HR tech trends that keep its department adaptable in 2021

Adjusting to the “new normal” isn’t easy for the HR departments. Last year was challenging for them because they had to shift the work environment in just a short period. 

They had to undergo the obstacles of managing a flexible schedule, engaging with employees, and many more amid the pandemic. The HR teams had a big role in responding to the pandemic quickly while keeping employees more productive and resilient. 

Even though it was a lot of work to handle, it changed how HR teams are seen. According to Personio, 71% of managers believed that HR added a strategic value to their business in the COVID-19 pandemic. 80% of the respondents mentioned that it’s essential for HR to keep a more strategic role.

Another report showed that 71% of executives worldwide agree that keeping and being connected with employees is crucial to their company success. It shows that the priorities of HR departments have changed, and they need to use a solution that keeps engagement with other employees consistent. 

For now, you’re probably wondering what departments (like yours) use to be closer to employees and enhance their wellbeing today. The answer is obviously easy: technology. 

Back in the day, it was optional, but now it is a necessity. Technology plays a crucial role in an industry’s growth, and more companies invest in it these days. A Gartner report revealed that the information technology (IT) spending worldwide is predicted to increase by 8.4% in 2020 to $4.1 trillion in 2021. 

The use of tech tools is expanding, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic began. To catch up with this growth, Professor 3P is here to guide you through the tech trends of HR in 2021! Join his lesson to discover more solutions that will help your team strive for the “new normal.” 

Moving to Cloud-based technology 

As working from home is accelerating, many companies have to create remote work strategies and options for their employees. Quickly managing people from different areas is possible through cloud-based HR tools. 

Having cloud-based technology has benefits for you and your team. This solution lets you have access to 360-degree employee data and make decisions from it. A cloud-based self-service tool allows employees to be in charge of their data, making it easier for teams to review engagement, performance, and productivity. 

One of the tools you can use is customer relationship management (CRM). So why is this useful? Well, software like Salesforce not only lets companies be closer to their customers but also employees too. That’s why it’s a great solution for HR teams! 

Your team can manage the employee experience, deliver tools, collaborate better, and give a better approach to doing tasks. Features like Salesforce Lighting can be an ideal solution for your team since it is a user-friendly software that helps employees solve problems, have better productivity, and build apps without the need to wait for IT support. 

Changing the way HR typically functions 

Current situations made it harder for managers to observe employees while working remotely. On the other hand, HR professionals have a difficult time observing the function of the workforce  and recruitment. This situation is why technology is crucial in keeping everyone connected. 

The organization structure had to change, and gatherings had to be out of the picture. However, there are communication tools like Zoom, Google Meets, and other platforms that continue company get-togethers– just in a different way. At least your team can organize virtual happy hours and other exciting online events! 

Creating the new employee experience

Like changing how HR functions, your team will also have to re-strategize the employee journey and analyze the virtual experience. Having an environment that includes work-life balance, wellbeing, and the connection is essential for employee satisfaction and productivity.

Some companies will try different ways of socializing and team building. Although, some may witness more formal online partnerships and connections with employees. For instance, you can make networking opportunities online and virtual job shadowing. 

It is crucial to create initiatives that remind employees that they belong to the team, rather than feeling that they are working alone at home. Bringing a better sense of connection will not only help your company’s progress but your employees’ well-being. Oh, and speaking of well-being! 

Prioritizing wellness and performance 

Utilizing technology to prioritize someone’s wellness is nothing new. Not only individuals are using it for themselves, but also businesses are using it for their employees. Nowadays, using technology for employee performance and productivity is more common. 

HR teams utilize technology on payroll, workforce management, analytics, and many more. They can also use it for monitoring an employee’s productivity, performance, and wellness. 

One feature your team can use from Salesforce Work.com is Employee Wellness Check. Work.com is a platform that helps employees have a safe return to the office. In this process, your team can use the wellness check feature to survey employees, gather feedback through wellness data (based on the geographic location), health status, and office branch, all in secured dashboards. 

Letting employees learn 

What should companies do to close the skills gap? It is a lot of tasks, but one of the things they can do is provide learning platforms to employees. Letting employees use an educational platform can help them learn more skills like data literacy, digital literacy, and various essential tips for work. 

One of the platforms you and your team can share with employees is Salesforce Trailhead. Not only does it teach about Salesforce features, but it also provides modules that share soft skills. This free platform lets your team learn anytime and anywhere. They even have an app too!

Shared services 

Automation and digitization are essential tools for HR teams to use so that your team can avoid the hassle of storing too many papers and doing redundant tasks. It ensures that your company stays efficient and resilient. 

With this approach, your team can avoid going through all the paperwork if the company experiences a high turnover rate. Doing this task can waste time and increase the risk of losing one crucial piece of data from a paper. But digitizing your team can quicken the turnover process and observe an employee’s lifecycle better.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Utilizing AI algorithms to analyze and automate repetitive tasks will allow HR teams to focus more on crucial tasks instead. Using features like augmented analytics lets you gather insights instantly with the help of natural language processing and machine learning. It turns into a user-friendly approach to check out employee data and view valuable insights.

This tool also lets employers have an easier time finding talent, especially with the increase in cloud computing. Having AI in looking for talents helps understand people’s profiles to a certain point. It lets users analyze someone’s profile based on sources, including social media activity, to know if they’re the right fit. 

Gig economy

The role of HR is going to be different in this case. Since 33% of businesses have gig workers, they need to include them on one platform to manage, recruit, and do other tasks. Being in charge of observing diverse workers in one place is when a software tool will be beneficial. 

Virtual reality (VR) 

Not only does VR transform other industries, but it also does the same thing to HR departments. HR professionals can use this technology to do interviews, job previews, onboarding, and other events. 

As many employees continue to stay at home, this technology will also help enhance their skills. Using a VR tool can be used for educational purposes and even virtual company tours for newly-recruited employees. 

The roles of HR will probably change over time, but technology will always be there in every part of the adjustment. Seeing this fast-changing world does show how having software tools will prepare your team and company for the next chapter. 

Are you wondering where to start? Luckily, our experts at Third Pillar are here with you in your company’s digital journey. We are willing to provide Salesforce solutions like Service Cloud, Sales Cloud, and Marketing Cloud to help overcome your current challenges. 

To know how Salesforce helped their client’s HR, click here to read the whole story. 

Begin your digital transformation with us by messaging us here, and we’ll talk about the right solution for you.