HR tech trends regularly dominate recruitment headlines. Here are four of the most recent which may be affecting your hiring success:-
The ‘unstoppable’ rise of mobile
Last year it was predicted that 75% of internet use would be via mobile[1] in 2017, a trend highlighted by Indeed in a recent article describing the ‘unstoppable rise of mobile job search’. 92% of millennials now reportedly own a smartphone, but other age groups are not far behind. These levels of ownership inevitably impact job searches, with the majority now initiated on a mobile device which some employers are still unprepared for. Creating a mobile friendly experience for talent visiting your careers site is vital to capture the attention of qualified candidates. Invest in technology which offers full functionality for candidates and HR on all mobile and tablet devices.
Expanding the definition of workplace wearables
A Wisconsin based tech firm Three Square Market[2] has become the first American organisation to offer to microchip its employees. At least 50 members of staff will reportedly participate in this exercise. The microchips will enable employees to open doors, use the photocopier, log-in to computers and pay for food and drink using NFC (near field communications), the technology used in ‘contactless’ payments. Personal medical information will also be stored.
This move brings a new meaning to the concept of ‘workplace wearables’ which are now a regular feature in the working environment. In its 2016 predictions, Gartner suggested that multinational corporations would routinely encourage the use of wearable fitness tracking devices by 2017. Earlier this year the Financial Times reported that approximately 202 million wearable devices were given out by employers in 2016 (nearly a third of larger organisations handed out wearable technology), a figure which is predicted to rise to over 500 million by 2021.
While wearables can have a positive impact on the recruitment and retention of talent, issues over employee wellbeing and data protection must be considered, especially in the light of the General Data Protection Regulation due to be introduced in the UK in May 2018.
A chatbot rebellion or AI resistance?
The wariness surrounding AI progressed from ‘destroying jobs’ to the potential dangers of robot intelligence as confusion emerged over an older report about Facebook chatbots this week. The use of chatbots in recruitment is becoming more popular but the benefits of AI in any form are not deemed a priority for the majority of UK employers. PwC’s Global CEO Survey found that nearly half (47%) of UK CEOs are not addressing the potential impact AI or automation may have on their business.
An article in TechCrunch notes that AI systems ‘are still far from solving many kinds of tasks that people are good at …. However, repetitive tasks involving mental labour stand to be automated’. Automating your repetitive, mundane tasks improves the efficiency of your hiring process and frees up HR to focus on the people in the hiring process, rather than the systems. PwC also predicts that AI will increase the UK’s GDP by 10% as well as boosting productivity and salaries.
Chatbots may not yet have appeared on your recruitment radar but if your hiring team has not engaged with AI, investment in recruitment software is the first step towards a more efficient talent acquisition strategy.
Augmented and virtual reality
As talent in sectors such as engineering become harder to source, tech initiatives are frequently used to attract and engage with qualified candidates in more compelling and relevant ways. Jaguar Land Rover recently enlisted the help of virtual band Gorillaz in a new recruitment campaign to hire 5,000 staff. The strategy incorporates the use of augmented reality and code breaking challenges during candidate screening.
As an alternative, virtual reality offers an accessible way for employers to provide insight into their company culture. PwC’s ‘You Visit’ page showcases its Boston office with a virtual tour for prospective candidates. An unappealing workspace is the reason over half of all candidates turn down job offers. Tech, in the form of virtual reality can overcome that potential obstacle to hiring talent.
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You might also like to read:-
The 2017 Tech Trends HR Can’t Ignore
Cybersecurity & The Role Of HR
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[1] Source : http://www.reuters.com/article/us-internet-mobilephone-idUSKCN12S29L
[2] Source : http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/us-tech-company-microchip-employees-first-three-square-market-wisconsin-a7856971.html
