Revealed: Top 5 Emerging HR Trends in 2019
Recent research reveals that technology is being applied intensively in the field of HR. Accordingly, many tasks are automated to ensure efficiency in the running of the day-to-day operations in a firm.
Technology and HR are complementary; one cannot replace the other. Although automation and AI can replace some of the roles of HR managers, some tasks are beyond the computer.
Your critical thinking skills and adaptation to different cases are among the essential skills which a machine can’t emulate.
As an HR manager, are you harnessing the power of technology to streamline and automate processes in your department? Here are five trends that redefine Human Resource Management.
1. Social media
Today, people continuously supply the internet with information on their personality, hanging out their dirty laundry for the world to see. During recruitment, you can quickly run background checks on your potential candidates, find out what views they hold and how they interact with people out there.
Behind a keyboard, people tend to feel invincible, and they let down their guard, letting us in on who they are. Social media serves as your x-ray machine to unmask your candidates.
You can further use social media to nurture relationships with employees, bolster communication within the workplace, and share industry knowledge.
2. Big Data and HR analytics
Data is the new gold, and HR is rapidly transforming into an information-driven function. With technology at your fingertips, you can apply big data to gain a more in-depth insight and make informed decisions within the firm. You can get a lot of information to assess potential employees. With big data, you make better risk management decisions. You can evaluate using employee-related data such as skills, performance ratings, age, safety records, educational background, etc. You can use this information to evaluate and improve practices such as employee acquisition, development, and retention.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI plays a critical role in the automation of talent acquisition. And, it eliminates bias and discrimination during screening. Its decisions are purely based on facts and algorithms. In addition to scanning through the thousands of resumes and sorting them, AI helps humanize the recruitment process by helping you spend more time interviewing only the strongest candidates. Machine Learning as a Service redefines every HR functionality when embedded within new HR technologies. Chatbots (automated chat exchanges), a common feature in modern websites, offer quick responses to simple questions, resulting in more efficiency.
4. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Whereas AI simulates human intelligence, RPA mimics human actions. The technology seeks to compress time-consuming processes within your department. Recent research revealed that the 22% of the highest performing HR firms implemented RPA. The technology targets 93% of time-repetitive tasks such as adding staff to payroll systems and gathering employee documentation. RPA thus automates employee onboarding, making it efficient and seamless.
5. Cloud technology
Cloud-based applications have made it easy to store and access data through the centralization of data. This makes it easier for you to streamline the workflow and operations within your enterprise. In a recent study, PricewaterhouseCoopers found out that 75% of the companies they investigated had at least one HR process in the cloud, and 40% have core HR systems in the cloud.
Technology serves to complement what you can offer as an HR professional. It enhances efficiency – which translates to more productivity and better results. Stay ahead of your competitors and implement some or all of these HR technologies in the coming year.
Of course, there are many tried-and-true technologies to hang on to. One such technology is Total Compensation Report solutions – whereby you can show current employees (and recruits!) the value of the many benefits your company offers – both the obvious ones, like healthcare and paid time off, as well as benefits that go unnoticed, like free parking, cell phones, laptops, and even industry training.
