Randstad, an HR consulting firm, has observed a growing inclination towards technology-driven HR positions in 2019. Individuals who are open to acquiring new skills will have a competitive advantage in this evolving landscape.
An effective digital strategy goes beyond relying solely on the best software to handle the workload.
There is an increasing demand for HR professionals who are skilled in using the latest tools and are willing to explore new platforms and management techniques.
The HR professional of today
For years, the role of an HR technician was primarily focused on computer-assisted tasks within the HR department, such as data entry and tracking.During the earlier days of HR tech, reporting was primarily a manual process that involved using spreadsheets and documents. Even the HR jobs that heavily relied on technology were constrained by their own tools.
Companies are now creating roles within the HR tech ecosystem that are analytical, agile, and responsive to the needs of the modern workforce.
Today, there are professionals who fulfill strategic roles and rely on business intelligence tools to effectively manage the workforce.
And they have become proficient in three of the most in-demand HR tech skills that every HR professional should be familiar with:
Designing the employee experience
Employee experience (EX) design is relevant to both workplace technology and culture. It adheres to the principles of design thinking: understanding the needs of users (employees); identifying issues; and generating, experimenting with, evaluating, and implementing innovative solutions.EX design draws inspiration from user experience and interface (UX/UI) research and design, focusing on the dependability and efficiency of the company’s workforce tools, applications, policies, processes, and protocols.
An HR professional with excellent design skills is highly focused on creating and implementing HR software, mobile apps, and employee portals that effectively cater to the needs of workers.
People Analytics
There are various subfields within people analytics, including talent analytics, organizational network analysis, impact analysis, and sentiment analysis, among others.Professionals in this field analyze events and observations in the workplace, using mathematical language to uncover trends and patterns that may not be apparent through anecdotal evidence alone.
People analytics draws upon the fields of data science, statistics, and social sciences to analyze and interpret data on behavior, sentiments, attitudes, and decisions.
Financial analysts utilize a variety of business intelligence software to conduct descriptive, prescriptive, and predictive analytics.
Exploring Agile HR Methodologies
Drawn from the adaptability of software development teams, Agile HR embraces flexibility and breaks free from rigid organizational structures and traditional hierarchy.Instead, it emphasizes smaller, agile teams with a “flattened” hierarchy and fosters a collaborative relationship between leaders and employees.
Having a deep understanding of Agile HR methodologies can empower HR and talent managers to cultivate a vibrant workplace culture, where every employee’s input is valued and feedback from all levels and areas of expertise is embraced. Management is always attentive and responsive to changes.
The design of most team messaging and collaboration tools, such as Slack, Asana, and Workplace by Facebook, embodies the transparency and flexibility characteristic of agile systems.
Mastering these three HR tech skills allows HR professionals to excel in a dynamic and ever-changing environment, regardless of the evolving technology trends.