In our 2018 research on human resources highlighted in this blog post on three workplace trends, ASUG examined both strategic and specific topics related to the HR function. Technology was an obvious place to dig deeper. One technology-related topic that rose to the surface among this audience was an interest in predictive analytics and forecasting.
The HR Crystal Ball
With workforces becoming more distributed, this creates both challenges and opportunities. The challenges are familiar: difficulties in communication, potential for siloes, and detachment from the company culture. Yet there are also opportunities that come from these changes, even if they’re a less-common topic of conversation.
The World Is Your Talent Pool
For example, having a workforce spread out across multiple locations means that the doors to engaging top prospects are no longer limited to one geographic region. Recruiters can now find the best engineer for the job in Mumbai or Minneapolis, even if the company’s headquarters are in Memphis or Madrid.
But to find these people, you must know where to look. That is where analytics can enter the equation. Traditionally, analytics and dashboards have been an exercise in looking backward. But with the evolution of artificial intelligence and machine learning, analytics have taken a leap into the future.
The Workplace Trends of the Future
HR stands to benefit here. If these tools can identify predicted changes in workforce demographics, they can arm HR teams to not only find outstanding job candidates, but present employee data to leadership to demonstrate trends and patterns.
Download ASUG’s research on predictive analytics and HR professionals.