10 HR Technology Trends In 2024: Expanding AI, Digitization, and Elevating Hybrid Workplaces

HR Technology Trends 2024: The advent of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is metamorphosing businesses globally. Many organizations are now utilizing upcoming HR technologies to create a sustainable, productive, and engaged work environment. In the last two years, investments in the HR domain have skyrocketed, with venture capitalists spending over $17 billion on HR tech. We can surely anticipate some colossal changes in the future of HR technology.

In this article, we will discuss 10 HR technology trends in 2024 that human resources leaders should keep an eye on.

10 HR Technology Trends in 2024

Measuring the outcome is the first step in improving or enhancing the system. By adopting HR technologies, organizations are becoming more aware of their employees’ expectations. A similar trend will follow in 2024 with the following upcoming HR technologies.

1. Workplace Digitization

The surge in workplace digitization, which began in March 2020, continues to reshape the way businesses operate. In 2024, expect organizations to remodel their technical infrastructure by incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning, revolutionizing employee experiences and customer satisfaction. From employee onboarding to retirement, HR technologies will leave no stone unturned in enhancing the employee lifecycle.

The digital workplace will foster seamless connectivity among colleagues, providing personalized experiences for each individual. Employers investing in these technologies can expect a more informed, knowledgeable, and innovative workforce, leading to higher operational efficiency driven by data and technology.

Also Read: Performance review tips for managers

2. Elevating Hybrid Workplace

Forrester’s prediction report states that 60% of organizations will shift to hybrid work models and only 10% will stay committed to a completely remote working model. Further, it adds that 1 in 3 companies shifting to a hybrid model will fail in doing so. The primary reason is redesigning the workplace, and job roles, and creating an engaging work environment. 

So far, employers have been facing the challenge of maintaining higher standards of work and productivity with a geographically dispersed workforce. As employees are being called back to offices, it will become even more difficult to manage them and provide an engaging and productive experience in the workplace. HRs will have to solve these massive challenges to offer a better employee experience, interconnectivity, and engagement. 

To make a hybrid workplace successful, organizations are taking several measures. These include the following:

  • Deploying a centralized platform to integrate multiple employee applications to enhance productivity
  • Improving internal communication through multimedia content: HR can break silos by connecting with employees through interactive videos and surveys
  • Deploying space management technology to reserve office space and desks
  • Using tools like OfficeTogether to offer a healthy work environment by monitoring visitors’ check-ins, employee health screening updates, and offering superior assistance to every employee.

3. Digital Learning & Development

Employee learning and development is a core strategy of every organization. In the last two years, L&D has faced an onslaught of changes due to sudden shifts in work setups and organizations’ lack of preparedness for them. In 2024, l&d professionals will have an uphill task of providing continued learning along with engagement and inclusivity at the forefront. Employee experience and learning will have to go hand in hand to get optimum results. 

With organizations already embracing digital learning, 2024 will be a landmark year with the deployment of gamification and virtual reality in the learning process. The overall estimated impact is higher employee engagement, motivation, and better learning outcomes. Further, to ensure the learning of employees working remotely, digital learning will be customized to cover more ground through mobile and desktop applications.

Also Read: Productivity tips for managers and employees

4. Hyper-Personalization

To understand hyper-personalization in the workplace, try answering the following questions:

  • What work environment brings out the best in employees?
  • Is every employee doing what they are best at?
  • What activities, policies, and infrastructure are more meaningful and engaging to employees?
  • What does an ideal workplace look like? 

For decades, hyper-personalization has been used in marketing to attract customers, but by 2024, it has made its way into office cubicles. With 45% of US employees working remotely (completely or partially) and a shortage of skilled labor in the market, the power of decision-making has shifted from employers to employees. Hyper-personalization gives employees more flexibility and an opportunity to change work environments to better suit them.

Organizations are working to provide a better employee experience and transform traditional office spaces into more interactive, accommodative, and inclusive workplaces. They are working on three pillars to provide a personalized experience to employees: communication, management, and work environment. It will help in resolving challenges around accessibility, gender diversity, and inclusivity.

Also Read: Download the ultimate guide to 30 60 90 day performance review

5. Data-driven DEIB 

In the last decade, organizations have amped up their efforts to create a diverse and inclusive environment for employees. But the achievement has not been much substantial. The primary reason was that many of the efforts were on paper and there wasn’t enough data to analyze the outcomes. It is a proven fact that data disclosures in certain industries harbor behavioral changes. 

With organizations adopting several policies and practices for enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness in the workplace, it is imperative to use data analytics to get actionable insights. Research conducted by HBR found that data disclosure and analysis can have a profound effect on the diversity initiatives of an organization. 

One of the most important HR tech trends in 2024 is a reliable and data-driven DEIB strategy. As a large proportion of employees are willing to work in a hybrid setup, organizations have to place pragmatic measures to enhance diversity and inclusion. It involves driving various processes such as sourcing, hiring, onboarding, employee engagement, grievance redressal, and policy formation through a competent tech-enabled system.

6. Tech Enabled Employee Self-Service 

Employee self-service is an aspect of Human Resources (HR) technology that enables employees to access and manage their HR-related information and tasks independently. This can include updating personal information, viewing pay stubs, and requesting time off. The primary objective of employee self-service is to improve operational efficiency and reduce the workload for HR departments.

As we move into 2024, it is expected that employee self-service portals, mobile applications, and chatbots will become increasingly prevalent. These tools will allow employees to access the information they need quickly and easily, regardless of location. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will enable these portals, applications, and chatbots to provide personalized recommendations and assistance to employees.

The adoption of employee self-service not only improves organizational efficiency and reduces costs, but it also enhances the employee experience. By providing employees with the ability to manage their HR-related tasks independently, organizations can become more agile and responsive to employee needs, which can improve employee satisfaction and engagement. In conclusion, employee self-service is an important aspect of HR technology that is expected to continue to evolve and gain prominence in the years to come.

7. Metaverse in HR 

Immersive alternate reality, also known as the Metaverse, is poised to revolutionize various aspects of HR practices. This groundbreaking technology offers a seamless integration of virtual meetings, interviews, discussions, onboarding, employee engagement, employee experience, and learning and development. By creating lifelike virtual environments, the Metaverse enables HR professionals to host dynamic and interactive meetings, conduct immersive job interviews, and facilitate engaging discussions among remote teams.

Researchers predict a swift and widespread adoption of the Metaverse in HR, with a projected 25% of people dedicating at least an hour of their daily work routine to this transformative technology by the year 2026. As more organizations recognize the immense potential of the Metaverse, its impact on reshaping traditional HR processes and enhancing collaboration across distributed teams will be nothing short of revolutionary. The Metaverse empowers HR to transcend geographical boundaries and usher in a new era of seamless and impactful virtual interactions that enrich employee experiences and elevate organizational productivity.

8. Data-Backed and Digitally-Led Organizations 

In the transformative landscape of 2024, organizations are embracing a data-driven approach to gain a deeper understanding of their employees and customers. By harnessing the power of employee and customer data, organizations are poised to align their actions and initiatives with a clear sense of purpose and direction.

This trend goes beyond mere data analysis; it signifies a holistic shift towards customer and employee centricity, where organizations strive to cater to individual needs and preferences, fostering stronger relationships and brand loyalty. Moreover, the data-driven trend extends its reach to address pressing social and environmental concerns, as organizations recognize their role in contributing to a more sustainable and responsible future.

9. Artificial Intelligence to Address Talent Concerns 

Talent shortage and hiring will get tough in 2024. To overcome these issues, organizations will see a surge in the adoption of AI to create a digital skills catalog and utilize it for hiring, internal mobility, overcoming paper ceiling, and bias in recruitment processes.

10. People Analytics

The contribution of people analytics in the critical decision-making process and business outcomes has outpaced convention and paper-led strategies. It will continue to grow through massive adoption and upscaling in 2024.

Conclusion

To cope with the demand for a more innovative employee experience and provide a progressive environment for employees, the future of HR technology will have to be based on continuous modernizing technology, innovative frameworks, and data-driven approaches. We hope the HR technology trends mentioned in the article will help you to create a better workplace.

Learning and Development


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the latest HR technology trends for 2024?

Ans. In 2024, global human resource leaders will put emphasis on providing an innovative and personalized experience to employees. We anticipate the following HR tech trends for 2024.

  • Workplace Digitization
  • Elevating Hybrid Workplace
  • Digital Learning & Development
  • Hyper-Personalization
  • Data-driven DEIB
  • Tech Enabled Employee Self-Service

Q2. What are the top 10 HR Initiatives for 2024?

Ans. In 2024, HR leaders will focus on the following initiatives for 2024:

  • Creating critical skills and competencies
  • Organizational change management and design
  • Current and future leadership bench
  • Future of work
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Q3. What challenges will HR leaders face in 2024? 

Ans. The changing geopolitical environment, technological advancements, and rising employee demands are some of the factors leading to changes in human resource management. We anticipate the following challenges for HR leaders and managers in 2024:

  • Reskilling and upskilling employees
  • Digital learning and development
  • Retaining key talent
  • Hiring talent in a tough global market
  • Cloud transformation/Modernization

Q4. How will HR technology help companies stay compliant with legal and regulatory requirements in 2024?

Ans. In 2024, HR technology will provide companies with tools to help them stay compliant with legal and regulatory requirements such as GDPR and EEOC. This may include software to track data privacy, compliance training, and compliance reporting.

 


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Six Trends That Will Shape HR Strategies In 2024

Everything about Human Resources has changed progressively in the past two years – remote or hybrid working models, global recruitment, remote onboarding, and increased dependency on technology. Many of these strategies were already in practice before, but the pandemic made them mainstream. Besides adjusting to the shift, HRs globally faced unprecedented challenges such as the Great Resignation, increased cases of employee burnout and mental health problems, and issues pertaining to employee engagement and retention. As we step into the third year of the pandemic, organizations have learned and experimented with different HR strategies. Although the top priorities of HR will keep on reshaping or evolving continuously, one thing’s for sure: they will be people-focused and business-oriented.

Here’s a list of HR strategies or trends that we can see or continue to see in the year 2024.

Employee Well-Being and Mental Health

In 2023, the core of HR strategy will revolve around employee well-being and mental health. The pandemic made us realize employee well-being and mental health are not the ‘good-to-have’ benefits anymore. Instead, they have become the ‘must-have’ benefits and a core part of human resource strategy. Work-related or personal stress is a part and parcel of everyone’s life. With work and personal life convoluting with each other in the past two years, it has only increased. Apart from stress, everyone globally also suffered from fear, anxiety, sleeplessness, paranoia, isolation, etc., because of their concern over the pandemic. As a result, it affected employee engagement and productivity.

But, during the pandemic, many organizations invested in wellbeing and mental health initiatives. In a survey of 52 HRs by Gartner in 2020, they found that: 

  • 94% of organizations made significant investments in their wellbeing programs
  • 85% increased support for mental health-related benefits
  • 50% of organizations extended additional support for physical well-being 
  • 38% improved their support for financial benefits

The survey further highlighted that those who used the benefits showed 23% improved mental health and 17% better physical health. However, only 40% of employees reportedly took advantage of these benefits.

So in 2023, organizations not only need to invest in their employees’ well-being or mental health initiatives but also make sure that they are utilizing them. This is only possible when these initiatives or programs are a core part of the HR strategy and business goals. 

HR goal setting in 2022

It will not only help in improving employee retention and engagement, but will also result in improved productivity, focus, and morale.

P.S. Employers have become more empathetic and understanding towards their employees in the pandemic era.

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is crucial for all, and with the pandemic, it has gained more prominence. 

Those who could manage to switch off their screens after working from 9 to 5 are great! But for others, as mentioned before, office and non-office hours got convoluted. This being said, some recognized that they work best sporadically in their highly productive hours. Nevertheless, on a larger scale, the struggle to maintain the work-life balance while working from home has been real. It is something that HRs need to keep in mind while developing effective HR strategies in 2023.

For some, work-life balance means spending time with family; for others, it means indulging in personal development or self-care. Having a work-life balance gives employees a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Additionally, it helps in reducing stress and fatigue. Ultimately, employees who are able to maintain a synergistic relationship between work and life, are more productive, engaged, and look forward to work every day.

Hybrid Work Will Continue To Grow And The Rise Of Metaverse

In a recent survey by Accenture, it was found that 83% of employees prefer working in a hybrid setup, and 63% of organizations have already adopted the “productivity anywhere” workforce model. 

Globally, the last two years saw eminent changes in the way everyone worked. Hybrid work has now become the well-accepted norm in organizations and is here to stay. 

Hybrid work benefits both the employer and the employees. It has given employees the flexibility to work from anywhere and have a better work-life balance. On the other hand, it has reduced employee overhead costs, office maintenance, and logistics. 

In 2023, we would not be surprised if hybrid work transitions into the metaverse and meetings and other activities happen. HRs must re-imagine what the post-pandemic world will look like and re-design and innovate HR strategies. They need to focus on creating a fair and just workplace where nobody feels alienated or disconnected because of the place they work. Irrespective of where they are working, everyone should have access to the right set of tools to collaborate and communicate effectively with each other. Slack, Google Hangouts, Zoom, and numerous other tools are available in the market to help your hybrid workplace stay connected. 

Upskilling and Reskilling for Competitive Edge and Internal Mobility

Upskilling and reskilling of employees have always been a key part of core HR strategies. In the pandemic world, it has become more important now than ever. It is not only beneficial for the employees, but the organizations too. Employees get to build upon their existing skills learn a new skill that helps them grow in their current job role or try out different job roles in the same organization. Access to various EdTech platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and edX can help your employees with the reskilling and upskilling process.

Also Read: Upskilling and Reskilling: Prepare Employees For The Future 

Skilling initiatives are a sign to the employees that organizations have their best interests in mind. It makes them feel valued and important when organizations invest in them. It improves employee engagement and employee retention and helps build a continuous culture of learning in the organization. On the other hand, organizations are able to close the gap in job demands from within instead of searching outside. It helps them save costs in terms of time and money. In these uncertain times, reskilling and upskilling your employees helps in building a resilient workforce ready for the future. It is a win-win situation for both the organization and the employees.

Creating A Diverse And Inclusive Workforce

A recent survey by Glassdoor highlights that 80% of Asians, 70% of Latinos, 62% of men, 89% of black respondents, and 72 % of women prefer a diverse culture for work. 

The above-mentioned survey clearly highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Organizations in the past have worked towards promoting D&I, but now is the time to make it a core part of HR strategy, if it has not been until now. 

Organizations must focus on giving equal chances to everyone irrespective of their age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, educational background, ethnicity, race, political beliefs, etc. With this, organizations would have a bigger talent pool with different skills, capabilities, and experiences. It promotes innovation and teamwork and helps in improving employee engagement and retention. 

Example: Currently, the workforce has people working from Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers. Organizations that have relaxed the criteria for age-based hiring will have a workforce where employees can learn from each other based on their experiences. While boomers can share industry knowledge and their experiences with others, at the same time, they themselves can bridge their digital gap.

Also Read: 6 DEI Best Practices to Adopt in 2023

HR Tech Software And Tools

With a global workforce, it is almost close to impossible for the HR team to manage them physically. So the use of HR tech tools and software will be on the rise. Josh Bersin, an industry expert in HR tech, estimates the global market for HR Technology Solutions to be around $400 billion. This number is going to only increase over time. A key part of HR strategy should be to include tools in their day-to-day work that streamline the employee management process. From onboarding to performance management, everything has become virtual due to the pandemic.  


Frequently Asked Questions 

Q.1. What are HR Strategies?

A. HR Strategies are strategies created by the Human Resources department in collaboration with the leadership team to achieve organizational or business goals by maximum utilization of resources.

Q.2. What are HR Trends?

A. HR trends are changes or trends taking place in the field of human resource management or HR. It affects employee management, engagement, turnover, and retention. So they must respond to these changes and plan accordingly. 

Q.3. Which trends will shape HR in the next 5 years?

A. HR trends should keep on evolving and reshaping with the needs of the organization. But here are some common trends that we might continue to see:

  • Focus on employee well-being and mental health
  • Work-Life Balance
  • Adopting Hybrid Work and Metaverse
  • Upskilling and Reskilling Employees
  • Creating a Diversified and Inclusive Workforce
  • HR Tech Software And Tools

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