How can HR help the business thrive after the pandemic?
Companies that invest in developing employees and building an agile workforce during the crisis will be “best positioned” to overtake competitors post-COVID-19, according to a new survey.
Unsurprisingly, leaders surveyed said data- and technology-centric tools will be crucial in helping the organisation recover after the crisis.
“Companies will have to prepare their workforces to adapt to unpredictable market conditions in the future,” said Cindy Keaveney, chief people officer at Randstad Sourceright.
“To do so will require embracing HR technologies that provide greater insight and the flexibility to deploy talent quickly based on demand and market factors.”
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Key areas leaders will focus on to help the business thrive in a post-crisis world include:
- The creation of an agile workforce
- Use of talent analytics
- Adoption of digital workflows
- Managing the employer brand
- Investment in HR technology and reskilling programs
Randstad’s report also revealed that organisations are increasingly using data to predict needs within their business and fill talent gaps quickly.
Nearly half (47%) of leaders surveyed said they were spending more on predictive talent analytics. About three in five (64%) indicated that they were already investing significantly or moderately on analytics capabilities.
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A vast majority (81%) viewed analytics as critical in their ability to acquire talent – a sentiment that has been steadily rising since 2016.
The report signalled that companies are embracing change. Human capital leaders were less fearful that digital transformation was moving too fast (45% compared to 60% in 2019).
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Technology can also aid in post-pandemic recruitment, particularly in competitive sectors like healthcare and software development, where demand is high and talent may be scarce.
Additionally, four in five C-suite leaders said they plan to enhance their talent experience in 2020, with 49% investing in candidate assessment tools. Another half are buying talent management platforms.
The study also found that even before the crisis, almost all (93%) leaders viewed a positive talent experience as crucial to attracting top talent.
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