Executives increasingly see analytics and artificial intelligence as being key to effective HR. How can you catch up with the cutting edge?
HR and analytics go hand-in-hand, and 84% of executives see people analytics as a top priority for their organization. This is triple the number of execs who said they were ready for analytics just two years ago. According to the 2019 HCM Trends Report, companies of all sizes see technology as essential to helping them attract and retain employees.
As analytics technology continues to improve and become more accessible, companies are embracing these tools for everything from recruiting and performance management to employee engagement and wellness. If analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) aren’t on your radar screen, put them at the top of your 2019 to-do list.
Consider, for example, the benefits of recruiting technology, which can handle administrative activities and save times. This frees you up to focus on high-touch activities such as building relationships and onboarding. In 2019, more HR departments are likely to use recruiting technology to help identify candidates who best fit the job description and the organizational culture.
Watch for technologies that will enable HR to map a new employee’s skills, expertise, and knowledge, as well as follow his or her progress and identify new challenges and opportunities for that person. As a result, technology will enable organizations to gain insights to keep the best and brightest from getting disengaged and seeking employment elsewhere.
In 2019, expect a greater focus on the practical impact of AI, with more AI technologies available for HR and more products and vendors hitting the market. However, while automation will be a popular continuing trend, HR professionals will have to work on finding a balance between the human and machine in the workplace.
Another tech trend for 2019, according to the Sierra-Cedar 2019 HR Systems Survey, is a focus on upgrading and innovating payroll systems. This is partly driven by employees, who increasingly want to see and track their pay information on their desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones.
Ultimately, experts suggest that technology will help HR professionals find and keep good workers in an era of record-low unemployment while increasing transparency, focusing on diversity and inclusion, and addressing generational shifts in the workforce.
To boost technology adoption and use, consider a few tips: start with easy-to-use software and solutions, understand what motivates people to use technology, pursue technology that solves problems (have goals in mind beforehand), and manage change and implementation strategically. Perhaps most important, ensure that technology can be used as part of employees’ workflow and daily activities, instead of adding steps and creating extra burdens.
