The future of HR is exciting, and when it comes to the digital
transformation of the industry, it’s no longer a matter of if but
when we will see ubiquitous adoption.
Embracing this evolution of HR technology now is key to cementing a
competitive position in the future but while our HR and recruitment
professionals face daily messages about the value of tech, they’re
only useful if we paint a picture of the bigger and broader business
benefits it can offer.
Drive change or be changed
Let’s start with the problem -
the expectation vs reality divide.
The hype around HR tech,
when unsupported by reason,
can lead businesses to jump in the deep end
and start adopting platforms for all the wrong reasons.
100% agreed that half of all workplace learning would be video based
57% felt that all HR processes will be done on mobile
51% believed that half of all performance management will be AI driven
These are some lofty predictions, and perhaps
hard to image when you consider the broader
requirements and impact of implementing these
changes.
In reality - a
recent KPMG HR Transformation
report found that businesses globally are
“divided into two camps with different lenses
on where the HR function is headed – one half
‘enlightened’ and boldly engaged on the need for
strategically managed HR transformation, the other
half ‘unenlightened’ and faltering amid uncertainty.”
The key here is the focus on strategy and the KPMG
findings highlight this again, revealing 72 percent
of those that are leading the way with HR transformation
have changed their operating model alongside implementation,
while 73 percent have a business case to identify
measures for success.
They’ve taken a strategic business-led approach
to the implementation of their HR tech.
Broader business benefits of HR tech
To understand how your tech investments can support broader business goals, it’s first important to identify where HR
can add strategic value
Here are some expert perspectives on just three of the business benefits HR tech adoption can offer.
1. Hiring assurance
As Josh Bersin noted in an article about AI in HR, “Managers and HR professionals use billions of dollars of assessment,
tests, simulations, and games to hire people – yet many tell me they still get 30-40% of their candidates wrong.”
Yes, the decades of experience our HR industries boast globally is a great reason to trust HR experts. But that’s not to say
that every hiring decision made is a good one and, frankly, that’s because we’re only human.
According to Bersin, AI is going to be a recruitment game-changer for a number of practical reasons, including “Algorithms
based on AI can weed through resumes, find good internal candidates, profile high performers, and even decode video
interviews and give us signals about who is likely to succeed.”
2. Bottom line impact
In a recent addition to her brilliant blog, Laurie Ruettimann talked about trends in HR technology and the reality that many
come and go, but she highlights the fact that those that matter - or “the things that are things” as she puts it - are
ultimately the ones that will impact the bottom line of your business.
As Ruettimann points out:
“If things are truly important, they’ll get a line-item on a budget, and you’ll see them become part of your standard operating
procedure. What’s important? What ‘things are things’ in HR and work? What deserves your attention?”
HR technology might seem like a challenge to introduce but no one can argue with improved financial performance and, by finding the
solutions that generate revenue or save on budget, you become not just an HR hero but a business booster too.
3. Augmented human performance
The rise of tech isn’t all about robots threatening to take over the roles of our people. On the contrary, technology will augment
the performance of talented teams.
“Change will come...directly, with robots replacing some segments of the human workforce, and indirectly, by giving us the tools and means to do better work, and augmenting existing processes.”
Simply put, by embracing the efficiency and productivity benefits technology can offer, we are in a better position to improve our own human performance. Acknowledging this as an HR department and allowing it to successfully filter into the rest of the business, will have a huge impact on commercial success.
There’s no doubt that new ways of working can seem scary and confusing, but by focusing on the benefits; we can help our HR industry reap the rewards of taking the plunge and adopting smart new solutions.
Derek Smith joined Xref in January 2018 as
General Manager for Xref North America,
with responsibility for the company’s operations
across Canada and the United States. Derek’s
knowledge of the North American HR market,
specifically in relation to candidate screening,
coupled with his extensive background in sales,
marketing and leadership roles in high profile,
technology companies, make him the perfect
addition to the team in a market that poses
significant growth potential for the platform.
Prior to joining Xref, Derek Smith held the role
of SVP at Sterling Talent Solutions, where he
managed the Canadian Sales team, before which he
was the Managing Director of Apple Canada. At
Apple, he was responsible for the sales, marketing
and distribution of the Apple iPhone, iPad, and
Mac products for the Canadian market. Before
joining Apple, Derek was the Vice President and
General Manager of HP’s Canadian Personal Systems
Group. While in this position he led the $1.5 Billion
desktop and notebook business for HP Canada and was
also responsible for all SMB sales, as well as the
Channel function for all business units at HP Canada.
Copyright 2024 by RM4Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.
