A Buyer’s Guide to Employee Resource Group (ERG) Software

The Rise of Employee Action:
Why ERGs Are Vital to Business Success

They say it takes a village and, today, those villages are dynamic, driven communities full of passionate people working toward common goals. They’re our neighborhoods, little league teams, support groups and animal shelters. And as the line between office and home continues to blur, we’re starting to view the workplace as its own community. A place where people come together for more than a paycheck — to live their purpose.

Created in the 1960s in response to racial inequities in the United States, employee resource groups (ERGs) have since risen to become a powerful force for good and a powerful way to help people live their purpose at work. The increasing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion at work has positioned ERGs as vital to business success. In fact, they’re key to building the workplace of the future — a future that will see companies of all sizes evolve from profit-generating vehicles into purpose-driven communities. When done right, ERGs help companies and their people answer the questions, “Who do we want to be?” and “How do we get there?”

Choosing the Right ERG Software: Key Considerations

If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely nodding your head in agreement with the challenges outlined above. Adopting the right software not only alleviates these challenges — it bolsters your company’s commitment to an ERG strategy and, ultimately, maximizes your ERGs’ impact.

When deciding on any new software purchase, budget is probably your first consideration. Here are six others that will help you evaluate your ERG software options and find the right one.

Centralize your ERGs

For ERGs to create lasting cultural change, they need to build communities with strong foundations. Participation and engagement are key indicators of ERG success but these metrics are difficult to nurture, or measure, when ERGs are decentralized across multiple platforms.

Bringing everyone — and everything — together

When ERGs operate from an exclusive (and inclusive!) space, it’s easier for ERG leaders to access membership info, monitor participation, identify trending issues, spark discussion and organize action. When members have a one-stop shop for “everything ERG,” they’re able to better explore groups, contribute to discussions, provide feedback and participate in events.

Growth is where the magic happens — the larger the ERG, the more influence it has on executives and the greater impact it has within its organization. And the right software will give you the ability to scale growth through tools, processes and support.

Adopt a purpose-built solution

Your sales team has customer relationship management technology. Your recruitment team has a talent management system. Your accounting team has specialized software. These solutions automate manual tasks, streamline workflows, manage users and provide reporting functionality, to name a few benefits. The one thing they all have in common is they’re built with the needs of a specific business function in mind.

Just as you wouldn’t expect the accounting team to use marketing software and “make it work,” ERGs need software that’s purpose built for the work they do.

Without a dedicated ERG platform, ERG leaders are likely using a smattering of tools to manage their groups, and each is picking and choosing what works best for them or what they’re familiar with. With everything from events to chats to data spread across multiple channels and spaces, they’re spending more time on the “busy work” of managing all these channels instead of the real work — making an impact.

Encourage action with powerful tools

DEIB leaders have tough challenges to solve, from establishing effective DEIB programs to creating a more diverse workforce (and leadership). They often rely on ERG leaders and engaged employees to provide fresh ideas and actionable input.

Moving from talk to action

The communication tools you’re using, like dedicated Slack channels, may facilitate discussion but they don’t necessarily facilitate decision-making. For this reason, many ERGs are at risk from “mostly talk, minimal action.” Crossing the bridge from words to employee-led action requires skill on the part of leaders but also tools that enable that all-important transition to happen by making it easy for leaders to spark and manage those critical discussions.

Tools such as quizzes and polls help leaders focus discussions and gather feedback that informs action. For example, an ERG leader for a Black employee ERG could see an uptick in conversation about racism in the workplace, prompting a poll question about racist incidents. Those findings can be used to help inform DEIB strategies and policy changes that can have massive cultural impact within your company. They can also inform CSR strategies to create cultural impact out in the world.

Integrate with your CSR program

Progressive companies know that ERGs form an integral part of a company’s CSR strategy to increase employee engagement and social impact. And their leadership works to ensure their CSR programs align with their DEIB and ERG goals because they understand the power of that partnership.

Transitioning from afterthought to forethought

Ensuring ERGs have a seat at the table requires going beyond monthly touch-base meetings and collaboration on key awareness dates such as Black History Month and Earth Day. The activity happening in your ERGs can — and should — inform employee engagement programs. This ensures giving and volunteer opportunities resonate with your people, DEIB leadership training is focused on the right issues and your company is able to recruit and retain more diverse talent.

The seamless connection between an ERG and CSR program makes it possible to go beyond discussion into action and rally more people to support issues your employee base cares about. The benefits are reciprocal — with each program inspired and driven by the other.

Leverage client support for success

Introducing new software into your organization comes with a host of challenges, from securing budget to getting IT on board and, finally, training teams. That’s why a focused implementation process is critical for the successful adoption of any software.

Coaching your people through change

“But we’ve always done it this way.” There’ll always be those who resist adopting new ways of doing things because they find it uncomfortable or have had bad experiences. When they’re eventually forced into adopting new software, their reluctance often makes them harder to train. That’s why it’s important the software you select is intuitive, the onboarding process is clearly outlined and ongoing support is offered — ensuring a smooth and painless transition.

Introducing Benevity Affinity Groups:
The World’s Most Powerful ERG Community Solution

By now, we hope it’s clear that ERG-specific software will enable your ERGs to grow and scale their efforts and, ultimately, help your company achieve its key strategic goals — from recruitment and retention to building a more diverse culture. Benevity Affinity Groups is designed to support these broader business objectives while helping ERG leaders manage the day-to-day of creating communities of belonging, where employees can come together, learn and take action on the issues that matter to them.

This internal, private-label social network makes it easier for employees to discover, join, create, manage and participate in employee-led groups — all in a safe space that protects their privacy. Give your people an active voice while building a better culture with more peer connections and purpose at work.