Recent advancements in digital communications are disrupting a wide variety of industries, including varied sectors such as transportation, insurance, and hotels. It’s also disrupting departments such as human resources. Once viewed as a support function that delivered employee services, HR is now poised to take a leadership position in the digital transformation sweeping organizations worldwide by exploring new applications, platforms, and ways of working.

HR LEADERS ARE DRIVING ORGANIZATIONS TO EMBRACE DIGITAL TOOLS

According to Deloitte, 56 percent of companies are redesigning their HR programs to leverage digital and mobile tools, including the 41 percent that is actively building mobile apps to deliver HR services. Additionally, 33 percent of HR teams are using some form of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to provide HR solutions to their employees.

Over the past few years, many companies have replaced their legacy talent systems with integrated HR platforms. Now that the technology is in place, HR has turned its focus to people, work, and platforms to create a set of practices Deloitte calls “digital HR.” This strategy has become essential to creating the systems and tools necessary to attract and retain young, digitally savvy workers who are comfortable doing things themselves and sharing information in a transparent way. This new generation of workers demand an integrated, digital experience at work designed around teams, productivity, and empowerment–and it is up to HR to deliver it.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THE WAY HR WORKS

Despite being in its infancy, AI has already been put to use in a number of innovative ways in HR. Chatbot services, such as Wade and Wendy, and Mya, help companies acquire talent, convert job seekers into applicants, and deliver informed recommendations throughout the recruiting process. The technology does this by showing prospective employees job opportunities in the company, helping with their career strategies, and allowing them to better understand the organization’s culture.

Artificial Intelligence is also being utilized in software that helps human resource professionals write better job descriptions using advanced algorithms that identify and reduce gender, race, or generational bias. In addition, crowdsourcing is being used by Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth and LinkedIn Salary to collect anonymous data on millions of salaries to allow professionals to compare their compensation package against those offered in similar jobs by city, tenure, industry, and even company.

EMBRACING DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CAN MAKE ORGANIZATIONS MORE EFFICIENT

Leveraging digital tools empowers HR professionals to help employees do their jobs better. Digital signage can be used to enhance employee experience by providing real-time information about Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), highlighting vision and organizational goals, and sharing relevant news, weather and safety information. Mobile apps enable organizations to stay connected with employees out in the field, providing them with relevant company information and access to necessary tools. Integrating digital signage and mobile apps also provides a new way to tackle onboarding, training and coaching across a dispersed workforce.

The workplace of the future is digital – HR teams that embrace digital communications will transform their organization, enhancing employee experience and creating competitive advantage.