four top trends to watch_ hr meets technology

19/5/2015 Four Top Trends To Watch: HR Meets Technology

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Four Top Trends To Watch: HRMeets Technology

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Congratulations, class of 2015! Another

generation of students are tossing their caps

into the air and setting forth into the talent pool.

From my home base in Cambridge their elation

and optimism is palpable, infectious and admit

it: slightly daunting. They live on their

smartphones. Most likely that will turn into

smartwatches in the blink of a screen.

Technology is so ingrained in every

function that you might just call it life, not tech.

And they expect tech meet their needs no matter

that those needs are, including applying for a job

and doing it. Thats what they know, and what

we need to know, too.

Im taking that old buzzword need to know back

to its original meaning: which is that in HR,

we need to know how to strategically transform.

(Im also going to co-opt another buzzword a

few bullet points down.) Hold onto your tassel

caps: Here are the top four trends that will

enable the world of work to finally graduate.



Photo Credit: Cindy via photopin (license)

1. Work Is Life: Millennials and Gen Z dont discriminate between work

and life: to them, all tech is consumable, and adoption is based on

personal preference, as well as ease of use. From recruiting and search

portals to training and other services, the bottom line in user adoption

and engagement is simplicity. We need centralized portals, with

minimal clutter and fluid processes: these will be far more effective (and

lasting) than those with multiple pages and countless bells and whistles.

2. Mobile Is Normal: Does the class of 2015 even have the patience to

sit down at a laptop and do a job search? Why should they? But its not

just this generation (thats a euphemism for technologically up-to-date)

that live on their smartphones. For the rest of the world, an enormous

chunk of candidates (some 70%) who never even had access to a

computer are now getting online on smartphones. Thats their original

point of access. If you want them to work for you (and you do): youd

better be mobile, responsive and agile.



3. Big Data Is It: The cloud is an enormous

plus for HR thats literally changed the

geography of our ability to function. But at this

point we still need to shift from a number of

disparate systems, from servers to storage, from

data synthesis and predictors to access. In too

many cases, legacy processes are still hampering

the centrality of Big Data and how we use it. Its

time for a new breed of data analysts, who can

harness into metrics and analytics from

anywhere. Ive always loved the DAs, and the

fields is hot again: theres never been such a

clear need for people who can create powerful

analytics, perceptive business insights and accurate predictors on

engagement and retention.

4. Its Our Disruption, Not Theirs: Heres my other buzzword re-

purpose: disruptive. Lets stop thinking that mobile, cloud, Big Data and

millennials are disruptions: theyre not. Weve reached a tipping point in

HR, when what we deem disruptive is, according to a sizeable population,

actually not whats disruptive at all. The disruptor is our inability to grab

and adapt technology. Technology creates its own realities; those that

work are adapted; those that dont go the way of the fill in your own

blank here. Thats why innovation is our friend, and why we should

embrace it whole hog. Why not be able to virtually try on a job before you

even apply, and spend time in that office? Why not buy your eyeglasses

using YouTube? Ready or not: here we go. Catch that hat out of the air

and lets get back to work.

four top trends to watch_ hr meets technology

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