One of the biggest talking points right now is about artificial intelligence and the future of our jobs. The job market has already gone through quite a transformation with automation and digitalisation taking over many jobs. For example, modern factories don’t look quite what they used to look like. But what about Human Resources? Are the robots going to take over?
Artificial intelligence has taken a big role in HR in recent years. A lot of small business software these days has become AI-driven. The UAE, which is a leader in the field, has witnessed plenty of exciting new products launched in the market. The best HR software in Dubai is already using AI technology and 1 out 4 organisations use these systems in everyday operation. AI has already taken over HR so will it take over HR jobs as well.
HR Jobs that AI could take over
HR might on the onset seem like the worst or the best place for AI takeover. The department has a mixture of tasks that are repetitive but also quite a few operations that require human input. In fact, some professionals argue that the department is not ready to be stormed by robots simply because the tasks are a mixture of both.
In reality, there are certain functionalities that could benefit from AI – and might not require a HR professional in the future.
Resume screening
The recruitment process is among the most important tasks in a company. But a lot of it could be automated and handled better with good AI. Organisations of all size can receive plenty of resumes everyday. Scanning through all of them would be time-consuming and not very good use of a person’s time, considering that most resumes might not be worth reading. But AI can look at resumes fast and learn from the past. This means the software can take into account things like company culture, previous hires and need for specific talent. Not to mention the potential of using AI to improve the company’s diversity.
Conducting employee engagement surveys
AI could also take over employee engagement surveys. The AI-powered chatbots could ask employees question and analyse the different answers for better insights. Again, much of this work is time-consuming and not all engagements are as valuable to an organisation as others. A HR professional could waste a lot of time talking to employees for relatively small insights. That is one of the reasons many companies don’t perform enough engagement surveys. But the insights can prove valuable especially if conducted cost-effectively, which is something AI software can help with.
Reaching out to passive candidates
Talent doesn’t always come knocking but in fact, organisations have to reach out. But contacting passive candidates can be a luxury most HR professionals can’t afford to do. AI, however, can scan different sources from social media to past resumes and create shortlists of great candidates. In fact, the AI could even make the first connection and help see which candidates are interested in engaging in further discussions with your organisation.
Employee assessment
AI can perform much more than just examining written text. These programs have evolved in leaps and bounds, offering plenty of exciting tools. For example, early AI software is able to analyse video and make assessments on candidates. This could mean that you could have AI bots analyse pre-hire assessments of candidates if they are filmed. The analysis could provide valuable feedback to employers and help the human HR manager make the right call in terms of who to hire.
Workforce scheduling
Finally, AI has huge potential in replacing humans in workforce scheduling. The process is rather complex, especially the bigger the company. It requires careful consideration and management to ensure everything is running smoothly. An automated HR system can consider the different intricacies from employee holidays to overtime. This can all be further aligned with payroll management, making it easier to ensure employees are paid on time and correctly as well.
AI will take over HR tasks but not HR jobs
Now, it must be said that AI’s transformative role in the HR sector is undoubted. These software solutions are already in place in many companies and further development will only increase its use. But HR continues to be a sector that requires a lot of human attention. Many jobs in the sector consist of different tasks, some of which simply can’t be replaced by a robot or a digital tool. Therefore, the above examples are a clear indication of how AI will change HR without necessarily taking over all the jobs. The truth is that AI can perform many HR tasks more cost-effectively while still leading to certain input by a human.
