The landscape of human resources is rapidly changing with the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. AI-driven solutions transform HR processes, leading to increased efficiency, reduced biases, and better decision-making. This article will explore how AI is revolutionizing HR practices, including:
- AI-driven Candidate Sourcing in HR
- AI for Workforce Planning and Management
- AI-enabled HR Analytics
- AI-powered Employee Training and Development
- AI in Onboarding and Offboarding
- Ethical Considerations and Challenges
AI-Driven Candidate Sourcing
Streamlining the recruitment process continues to be a top priority for HR professionals. AI-powered programmatic technology like pandoIQ (now a part of Veritone Hire) helps recruitment teams automate and optimize their job advertising, saving them time on manual sourcing tasks. This technology uses algorithms and machine learning to make data-driven decisions in real-time to optimize job placements and ad spend to increase campaign ROI and efficiency.
Veritone Hire’s AI-enabled predictive algorithms allow recruiters to accurately measure outcomes and predict future trends to drive the most cost-effective results. The AI component within the platform writes programmatic rules based on empirical data science, not manual inputs, and intelligently modifies those rules to continually optimize the campaign process in real-time based on a recruiter’s hiring goals.
AI in job advertising also helps to mitigate unconscious bias and increase diversity at the top of the recruitment funnel. By placing jobs across a vast and diverse network of job sites, programmatic AI casts a wider net than a manually posted job, reaching candidates where they are and not where HR teams simply think they are. AI models such as Veritone Hire’s job expansion algorithm can also increase the diversity of the candidate pool targeted by a job posting with regard to gender and race based on zip code.
In addition to streamlining the job advertising process and reducing bias at the top of the funnel, AI can also facilitate passive candidate engagement. AI-powered tools can proactively identify and engage passive candidates who may be a good fit for an organization but are not actively seeking new opportunities. This approach can expand the talent pool and ensure companies promote their employer brand to attract the best available talent.
Moreover, AI can enhance the candidate experience by automating routine tasks, providing timely feedback and transparent communication throughout recruitment. AI-driven platforms can inform candidates about their application status and provide personalized feedback, resulting in a more positive and engaging experience for potential employees.
AI for Workforce Planning and Management
AI has the potential to revolutionize workforce planning and human resources management by forecasting future workforce requirements based on trends and data analysis. This allows organizations to be better prepared for fluctuations in staffing needs. Additionally, AI can pinpoint areas where employees need further development, helping HR professionals strategize training programs and address skill gaps. It can help optimize employee scheduling and workload allocation, ensuring employees are not overburdened or underutilized.
Beyond forecasting workforce needs and identifying skills gaps, AI can also contribute to building a more diverse and inclusive workforce. In a recent Deloitte study, 89% of executives surveyed said that skills are becoming critical for organizations to define work, deploy talent, manage careers, and value employees.
AI-driven tools can also support remote work and flexible work arrangements, which have become increasingly important in the modern workforce. Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, while some companies have returned to in-person to a hybrid format, many organizations have stayed fully remote. By enabling efficient communication and collaboration, AI can help organizations adapt to the changing nature of work, ensuring that employees remain productive and engaged regardless of their location or work schedule.
Not surprisingly, a recent McKinsey report showed that AI-powered technology solutions greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to schedule a workforce than current spreadsheet methods. In fact, a US electric gas and utility deployed a smart-scheduling solution for six weeks at one of their service centers and improved the productivity of field workers by 20 to 30 percent and schedulers by 10 to 20 percent. With AI, companies can maximize the hours their employees work to ensure that they can achieve peak productivity, reducing oversight and the impact of disruption.
AI-Enabled HR Analytics
AI can analyze HR data to support better decision-making, which is essential for organizations to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment. Predictive analytics can anticipate employee attrition and identify engagement drivers, allowing HR professionals to address potential issues proactively. Moreover, AI can help quantify the impact of HR programs and investments, measuring the ROI of HR initiatives.
But you need to consider some things when dealing with HR data, according to Forbes Council Member Anand Inandar, CEO and Product Owner of technology company Ameobids. He states that there are two things you should remain mindful of when HR professionals lean on AI-powered data analytics. You should always understand how the data is defined, for it can lead to discrepancies and more downstream work to identify the right data. Second, testing for bias to reveal flaws is essential to verify the viability of the data sets.
AI-Powered Employee Training and Development
AI can create customized learning paths for employees, ensuring that they receive training that is relevant and targeted to their specific needs. It can create personalized learning paths for employees, ensuring that they receive targeted and relevant training. Microlearning and just-in-time training are benefits of AI-enabled bite-sized learning modules and on-demand training. With AI-driven tools, HR professionals can monitor employee progress, identify areas for improvement, and provide ongoing support to help employees upskill and stay competitive in the job market.
AI can also facilitate immersive learning experiences like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) training modules. These technologies can provide employees with realistic, hands-on training in a safe and controlled environment, enhancing the effectiveness of training programs and improving knowledge retention.
David Wentworth, a principal analyst of learning and development for the Brandon Hall Group, a Flordia-based HR advisory and research firm, stated in a recent Society for Human Resources (SHRM) article that three key areas exist for learning and development in 2023. They include creating more personalized, contextual, and adaptive learning environments and employee experiences. That includes adopting such things as VR, as mentioned above, which will continue to become more practical to adopt as equipment costs become more affordable while the processing and bandwidth of simulation tools increase.
AI-driven tools can track employee progress and performance in training programs, allowing HR professionals to identify areas where additional support may be required. This data can also be used to refine and optimize training programs over time, ensuring that they remain relevant and effective as employee needs and business priorities evolve.
AI in Onboarding and Offboarding
In a recent report by IDC, it’s predicted that by 2024 80% of the Global 200 companies will adopt and use artificial intelligence or machine-learning-enabled digital managers to handle key HR tasks like onboarding and training. For instance, AI can automate paperwork and onboarding tasks, streamlining the onboarding process and enhancing employee engagement from day one. Personalized onboarding experiences can be created using AI, improving the likelihood of long-term employee retention. AI can also facilitate a smoother offboarding experience for both employees and the organization.
AI can automate many aspects of the onboarding process, reducing the time and effort required by HR professionals. Onboarding automation can streamline tasks such as paperwork management, orientation schedule, and initial training, ensuring that new employees have a smooth and engaging onboarding experience. This, in turn, can lead to improved job satisfaction and higher retention rates.
Ethical Considerations and Challenges
Safeguarding employee data and privacy are crucial in using AI applications. Organizations must address privacy and data security concerns to maintain employee trust. Ensuring responsible AI use and reducing biases is another critical consideration. Particularly with upcoming legislation, such as NYC Local Law 144, requiring employers to audit their automated employment decisions tools (AEDT), HR professionals must take necessary steps to ensure transparency and fairness in their AI-driven HR processes. Preparing the HR workforce for AI adoption is also essential, as HR professionals must be upskilled to effectively leverage AI tools and navigate the ethical complexities that may arise.
Incorporating AI in HR processes necessitates balancing automation and the human touch. HR professionals must recognize the limitations of AI and maintain a human-centric approach to ensure that employee needs are met. By addressing these ethical considerations and challenges of AI systems, organizations can reap the benefits of AI-driven HR solutions while maintaining trust and positive employee relationships.
Final Thoughts on AI for HR
Across many disciplines, AI will become essential in one’s toolkit. That’s especially true for HR professionals. Those unwilling to adopt AI-based HR solutions into their talent attraction and employee engagement programs may find it difficult to attract and retain top talent compared to other tech-driven companies. Offering an always-on, always-optimized employee experience for both recruitment and internal HR resources will allow HR teams to maximize their impact and effectively engage their people.
To learn more about Veritone Hire, visit our AI Talent Acquisitions solutions page or reach out to speak with one of our recruitment experts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How is AI enhancing recruitment and talent acquisition?
AI enhances recruitment and talent acquisition by optimizing the candidate sourcing process, utilizing algorithms to reach the best candidates in real time, and enhancing the candidate screening process. This results in a more efficient and effective hiring process, saving time and resources.
Can AI help eliminate bias in the hiring process?
AI can help hiring managers eliminate bias in the hiring process by increasing the reach of job advertising to reach diverse candidate pools and using data to make campaign decisions.
However, AI algorithms can inadvertently perpetuate bias if not properly designed and monitored.
How are AI-powered chatbots revolutionizing HR service delivery?
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants revolutionize HR service delivery by providing instant, personalized responses to employee queries, reducing the workload on HR staff, and improving employee satisfaction.
How does AI streamline HR processes and improve efficiency?
AI streamlines HR departments’ processes by automating repetitive tasks, such as data entry and document management, and enabling data-driven decision-making. This leads to improved efficiency, reduced errors, and more informed decisions.
How is AI changing the employee onboarding experience?
AI changes the employee onboarding experience by personalizing the process, providing targeted resources, and offering virtual assistants to answer new hire questions. This creates a more engaging and supportive environment for new employees.
Can AI assist in employee performance evaluation and management?
AI can assist in employee performance evaluation and management by analyzing data on employee activities, identifying patterns, and providing insights for both performance management and improvement. This enables HR professionals to make more informed decisions and tailor their approach to individual employee needs.
What is the role of AI in learning and development (L&D) programs?
In learning and development (L&D) programs, AI plays a role in personalizing learning experiences, identifying skill gaps, recommending relevant training, and tracking progress. This leads to more effective and efficient employee development.
What are the ethical considerations and potential drawbacks of using AI in HR?
Ethical considerations and potential drawbacks of using AI in HR include data privacy concerns, the potential perpetuation of bias, and the risk of overreliance on AI at the expense of human judgment. It is crucial for organizations to address these issues and sufficiently audit their AI partners to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI.
How can HR professionals prepare for the increasing use of AI in their industry?
HR professionals can prepare for the increasing use of AI in their industry by staying up-to-date on emerging technologies, developing data literacy and analytics skills, and fostering a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability. Additionally, they should consider the business value against the ethical implications of AI, and work to mitigate potential risks.
Sources:
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/technology/pages/2023-hr-technology-trends.aspx
https://venturebeat.com/ai/how-to-leverage-ai-for-more-effective-engaging-onboarding/