Innovation in business practices over the past few years has had a direct impact on how HR professionals manage and engage employees of an organization. While there is contention surrounding how advanced technologies will impact job security, it’s playing an important role in improving HR relations.
However, even positive changes can cause disruptions within a business. Here are ten disruptions that HR technology will cause in 2019.
1. Integrative Software
More businesses are using integrative software like Wave Financial to create a centralized approach to employee management. Rather than having separate systems and protocols for storing employee information and processing payroll, integrative systems do it all. This will cause an HR disruption in 2019 as roles are redefined.
2. Outsourcing to Contractors
Instead of hiring employees, more small businesses are taking advantage of remote workers and outsourcing tasks. This allows the limited human resources within a business to be focused on core business strategies and operations. While this can amplify the hiring process as contractors are sourced and vetted, it reduces the need for internal HR management.
3. Automation
Automation through the use of AI and machine learning has been picking up steam over the past two years and changing the way people do business. Having automated tasks has reduced the amount of busy work that HR professionals often get caught up in. Automation is changing all the aspects of business and HR is no exception.
4. Hands-Free Onboarding
With the growing accessibility of automated processes comes a significant change in how people are hired. Not only will hands-free onboarding allow employees to review and submit paperwork in a centralized location, but the more sophisticated systems can even answer questions and provide a checklist of what’s remaining for onboarding to be complete.
5. Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion have been a hot topic over the past year, with many businesses struggling to adapt to the societal shift toward equality. While this shift is happening for all the right reasons, it means extensive procedural changes in an organization. One of the main ways diversity and inclusion are being facilitated is through the use of technology in the hiring process.
Candidates can enter their information without indicating a name or gender for screening. This reduces unconscious bias regarding ethnicity or background, allowing for a more inclusive hiring process.
6. Behavioral Analytics
Some businesses are leveraging AI to assist in behavioral analytics, assessing what people are doing on their computers to determine if they lack engagement and productivity. Additionally, some of these integrations can assess the tone of an email and stop people from sending them if the computer senses a negative tone. This advancement could be a double-edged sword for HR in 2019.
7. Enhanced Training Abilities
The ability to administer training without a human teacher has created an important opportunity within businesses: the ability to re-train and promote internally rather than recruiting external hires. For HR, this means shifting the focus away from recruiting and focusing instead on how to mentor and assist with internal transitions.
8. Remote Recruiting
The technological advancements and shift toward remote work in recent years aren’t just causing a shift toward outsourced contractors; it’s also reframing the business model with hired employees. Rather than casting a recruiting net in the local area or committing to relocation costs, businesses are hiring distant top talent and allowing them to work remotely full-time.
9. Employee Engagement
Employee engagement is a key role in an HR professional’s job. Technology has allowed for new tools that will improve employee engagement, from making their daily tasks easier to send private messages that share the company’s appreciation of a job well done.
10. Standardization
HR has typically been a fluid department to be able to keep up with changing employee reactions and needs. In 2019, however, HR will be adding standardization methods that will make the work easier without detracting from the people. As accounting might use different invoice templates to streamline processes, so too will HR, in the form of standardized job posts, interview protocols, etc.
Technological advances in the business world are causing a paradigm shift in the role of Human Resources. In 2019, businesses will have to focus on handling these disruptions and adapting to the new business climate.
