2018 HRMS Technology Trends You Can't Afford to Miss

HRMS 2018 goal target Have you made your HR technology resolutions for 2018? January and change go hand in hand, and you’ve undoubtedly been thinking through what worked and didn’t work this past year so you can make positive changes going forward. But there’s so much new technology on the market that it can quickly get overwhelming, especially if you’re making significant shifts.

That’s why we’ve put together this brief overview of technology trends we predict will shape the HR landscape next year, along with a recommendation for not getting bowled over by them.

Here are the top trends that should be on your radar.

Top HR Tech Trends for 2018

What’s buzzing in the HR tech industry this year? If you said AI, give yourself a gold star. It was one of the biggest topics of discussion at the HR Tech Conference in Las Vegas, and we believe it’s going to be a game changer for 2018. But it’s not the only tech trend you should consider. Here are our top five picks for useful tech with high-value potential:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)—We’ll start with the one everybody is talking about. AI was most apparent in talent acquisition tech at HR Tech, from startups to the LinkedIn booth. But we’ve also seen noteworthy applications like UltiPro’s Xander, which uses a range of AI tools like sentiment analysis, machine learning, and natural language processing to boost employee engagement.
Mobile Recruiting—Nearly 90% of job seekers expect to use their mobile devices during the job search process in the coming year, and almost half say they already search for jobs via mobile at least once per day. By 2020, mobile could be the primary way people search for work. This year, we expect the mobile first philosophy to drive recruiting tech as companies increasingly cater to the younger generation in talent acquisition.
Virtual Work Management—More than 40% of employees work remotely at least some of the time. And the gig economy has created more opportunities for companies to partner with remote workers for a wide variety of skills. That means employers need tech that can track remote clock-ins, handle payroll for gig workers, and facilitate team dynamics and collaboration remotely.
Candidate/New Hire Process Automation—Onboarding is your first opportunity to engage with candidates and acclimate them to your culture. Automating things like email communication and initial onboarding steps helps your candidate or new employee feel valued and engaged. The right HR software platform makes this easy with branding, pre-boarding, and long-term goal-setting.
Talent Analytics—Most companies already track things like performance, engagement, and retention. But the vast amounts of data we’re now collecting create new opportunities to analyze process efficiency, resource investment, team output, and more. In order to make the most of all that data, however, companies need tech resources with deep analysis and reporting functions.

Recommendation: Plan Your Strategy for HRMS Transformation

Some would argue that we’re already seeing the effects of the technology revolution, but we predict even greater impacts when the trends above go mainstream. And that could happen in the next two to three years.

So what does that mean for your business?

Here’s what not to do:

Don’t rush out an buy all the latest and greatest technology just to have it.
Don’t assume new technology can fix all your problems.
Don’t layer new technology on top of an old, dysfunctional technology stack.

Instead, start with analysis. What does your business do well? Where are the gaps? What are your business objectives? How can HR help you reach those objectives? How can you make your employees more productive and engaged?

When you have identified the problem spots, take the next step and start researching your options. Make your decision intentionally. Buy carefully. And get ready for even more innovations as the trends above gain momentum.

For more information on how to choose the right HR tech for your company, download our FREE Buyer’s Guide!

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