% of employees with access to benefits technology feel their employer cares about their health and well-being, and 80% are thriving in their current role or organization.

Every interaction with HR is an opportunity to show employees they matter. Digitization helps ensure those moments are modern, intuitive, and frustration-free.

2. Boost HR productivity and free up time for strategy

Manual HR is a time sink. 57% of HR professionals report working beyond normal capacity—time that could be spent on employee engagement, culture initiatives, or other activities that support employee retention.

Digitization changes that equation:

• Automated workflows handle repetitive tasks like policy acknowledgments, reminders, and cross-functional candidate approvals

• Bulk send features let HR share updates to thousands of employees in one step

• Integrations connect digital agreements to systems already in use, like Workday and ServiceNow, eliminating double entry

Why it matters: According to SHRM’s 2026 State of the Workplace Report, 89% of surveyed HR professionals report using AI to support recruiting activities like writing job descriptions, screening résumés, and automating candidate searches, which saves them time and increases efficiency. That means HR leaders can reclaim hours every week to focus on strategic priorities.

3. Lower costs through efficiency

Efficiency is no longer optional—it’s mission-critical. Every wasted hour or lost document drains resources. Recent Docusign internal research revealed HR team productivity and effectiveness as the top HR priority for next year. 

Why it matters: Digitization can reduce overhead by eliminating paper, postage, manual processing, duplicative data entry, and costly delays. For example:

• Modernized HR systems cut average onboarding time by up to 80% and save about $50 per job offer

• Deloitte found that organizations that digitize HR see up to a 22% reduction in HR operational costs

• McKinsey found that a large bank increased its hiring volume by 30% in a twelve-month period and reduced the average time by 63%

Doing more with less isn’t just a budget mandate—it’s a competitive advantage. Digitization helps ensure HR delivers sustainable savings while scaling efficiently.

4. Unlock insights with data-driven decision making

Workforce data is one of HR’s most valuable assets, but when it’s trapped in filing cabinets or static PDFs, it’s difficult to access. Digitization helps turn agreements and records into insights that allow companies to see:

• Real-time dashboards that track retention, turnover, and workforce allocation

• AI extracts of agreement data to spot patterns and risks before they become problems

Why it matters: These insights allow leaders to allocate resources and forecast staffing needs with greater accuracy. Deel reports 38% of HR decision-makers already use AI, primarily for analytics, learning, and onboarding. And 41% of business leaders plan to redesign processes with AI in the years ahead. The trend is clear: Data-driven HR helps teams transition from reactive to strategic.

5. Strengthen compliance and security

Managing sensitive employee data requires systems designed for accuracy and accountability. Manual processes can cause more errors and increase compliance risk.

Digitization provides:

• Centralized systems that help prevent duplicate records and inaccuracies

• Automated audit trails that can document compliance with labor laws and regulations

• Enterprise-grade security to protect sensitive employee information

Why it matters: As one global CHRO put it, “Switching to our new systems gave me insight into how much financial exposure I had against different employee regulations across labor markets. For an organization with 6,000 employees across 16 countries, limiting mistakes is everything.”

The future of HR is digital

Digitizing HR isn’t just about speed. It’s about creating a workplace that’s more humane, more efficient, and more resilient so that:

• Employees can benefit from seamless, mobile-first experiences

• HR teams can benefit from greater productivity and lower costs

• Organizations can benefit from smarter insights and stronger compliance

The message is clear: The time to digitize HR is now. A recent Docusign survey of 900 global HR leaders found HR technology and digital transformation as a top three priority for the coming year. The question is no longer if HR should digitize—it’s how fast can you start? Visit Docusign for HR to learn more.