Employers see value in technology, but struggle to keep up

Dive Brief:

More employers recognize technology's value, according to a new Randstad Sourceright report; the number of employers who see how automation benefits hiring rose 6% over the past year. At the same time, employers in five industries are concerned that digital revolutions are happening too fast.
According to the report, more than 71% of employers across industries agree that technology improves decision-making and reduces the risk of hiring mishaps. However, in industries where automation recently occurred, such as IT, technology, life sciences and healthcare, survey respondents said they struggle to keep up with its fast, ever-evolving changes.
The report also found that 76% of respondents in the consumer goods industry and 75% of those in the automotive and manufacturing sectors felt technology helped them make more intelligent hiring decisions. Employers from these sectors had the highest increase (10%) since last year in the percentage of respondents who thought the same way.

Dive Insight:

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will only continue to evolve. A lack of preparation for the fast evolution of technology could set back any future progress HR might make in automating tasks, which would allow instead allow it to focus on human engagement and development.

A new Hackett Group study concludes that world-class HR operations are more effective and efficient than their counterparts, and that this is happening largely through technological advancements. Clearly, those who invest in technological development and security are at an advantage moving forward.

That said, not every job candidate or employee will take to technology the same way. Many still want to talk human recruiters and benefits managers before making career-defining decisions — and yes, that's true even for tech-savvy millenials and Gen Z.

HR leaders have largely accepted automation and AI as integral parts of a 21st century workplace, and many plan to adopt these technologies in some form in the future. But the future is now; HR pros have a wealth of information about transformative technologies at their disposal. The need to convince leadership to make these changes ties in with the strategic course HR leaders are taking as organizational business partners.