The key task of human resources is to manage the people of the organization, ensuring that the human capital delivers to its potential when working for the organization.

How did COVID-19 disrupt the work of HR teams?

Given the worries of the virus spreading further and fast, the initial response from companies was an en masse move – wherever feasible – toward remote work. This meant HR had to adapt to managing the people of the organization while they were working away from office, which brought several challenges and necessitated changes in the style and methods of work. 

A 2020 survey of US HR professionals by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) revealed that: 

•    60 percent felt that maintaining productivity was their biggest challenge 
•       22 percent said that reskilling employees was a top HR priority

In what way did technology help HR to work effectively? 

The pandemic has strengthened the connection between technology and HR. The global HR tech market is predicted to be worth USD 35.7 billion by 2028. Technology has helped HR to get past the impediments to employee engagement from distance and other factors. It appears to be working, as 51 percent of remote workers surveyed by Flex Jobs in 2020 said they were more productive when working from home. Further, 61 percent of employees were positive about remote work and 56 percent had jobs compatible with remote work. 

The adoption of HR technology tools has been among the key technology trends that has helped HR professionals manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, including applicant tracking, recruitment, learning and development, payroll and benefits, and talent management. This has in turn helped the organization as well by improving the employee experience (and hence their commitment and engagement) as well as bolstering business operations. 

Here are the advantages of technology: 

·         For HR 

•       Streamlined operations
• Smoother collaboration and an evolved organizational structure
• Customized talent offerings basis the analysis of employee data
• Making businesses more strategic with the right external technologies

·         For the business 

•            A more strategic role for HR
• Turning employees into decision-makers
• Bridging gaps and eliminating silos
• Improved talent management practices and processes

What are the key technology trends shaping the future of HR? 

As the world heads further into 2022, here are the key technology trends for HR to take note of: 

Managing hybrid and remote workplaces 

Technology is helping HR foster a remote-first culture for improved equity and inclusion. It helps remote team members access the information and other resources they need to get work done, and aids HR in reaching them smoothly. Common tools in use include communication software like Slack and Zoom, cloud-based platforms like Dropbox, and project management tools like Trello. 

Leveraging big data 

One of the most common collaborations between technology and HR has been in the area of big data. New HR platforms have digitized the information that HR requires and helped it to take decisions based on powerful information. The fact-based view of the workforce helps HR managers identify current trends, and analytics facilitates employee assessment and better risk management decisions. 2020 data from Inc showed that 68 percent of organizations leveraged analytics to measure workforce performance; however, the scope for improvement can be seen in LinkedIn data that reveals how 55 percent of companies struggle with people analytics. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) 

The herculean amounts of data combined with the power of AI and ML have made for streamlined hiring workflows and avoided unconscious bias often seen in recruiters evaluating potential hires. For workers, AI and ML take on mundane tasks and free up workers for more high-value, creative work. This boosts employee engagement and also gives them more opportunities to upskill themselves in new areas. 

Cloud technology and SaaS 

As a native or a web-based application, SaaS plays a critical role in HR. The evolution of the cloud has made it easy to collect and store employee documents and other pertinent data securely, allowing access only to authorized personnel. The prospects can be seen in how the market for human capital management software was valued at USD 16.7 billion in 2020 and was projected to touch USD 24.64 billion by 2026, according to Modor Intelligence in 2020. 

Corporate learning systems 

Upskilling has often been shown to be more cost effective than hiring externally. The big data age means quicker knowledge obsolescence, necessitating continuous and not occasional education. Learning management systems help in creating dynamic lessons, and AR+VR help in on-the-job learning for improved performance of day-to-day tasks. 

Employee self-service 

Such software effectively deals with benefits enrolment, tracking work hours, payroll management, and other manual HR tasks. Employees can themselves obtain details of policies and other information they would seek from HR personnel. This frees up the HR department to tackle higher-level duties.