Fasten your seatbelts! It's time to take a look into the future. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the hot topic right now and I think it's fair to say that In the next 10 years, the human resources industry will undergo some radical changes. For starters, HR departments will become much leaner - utilising automated processes instead of relying on people to handle repetitive tasks. This will undoubtedly free up time for HR professionals to focus on other, more critical areas of their industry, such as developing strategic plans, leveraging new technology, and establishing new policies.
The use of AI will also become commonplace in the HR industry to enable companies to quickly identify and fill vacancies, predict retention rates, and provide insights into employee performance. AI-driven chatbots are already being used to manage frequently asked questions and streamline support needs, and it’s likely that companies will be able to rely on automated HR systems to help streamline the onboarding and hiring process. New technologies like automated candidate evaluation systems are also helping HR departments to remove unconscious bias from their decisions.
The use of 'big data' (data that contains greater variety, arriving in increasing volumes and with more velocity) will be essential in helping HR professionals anticipate the needs of their organisation and employees. Data-driven insights will enable HR leaders to make more informed decisions when it comes to things like recruitment, succession planning, and talent development. Technology can also help to track employee performance and productivity. This could include tracking hours worked as well as performance metrics like customer satisfaction or sales conversions. Not only will this help HR departments better understand how their employees are doing, but it can also help companies become more competitive in the market by measuring their performance against industry standards.
Over the next few years we can expect to see HR teams become even more diverse and specialised, with individuals focusing on talent sourcing and retention, payroll and benefits, employee engagement and development, and compliance. Furthermore, as companies become increasingly global and flexible, the need for HR professionals who are able to work across nations and cultures will continue to be in demand.
Perhaps one of the most significant changes in the HR industry over the next decade will be the focus on employee experience. Companies will need to invest more in their employees, both financially and emotionally, understanding that a healthy workplace culture is essential for success. HR professionals will play a key role in building this culture, creating and enforcing policies that foster collaboration, creativity, and respect among employees. As part of this, we will also see a big push towards greater diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace and increased efforts to provide a deeper understanding of diversity through educational initiatives and training.
Aside from the technological advances we should all be aware of our personal and corporate responsibility in regard to climate change and how we can make a positive impact over the next 10 years, HR is no exception and can be one of the leading drivers of positive change. It is crucial that HR departments cultivate a culture of sustainability in the workplace. This can be achieved through regular communication to raise awareness of how employees daily habits can have an impact on climate change or conducting internal workshops for example. Businesses can also implement policies and procedures that provide employees with access to eco-friendly transportation options; whether it’s providing bike-sharing programs, offering discounted public transportation tickets or subsidising electric vehicle purchases, HR has the ability to help employees reduce their individual carbon footprint.
Overall, it’s an exciting time for the human resources industry, as it continues to evolve in response to new challenges and opportunities. With the help of technology and a renewed commitment to employee experience, the future of HR looks brighter than ever.
If you would like to discuss this topic further and find out what you can do to stay ahead of the curve please don't hesitate to book a free, no obligation discovery call or drop us a message; hello@thehrcrowd.com.