HR leaders – whether they are an entry-level recruiter with the skill to hire unique talent, or a mid-level employee relations specialist with a strong ability to enhance employee engagement – can impact their workplaces remarkably. Today, with every organization adapting new strategies in digital, HR professionals should be ready to harness the power of technology to stay relevant in the industry.
There are a variety of expectations from HR professionals today – to find great talent in the midst of a skill-set shortage, create tailor-made training and development courses that increase workforce engagement and grow their talent, devise competitive pay and employee benefits strategies to retain top performers, create strong culture as part of organizational development, forecast employee churn, and so much more. So managing information on the Cloud, engaging with people on social media platforms, or working on the go through mobiles devices, HR leaders are expected to do so much more today than ever before.
Modern technology makes these tasks easier if you have the knowledge of the right tools!
Here are the top technologies that will help every HR professional retain an edge in today’s dynamic business environment:
HR informative software
HRIS solutions help in streamlining various HR tasks and processes and reduce manual errors. Familiarity with the software ensures ease in performing the following tasks – filling forms online and storing documents electronically to reduce the amount of physical paperwork, automating HR tasks like payroll processes to improve your team’s productivity and efficiency as well as save time and money, and filing compliance documents digitally so that it is painless to complete, manage and retrieve them on time.
AI, automation and analytics
Most HR leaders already knew that new and emerging technologies built on Artificial Intelligence could disrupt their industry. For years, most HR Tech vendors showcased their AI products for generalized HR operations. These innovations were largely restricted to recruitment and onboarding, payroll and compensation management, and to an extent, also people analytics. But, the rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and BARD has taken everyone by surprise. HR Technology users are now expected to learn the basics of AI and analytics, and ensure they are doing it correctly to benefit the organizational needs and requirements. From crafting empathetic emails, messages and meeting recaps to documenting employee conversations, ChatGPT tools are transforming the way HR managers now communicate and collaborate with the employees and contractual workers.
If you are new to the whole AI and analytics concept, you could start with the basics:
- Learning programming languages
- Open source AI coding
- Reading and subscribing to legit AI newsletters
- Analyzing IT networking, storage, data privacy and threat management trends
- Attending HR Tech events and conferences
Social media management
Social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook are essential to business networking. It is essential to know how to use them for HRs. From posting job openings on the company’s pages and job boards, and scanning potential candidates’ social media profiles and public posts to communicating with employees and the public about upcoming company events to enhance the brand visibility, social media skills are a must.
Cloud computing
There are cloud-based ATS software, pre-selection platform, and other HR software which need to be understood by HR professionals as they are becoming the norm in HR technology. Cloud-based HR systems help in improving communication and transparency within the company which results in better employee engagement and retention. Also, HR and business data centralization makes accessing, organizing and managing everything from onboarding and payroll to feedback much more easy. Having employee and candidate data in one location reduces back-and-forth communication between departments thereby improving turnaround times. With performance metrics, policies, and best practices on the cloud, you can boost consistency across your organization, even while operating in remote or different locations.
Talent acquisition software
The skill of using talent acquisition software or an Applicant Tracking System can be truly helpful for HR recruitment and hiring. ATS integrated with social media will let you post on multiple job boards, social networking sites, and careers pages through a single platform. Its smart filters are helpful for shortlisting suitable candidates quickly, freeing up your time for interviewing people and finding the best talent. It cuts down the administrative and personnel-related costs by automating job postings, interview reminders, communications, and other tasks. Also, the features of automated resume parsing, scheduling of interviews, and screening of candidates significantly reduce the manual workload for recruiters.
Gamification techniques
Gamification elements in HR processes like the candidate pre-selection process boosts candidate experience. Gamification techniques help employees in feeling connected with their team, leaving them more absorbed and motivated at the workplace.
You can bring in a sense of competition and fun into recruitment and other HR functions with gamification tools. They improve team collaboration, connection, and motivation, while also enhancing learning and development, through networking, knowledge sharing, and simulations of real-life scenarios. You can even add a game to your organization’s careers page to enhance interest and engagement among potential candidates for talent acquisition. Themed puzzles and games can also be created to test suitability of prospective applicants with the company’s values, culture, and environment.
Other popular technologies that you should be aware of in today’s technology landscape include:
- Blockchain
- Video production and analytics
- Web3
- Digital payments
Having a fair understanding of how these technologies work could help you integrate these into your current HRTech stack for superior business outcomes.
Conclusion
Most effective and respected HR leaders and professionals depict certain common characteristics. And in today’s world, the above mentioned technological skills are a necessity for all HR professionals. Advanced technologies come out almost on a daily basis thus requiring HR to be more agile and constantly updated with their usage.