A recent study by Gartner, a leading technology and business consulting firm, revealed that after the COVID-19 pandemic, less than 10% of HR functions have achieved functional excellence, indicating a concerning gap in the sector’s efficiency and productivity.
Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to the world of work, and the Human Resources (HR) sector was not exempt from these transformations.
The study, conducted in February 2023 with 217 HR leaders, shows that 55% of them face increased demand for services related to a variety of topics. Additionally, 80% reported encountering challenges different from those they were accustomed to before the pandemic.
How can HR adapt quickly and easily to the corporate world’s changes? Automation is one solution, and with no-code technology, the process is not only fast and efficient but also cost-effective compared to traditional methods.
Here are the key findings from Gartner’s study and how no-code technology makes automation simple and accessible for all businesses.
The Transformative Role of HR
According to Piers Hudson, Senior Director of HR at Gartner, the increased workload and obstacles to effectiveness have heightened challenges in the HR sector. HR team burnout has become an even more urgent issue, with 71% of respondents reporting it’s more challenging than before the pandemic. Additionally, retaining and recruiting HR staff has also become more difficult.
To address these challenges and leverage the opportunities presented by the new world of work, HR leaders must restructure their functions and approaches. However, restructuring alone isn’t enough. HR must acknowledge a fundamental shift in its organizational role.
From Controller to Convener and Catalyst
Historically, HR has played a controlling role in areas like employment policies and administration, being responsible for specific, well-defined tasks. However, new demands on HR are more complex, interdependent, and require creative solutions. To thrive in this environment, HR must evolve from a mere controller to a “convener and catalyst” within the organization:
Convener: HR is well-positioned to bring together stakeholders and create a framework for collaborative decision-making and solution-finding.
Catalyst: HR can encourage these stakeholders to design and implement new ways of working in today’s environment.
Three Key Areas for Improvement
To enhance functional excellence in its convener and catalyst roles, HR organizations are focusing on three main areas:
Prioritization: Increased demands make prioritization challenging. Over 50% of HR leaders reported receiving more support requests, and 45% face difficulties managing conflicting demands. Participative prioritization involves formally engaging stakeholders outside HR and empowering the HR team to flexibly redefine priorities.
Digitalization: Technology plays a crucial role in HR’s ability to convene and catalyze. While many HR processes have been digitalized, only 36% of employees believe HR strives to make processes and systems easier to use. HR must ensure its digitalization strategy aligns with other organizational functions to provide a cohesive user experience.
Improving the Experience: A growing skills gap poses challenges for HR, with 55% of leaders reporting issues arising from employee capability gaps. HR must enable a more fluid flow of talent within and outside its function, collaborating across the organization to address workforce challenges.
Automation plays a vital role in HR’s ability to turn challenges into opportunities. As the sector becomes more focused on convening and catalyzing, adopting advanced technologies and restructuring internal operations are essential for improving efficiency, productivity, and service quality.
With no-code technology, businesses can promote end-to-end digital transformation, automating and integrating operations and sectors securely, quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively. Regardless of size or industry, no-code democratizes and facilitates technological modernization for all businesses without disrupting routines or replacing existing systems. Moreover, it can be implemented in a short time frame and at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional methods.
If you want to learn more about HR automation and how Arkeyva can assist in this process, schedule a meeting with our consultants and discover everything Arkeyva can do for your company. Don’t forget to follow us on social media.
Source: gartner.com
