We recently hosted a virtual workshop in partnership with TargetRecruit, looking at building a profitable tech-stack for recruitment in APAC. This workshop brought together Executive Leaders, C-Suite and Senior Managers within the Staffing & Recruitment industries to explore how rapid technological advancements are creating both challenges and opportunities.
Missed the workshop? Here are the key takeaways:
The role of technology in Staffing
Participants discussed the potential of technology & AI to revolutionise recruitment processes, from candidate sourcing and screening to onboarding and performance management, both for their own teams and their clients. However, they also emphasised the importance of maintaining a human touch in the recruitment process, while adopting technology as an enabler. As Paula Dickson, Allegis Global Solutions, noted, “The key to successful technology implementation is to focus on the desired outcomes and select tools that align with your overall business goals and objectives.” During the conversation, Michael Sacco, ManpowerGroup highlighted that “technology should be seen as an enabler, not a replacement for human judgement. It’s essential to choose tools that are easy to implement and integrate with existing systems. Additionally, organisations should focus on training their employees to effectively use new technologies” he noted.
Challenges and opportunities
The event explored the challenges and opportunities associated with technology adoption. While technology can offer significant benefits, such as increased efficiency and productivity, it also presents challenges such as cost, complexity, and resistance to change, further highlighting that Change Management should be a skill inherently found or trained into every professional in the Recruitment fields. As Michael Koss, The Placing Company pointed out, “Technology can be a valuable tool for automating tasks and improving efficiency, but it’s important to remember that recruitment is still a people-to-people business.”
Joe Duffy, Target Recruit explained that “a well-defined tech strategy will be crucial for avoiding costly mistakes and maximising the benefits of technology is imperative in staying ahead in today’s market.” He noted that “by taking a strategic approach, organisations can ensure that their technology investments align with their overall business goals and objectives.”
Data privacy and compliance
Data privacy and security emerged as a key concern among participants. With the increasing amount of personal data collected during the recruitment process, organisations must implement robust measures to protect sensitive information and comply with relevant regulations. Adopting 20+ platforms isn’t always as secure as we think, and API connection often break or are only integrated one way – do we really know how much of the sensitive data we have, is secure? As Fiona Goldsmith, Hays noted, “The economic downturn has impacted technology adoption. Companies are focusing on cost-saving measures and may be deprioritising tech investments. However, it’s important to consider the long-term benefits of investing in technology, such as improved efficiency and productivity.”
Global considerations
For organisations operating on a global scale, navigating varying compliance requirements and cultural differences can present significant challenges. It’s essential to select technology solutions that can adapt to different regional needs, ensure compliance with local regulations, and that scale accurately and intelligently with your business. Out-of-the-box solutions are almost always perfect for today, but will they help you into tomorrow’s world when scale happens in any sections of your business?
Conversation insights
Beyond the core topics discussed, several other themes emerged during the event that provide valuable insights into the current state of technology in talent acquisition.
The importance of continuous learning
The rapid pace of technological change means that organisations must stay up to date on the latest trends and innovations. This requires ongoing learning and development for both internal employees and external clients’ workforces. By investing in training and development, up-skilling and cross-skilling, organisations can ensure that their workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively leverage new technologies, whether you are an early adopter or someone that change comes at a slower pace.
The role of Human Resources, L&D and Employee Experience
HR departments can play a crucial role in facilitating technology adoption by providing training, support, and guidance to employees. By working closely with technology teams, HR can ensure that new tools and systems are effectively implemented and integrated into existing processes, but this has to be driven from the very top of the organisation. Additionally, HR can help address employee concerns and resistance to change, ensuring a smooth transition to new technologies.
The potential for AI and Automation
AI and automation have the potential to revolutionise Recruitment by automating routine tasks and providing valuable insights from data analysis, if not already doing so. For example, AI-powered chatbots can be used to screen candidates and schedule interviews, while automation can streamline administrative tasks such as onboarding and offboarding. However, it’s important to consider the ethical implications of these technologies and ensure that they are used responsibly.
Looking ahead
The event underscored the importance of a strategic approach to technology adoption in Staffing & Recruitment. By carefully considering factors such as data privacy, scalability, and integration with existing systems, organisations can leverage technology to improve efficiency, enhance candidate experience, and achieve their business goals. A single-platform play often solves this, but the education around compliance, legal benefits and automation has to be there for people to understand that this is a huge business and recruitment benefit. It’s essential to strike a balance between technology and human interaction, ensuring that technology serves as an enabler rather than a replacement for human judgement.
