At a turning point: Toward ‘frictionless’ HR

In Manila, Philippines, a growing number of employees are experiencing frustration with traditional human resources (HR) processes, which are increasingly becoming a pain point. These "friction points" include administrative requirements, cumbersome processes, and even career progression. According to AscentHR CEO Subramanyam Sreenivasaiah, these hurdles may seem minor individually, but their cumulative effect quietly erodes productivity and employee trust.

Sreenivasaiah describes a frictionless workplace as one where administrative bureaucracy does not stand in the way of meaningful work, with transparent policies, integrated systems, and routine tasks executed without excessive waiting periods. To achieve this, HR leaders must audit how work actually flows across departments and capitalize on available technology while carefully considering where employees lose time and energy.

Sreenivasaiah's firm, AscentHR, offers companies products and solutions that combine integrated HR technology with managed services, aiming to bridge operational complexity with a seamless experience for employees. Improving bureaucratic processes allows HR to redirect resources toward listening, coaching, and supporting employees, enabling them to focus on creating value rather than navigating clunky internal systems.

However, technology should augment, not replace, human judgment in HR work, as policies may not account for individual circumstances. Sreenivasaiah emphasizes that the future of HR will be defined by intelligently using technology in workplaces while being mindful of the changing needs of different generations of workers.