5 Trends in HR Tech For 2021

Maciej Zdunek

Marketing Specialist

The COVID-19 pandemic has thoroughly changed the way we live, work, and, yes, hire people. In short, we can say that HR tech software development is now a must-have solution for every medium-sized and large organization. Modern HR tech solutions aid recruiters, help manage work and organize cooperation in the new remote setup. We’ve decided to take a closer look at HR tech software development and indicated five crucial trends in HR systems and platforms that will shape this sector in 2021. Let’s get right to it!

Table of content:

It’s no surprise that the HR sector in 2021 will be based primarily on various software solutions and intelligent assistants facilitating daily work. Also, because COVID-19 is a real game-changer when it comes to the way we work, solutions supporting home office are now mushrooming.

According to the CEO Panel study conducted by PWC, *78% of surveyed CEOs** agree that remote collaboration is here to stay.*

With that in mind, let’s analyze five major trends in the HR tech sector and see what is going to happen in 2021:

AI in HR tech

That’s the first point on our list and for a reason. We reckon that HR tech software development in 2021 (and beyond) will be based primarily on various intelligent algorithms backed up with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

First of all, we have to mention intelligent solutions automating CV/resumes selection. It’s just a necessity. For almost every job offer, there are hundreds and thousands of resumes sent to the company. Even with a fully developed recruitment team, it’s straight-up impossible to check every single resume, let alone analyze it thoroughly!

Recruiters say they have ~6 seconds for one resume. An initial selection of CVs conducted by an AI-fueled app can be a considerable simplification of the recruiter’s work but also a remarkable improvement in terms of accuracy. Even today, some available apps and algorithms help companies in screening resumes based on specific requirements for the given position. Paradox is a US-based AI company that develops an intelligent algorithm called Olivia. Olivia helps HR professionals by automating screening resumes and scheduling interviews. As a result, recruiters can take more time to analyze the offers of the most promising candidates. All in all, the whole recruiting process takes less time and the odds of hiring the best candidate increase significantly.

Naturally, the whole AI in HR subject is much broader, and it comprises:

Facial expression analysis (tremendous during online interviews!)
Sourcing candidates (for instance, by searching them on LinkedIn)
Recruitment chatbots (used to guide each candidate through the preliminary stage of the process and answer common candidates’ questions)

In the PwC’s HR Technology Survey 2020, *49% of HR leaders** said talent acquisition is their primary focus for the next 12-24 months.*

Digital Workspaces

Today, digital workspace solutions are also a large part of the HR tech software development field. Their popularity skyrocketed along with remote work. With COVID-19 going around, companies have employees and contractors spread all around the globe. That’s why it’s beneficial to create an all-in-one application that consists of all digital technologies, tools, and platforms necessary to get work done, no matter where a given employee is located.

We could say that digital workplaces are the next step after traditional intranets. Currently, they help in:

Managing work and specific projects
Tracking progress
Scheduling meetings and conference calls
Communicating with other team members
Delivering corporate news

Many remote workers start their day by launching a digital workspace platform, and they spend much of their time using it. That’s why it’s your responsibility as an employer to find (or design from scratch, we’re here for you!) a solution that will offer everything your team needs and deliver a great user experience.

Bear in mind that digital workspaces are designed to help your team complete their daily tasks and projects. That’s why the app of your choice has to be smartly designed and intuitive. Typically these applications consist of communication and project management tools and features, but the list can be much longer.

Workforce Management (WFM) Solutions

Here’s another HR tech-related trend. Generally speaking, workforce management software is frequently used to manage shifts and the number of people needed in a specific place at a particular time. The WFM programs are commonly used in call centers, but they can be used in every company hiring 100+ employees. These programs typically manage the work of hotline consultants, administrative assistants, and other low-level employees.

The WFM software is used primarily for:

Staff scheduling: Keep in mind that employers have to take into account many aspects of staff scheduling, just to mention legal and contractual requirements, given person’s qualifications, personal preferences, and availability. And then, it all has to be put together with the company’s needs. Staff scheduling can really be a head-scratcher! And this is where WFM software comes into play.
Performance measurement and management: It’s all about ensuring that your employees fulfill their duties and meet the targets and goals that they have been set. The performance measurement indicators can comprise customer survey scores, a number of answered calls, or a number of problems solved. If you possess accurate data regarding these factors, you can easily track every staff member’s performance, plan bonuses, and assign additional training programs.

With decent WFM software, it all happens automatically, and your role is to supervise these processes.

Remote and Virtual Onboarding

Hiring a new employee is always a time-consuming endeavor. After all, there’s the entire onboarding process, not to mention administrative and legal work. With employees working from home, virtual onboarding is a new standard. And yes, many companies simply use video conferencing apps like Google Meet or Zoom, but in many instances, something more would be appreciated, right?

For instance, some commercially available apps offer ready-made onboarding templates for different positions, and that’s including external contractors. Thanks to such applications, your new employees can easily get acquainted with everything they need to know, do the necessary paperwork, and meet other team members. It’s a marvelous way to effectively go through the onboarding process and save a lot of your time!

It's All About the Cloud!

Lastly, we want to mention the technology that has been around for several years now, but now is flourishing. Cloud is an excellent example of technology that facilitates remote work. Today, the majority of HR tech software is cloud-based, which means these programs are accessible from every device connected to the internet. You don’t have to download any programs or be connected to the corporate LAN network. Thanks to the cloud, your company, as well as your employees, can store and access employee, HR, finance, and operational data 24/7, from anywhere in the world. Actually, in the COVID-19 reality, it’s a necessity that allows you to maintain productivity and engagement in the home office setup.

According to the aforementioned study, 44% of HR leaders said that cloud-based HR technology solutions increase a company’s productivity.

As you can see, there is quite a lot going on in the HR tech software development field. If you are interested in adopting some of these solutions in your company, visit our page focused on HR tech software and software development services! We will gladly help you design a tool that will meet your company’s needs and improve daily work. Find out how today!