Sometime just before the boom of technology, Human Resource roles are relatively simple. Their primary focus is to carry out straightforward, functional tasks such as issuing employees’ salaries, payroll leaves, policy-making and organise training programs. When it comes to hiring, they simply resort to placing ads in the papers or at most- roping in an external recruiter.

Today, the HR world works so differently- thanks to Industry 4.0. Fast forward to the currently digitised era, the traditional roles of Human Resource professionals are now disrupted to becoming more strategic, known as HR 4.0.

Ever Heard of HR 4.0?

How exactly does the Industry 4.0 impacts Human Resource? With innovative technologies such as the Internet of Things, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence that dominate markets – it can by automating more of the HR processes, producing more efficient and lean teams.

Let us today discuss on the which one weighs more – the pros or the cons when automation helps create HR 4.0:

The GOOD

1. Smart recruiting and retaining the best talent

Your priorities as an HR professional will shift very quickly. Through automation, instead of just keeping track of salaries -you will focus more on attracting quality talents, managing them, improving organisational climate, understanding and fulfilling their needs.

Your role will evolve to a strategic one that no longer needs to rely on manual work. Thankfully with the use of innovative virtual solutions and resources, it won’t be difficult to spot and retain qualified candidates.

2. Eliminating hassles of human labors and reducing errors

Thinking of ways to reduce mistakes made during your HR processes? With cloud computing taking over, HR professionals can leverage automation tools that can measure, monitor and recommend an improvement for staff performance through frequent check-ins.

Some of the useful HR online tools include recruitment software, employee development test platforms, satisfaction survey applications, and general management systems. Best of all, involved parties are granted the mobility to work wherever they are, whenever they need to! Did we mention that you can save money too?

3. Facilitating Collaborative and Collective Knowledge Works

Feeling burdened by your neverending HR tasks? No doubt they used to be performed by internal in-house teams or subcontracted to external agencies. Now, Industry 4.0 technologies enable virtually every business unit to take part in day-to-day HR processes such as recruitment and selection, performance management and benefits administration.

This means leaders from all walks of the hierarchy can play a vital part in cultivating a well-rounded, positive working environment for the employees. Imagine your company’s staff being able to share experiences with the top management just through a cloud-based communicative tool!

And The Not-So-Good

1. A Significant Reduction in Manpower

This impact is undeniable and certainly irreversible. Once you allow automation, some of your employees’ existing knowledge, skills, and abilities will slowly be deemed redundant. There will be a noticeable drop in recruitment observed across companies who pick up HR 4.0 slower than others.

This can potentially result in unemployment, and it may spin out of control if the current workforce fails to adopt the technological skills required to operate in the Industry 4.0 age that is essential for the next 5 to 10 years.

2. Lack of Human Touch and Necessary Subjectivity

Hasn’t it occur to you that too much objectivity might pose threats in operational decision-making processes? A good system can indeed present objective data and value on employee productivity that can be useful for businesses.

But never forget – business is all about the people. Even technology skills or Artificial Intelligence cannot replace something so personal such as meaningful relationships and cultural integration that is imperative in shaping some of the most dynamic, successful teams.

It can seem daunting as Industry 4.0 knocks on our doorstep, challenging our most conventional Human Resource roles.

Nevertheless, we need to embrace change to move forward. If the available technologies will enable businesses to strengthen their core offerings and approaches in their business practices even more, why not right?

Just remember, automation only assists the overall process. While it helps you arrive at smarter decisions for training, review, and hiring- it can never replace knowledgable, skills and empathetic employees as core essences towards grooming effective leaders. Do you have what it takes to be our HR experts? Click Here for a shot at our open vacancies.