Bersin by Deloitte’s 2016 Perspective Report presented 9 trends for HR in 2016-17.
1. The revolution of performance management
With the knowledge that employees want to contribute to organisational success as well as achieve their own goals, leading companies are using their performance tools to better cater to staff growth; creating systems which measure and manage performance in with regular and ongoing feedback.
2. Real-time engagement evaluation
Companies are embracing digital tools which allow them to survey employees more regularly, and obtain deeper insights about their staff. Using this technology, employees feel more comfortable sharing their personal observations and feedback with their employer.
3. Growth in people analytics
There’s been a shift in data analytics in recent years, from a focus on generating ‘data warehouses’ to actually using that data for predictive modelling. In fact, the latest report suggests that the percentage of HR companies using predictive modelling within their business has doubled over the past three years.
4. The evolving market for learning
The corporate learning marketplace is rapidly evolving due to an increasing rate of job change, and new ways of thinking about what learning is. We now consider ‘learning’ to be more dynamic and self-directed.
5. Changes to the talent acquisition process
The digital age has provided unprecedented public access to company information, employer rankings and salary figures. With websites such as Glassdoor, the talent acquisition market has become increasingly transparent.
6. Growth in contingent workforce management
In the US, 40% of workers are considered to be employed on a ‘contingent’ basis. Increased demand for contingent workforce management systems and ‘gig networks’ (including contractor management) have propelled this growth.
7. Merging HR tools and team management
We’re moving away tools specifically designed to help HR, towards those which help employees work more effectively. Systems such as
Workday’s new LMS is designed to help employees find their next position within the company, then identify the training resources relevant to obtaining that role.
8. Wellness and fitness apps to improve engagement
Companies are putting more and more emphasis on work-life balance, understanding the role it plays in fostering a sustainable workforce.
9. Digital HR: Self-service, AI and robotic process automation
Automation has shifted the role of HR professionals from manual recruitment activities, to designing and implementing digital HR tools. Aided by technology, HR can now focus on employee journey maps and experiences – in other words, automating the processes for employee career and job transitions.
