'It's freeing up people's time so they can focus on things that have high-value impacts and more creative thinking'
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping everything we thought we knew about HR – from how we enhance the employee experience to streamlining archaic processes to identifying the next generation of leaders.
But has AI reached its peak? Or are we only getting a glimpse of what’s to come?
“AI is automating routine and repetitive tasks. And in doing so, it's providing actionable insights and elevating the employee experience," explains Damir Kostic, Partner, National Practice Leader, IBM Consulting Canada and speaker at HRD’s recent HR Tech Summit Canada.
“It's also elevating the employee experience by freeing up people's time so that they can focus on things that are more high value impacts, and require more creative thinking and empathy.”
According to data from Gartner, 81% of HR leaders have already implemented AI solutions in their organizations, with 46% using the tech for hiring choices and 80% using it for interview prep. But how much do you really understand how to roll out AI in your strategy? Could you use a helping hand here?
Exclusive HR Tech Summit panel insight
Kostic hosted the panel: AI in HR – Understanding its capabilities and how to integrate it. Alongside speakers from UKG and Amazon, this session examined some use cases, success stories and lessons learned in the deployment of AI in HR, including:
- An update on the potential of AI to boost productivity and improve employee experience
- Understanding which functions AI can support and how to get it up and running
- Adopting or developing the right AI solutions to manage risk and ensure security
- Managing negative perceptions of AI and ensuring that employees are trained to work with it
One of the notable implementations of AI at IBM has been in the promotion process within their consulting division. Traditionally, this process was a lengthy, manual, and repetitive endeavor, taking up to ten weeks to complete. By leveraging their watson Orchestrate platform, IBM managed to cut this process in half, down to five weeks.
"It saved us over 50,000 hours just within the consulting division, and the involvement of HR business partners in the process reduced by 85%, allowing them to spend more time providing important talent-related services, such as career guidance and support for managers," Kostic adds.
AI's role in augmenting the workforce extends beyond just automating tasks – it plays a crucial role in enhancing employee engagement by allowing staff to focus on more rewarding and intellectually stimulating work.
“By automating repetitive tasks, it frees up time for employees to focus on high-value tasks that require creativity, empathy, and critical thinking," Kostic explains.
AI’s role in employee engagement
This shift not only increases job satisfaction and engagement but also boosts productivity. Additionally, AI aids in personalized learning and development, creating a more agile, adaptable, and efficient workforce. And, when discussing the future of work and the role of AI in engagement, Kostic highlights the importance of personalizing employee development.
"AI helps with personalized learning developments, and what this does is create a more agile, more adaptable, and even more efficient workforce," he says.
For companies considering AI adoption, Kostic advises a balanced approach to building AI expertise within the organization.
"It's critical that everybody in the organization has a foundational understanding of what AI is about and how they can leverage AI creatively and responsibly to augment their jobs," he tells HRD.
This foundational knowledge is essential for all employees to ensure they can effectively collaborate with AI tools to enhance their productivity and outputs. However, Kostic also acknowledges the need for specialized expertise.
"One level up, there needs to be a dedicated team of experts who have a deeper understanding of AI and how to leverage it,” he adds.
The rapid integration of AI in HR and other business functions underscores the necessity for organizations to stay ahead of the curve. As AI continues to evolve, it will bring even more sophisticated tools and capabilities, making it imperative for companies to keep their workforce updated with the latest developments. However, people must remain vigilant not to fall behind their peers here.
“By having that foundational knowledge, it’s going to help not only their employers but also them as an individuals. Personal investment in understanding AI will enhance efficiency, accuracy, and job satisfaction, ultimately strengthening one's career prospects. However, if individuals are not up to date with the general concepts of AI, they're going to fall behind and it is going to impact their careers.”
Want to learn more from industry leaders like IBM, Amazon and UKG? Take a look at HRD’s recent HR Tech Summit here.
