How HR and Digital Transformation are Closely Related

Megha Sharma
4 min readAug 18, 2021

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Technological disruption may be a given within the world of business, across its many dimensions. And during this scenario, the connection between HR and digital transformation is undeniable. Deloitte research suggests a rise of 25 percent in digital transformation budgets since 2021, and HR teams looking to capture the advantages of automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and far more got to intensify.

Why is digital transformation important?

An outcome and a process, an evolution and a revolution, digital transformation is quite moving analog systems to digital and bringing in additional technology to everyday business processes. HR professionals must ensure an accompanying transformation within the mindset and culture of the organization.

Digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation are very different, yet are often used interchangeably, and wrongly so. Here are the differences:

Digitization: A shift to digital processes from manual processes

Digitalization: Changing organizational functioning such the organization uses digital tools in its day-to-day operations i.e. running the business with technology.

Digital transformation: Covers both digitization and digitalization; includes not just process automation but process rationalization and elimination of manual tasks not required during a digital organization; looks to use organization-wide mindset changes to deploy technology to efficiently tackle the identified problems

What does the digital transformation of HR aim at?

The goals of digital HR are many:

  • Reduce time spent on manual, repetitive tasks by automating processes
  • Spend longer on creating strong strategies and thereby boost rock bottom line
  • Bring about a superb employee experience

How can HR help the digital transformation of business?

Along with transforming the operations of the HR team, HR professionals must aid the digital transformation of the whole organization. People are the foremost critical asset of a corporation and any such transformational initiative, especially one at such scale, cannot succeed without support from the people. HR is responsible for the human experience at the workplace, thereby driving digital transformation initiatives. HR must specialize in creating the proper culture and changing mindsets — the human aspects of digital transformation.

HR teams play the subsequent roles in digital transformation:

Using automation and data-driven digital processes to rework HR operations
Leading digital evolution and transformation of organizations together with IT teams by boosting productivity and improving workforce processes through digital mindsets in empowered employees

Is it important to treat employees as consumers?

In their personal lives, employees are wont to and appreciative of consumer experiences, like interacting with chatbots to complain about product or service deliveries. However, within the workplace, there might be the fear that data shared with the chatbot might be shared with those not aware of the discussion or might be used against them, or that the chatbot could deduct their employment.

A key part of the acceptance of the latest technology may be a behavior change. People make the business successful, and getting them on board is intrinsic to the success of the digital transformation. Effective, engaging, and fun learning initiatives are an honest thanks to getting employees on board for digital transformation, showing them how the HR technology helps and why they ought to embrace it. Other positives include:

  • Speed of getting work done
  • Ease and ease of use
  • Freeing up time for creative tasks and getting obviate repetitive tasks
  • Preserving the identity of respondents by looking only at overall organizational trends

What are the steps require for digitally transforming HR?

To successfully enable digital HR and truly cause the advantages of the digital transformation of HR, there must be a transparent statement of why it’s needed and the way its success is often measured. Here are the steps to the right digital transformation of HR:

Clear goal definition: Such an initiative is beneficial if it makes things simpler for all individuals who are a part of the method i.e. the end-user must see a transparent benefit. The goal should be measurable and will have a transparent financial benefit.

Proper delineation of responsibilities: the proper people must helm transformation initiatives, alongside the right tools being in situ. Line managers, as an example, must be a neighborhood as they directly affect employees. Additional people may have to be brought in.

Setting a time frame: New processes and tools must be evaluated against a group period to ascertain if they’re well worth the effort.

Understanding processes to be substituted digitally: Certain processes are going to be eliminated by digital HR, that management itself may have to be reorganized and even strategic inputs won’t be subject to hierarchical processes and structure.

Getting a buy-in from top management: Give meaningful reasons to leadership to take a position in digital transformation.

Preparing teams for change: Start with pilot projects and apply the learnings to company-wide rollouts.

Creating digitalization culture: Use automated solutions to reinforce human capabilities.

Which challenges get within the way of HR digital transformation?

HR and digital transformation often face challenges that affect a smooth rollout. These include the following:

  • Poor agility in moving to digital upgrades
  • Opposition from the C-suite
  • Low expertise in spearheading digital transformation
  • Insufficient budgets
  • Unclear digital strategies

Conclusion

Digital transformation is aimed toward boosting the agility of a corporation within the digital era. HR plays a key role in prepping the organization and its people to adopt the technology properly and at the proper time.

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Megha Sharma
Megha Sharma

Written by Megha Sharma

HR Manager, with a sharp eye to attract and top talent, develop existing talent along with managing employee relations.

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