A new year is fast approaching, and with it, the promise of more digital evolution.

According to a recent report, nine in 10 British businesses are planning to invest in new technology this year. However, blockers to this were identified as an attachment to traditional methods (41%), a lack of buy-in from employees (34%), apprehension of the solutions available (33%), and budget restrictions (31%).

With this in mind, BrightHR’s Chief Technology Officer Alastair Brown, emphasises that tech adoption needn’t feel scary and out of reach.

“For all businesses, regardless of size and sector, HR tech can streamline their ways of working, take their productivity to new levels, and even boost their recruitment and retention” says Alastair. “To stay ahead of the game, business owners should know of the HR tech trends that are simple, user-friendly, and cost-effective—yet will be a game-changer for them and their teams in 2024.”

Recruitment Dashboard
“January is always a busy time for hiring and onboarding. But it can be difficult to keep on track of the often-lengthy recruitment processes and to maintain a potential recruit’s interest. If the hiring process is too lengthy, more than three-quarters (78%) of those candidates will lose interest and look elsewhere.

“So as the vast majority of companies struggle to fill their vacancies, it’s important to ensure processes are as streamlined as possible with a platform that makes light work of tracking each applicant’s progress, with central secure storage for holding documents such as CVs, cover letters, job descriptions, and more.”

Remote Work Solutions
“Though slowing down, the shift towards remote work still exists, and in many sectors is a trend that is here to stay. We recognise the importance of balancing employee needs with those of an organisation, so clock-in functionality to ensure employee productivity when working from any location is a necessity—and even better when it’s in app form.”

Employee Wellbeing Platforms
“Employee wellbeing remains high on the agenda for employers and employees alike with more than half of the UK’s employees (56%) reportedly experiencing at least mild symptoms of depression.

“But with the worsening mental health crisis that sees 12% of people seeking treatment having to wait more than six months, and for 6%, more than a year, employers are urged to offer more accessible solutions like apps that provide instant support at your fingertips.

“In 2024, we anticipate the need for HR solutions that include holistic employee wellbeing platforms that support mental health, and provide wellness programmes, and counselling services, to foster a healthy and productive work environment, and which is available in a click, via an app.”

Data Security and Compliance
“With an increased focus on data privacy and compliance, businesses are urged to invest in HR technology that ensures the security of sensitive employee information. We emphasize the importance of robust data security features and compliance management tools to safeguard HR processes and maintain regulatory adherence.

“Dusty filing cabinets no longer fit the bill when it comes to holding onto data safely. Plus, the time invested in finding those pesky documents in and amongst thousands of pieces of paper adds up.”

Benefits Platforms
“As the cost-of-living crisis shows no signs of slowing, it’s arguably never been so important to support your employees with helping their pay packet reach further—especially as the financial strain is impacting businesses too.

“Easy-to-use benefits platforms that offer your people access to a variety of discounts and offers from days out, to tech, to their weekly shop, is a great tool to engage and retain your employees.”

E-learning
“Investing in e-learning technology is a smart move for businesses to make in 2024. By providing employees with access to online courses and training materials through platforms like BrightLearn, businesses can help their teams develop new skills and knowledge that can be applied directly to their roles and in their daily lives.

“This not only benefits the employees themselves, who can advance their careers and take on new challenges, but it also benefits the business as a whole by increasing productivity and improving the quality of work being produced, plus it facilitates upskilling and closes skills gaps.

“Additionally, e-learning can be more cost-effective and efficient than traditional training methods. For instance, BrightLearn saved UK businesses more than £6,000,000 in training costs during the last year, with more than 2,000,000 minutes of e-learning accessed.”

Employee Recognition
“In an age where one in five UK employees feel undervalued at work, and staff turnover rates continue to rise, currently sitting at 35%, and more than nine in 10 businesses are struggling to recruit, employers should put in place measures to empower and recognise staff for a job well done.

“With a simple employee recognition platform you can incentivise your team by enabling them to celebrate their colleagues. By instantly spotting and recognising top performers, you can tap into friendly competition with a live leaderboard, boosting motivation and productivity.”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration
“And last but certainly not least, with AI becoming a mainstay of modern life, including the workplace, business owners will no doubt be questioning how—and if—they should be embracing it in their processes. Whilst there’s much risk still associated with heavy reliance on AI, BrightHR recognises that it plays a valuable role in boosting productivity and creativity, and in many cases, accuracy. AI-driven tools can take significant time and stress out of routine tasks through automation and provide valuable insights for strategic decision-making.

“And so, it’s recommended that organisations explore how they can utilise AI—whilst being aware of and taking proactive measures to avoid falling foul of the risks.  It’s beneficial to ensure any uses of AI is complemented by human input to ensure accuracy and maintain that human-to-human interaction, especially as two-thirds (64%) are concerned that workplaces will rely too heavily on AI for recruitment compared to professional judgements.”