The workforce is seeing an increase of robot workers, but it’s not all doom and gloom as some Sci-Fi movies like Terminator and I, ROBOT may suggest. Known as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, these robots are implemented across various industries and they are changing how businesses operate by increasing efficiency, productivity and even innovation in companies. And one of the industries that has really seen an increase in these robots is HR.
AI and automation have changed how HR Professionals hire and manage talent. In fact, a 2018 Global Trends report from LinkedIn reported 76 percent of recruiters and hiring managers believe automation and AI will significantly impact the recruitment industry. For instance, AI is already being used by organisations’ HR departments to vet applications for a job and determine which candidates are the best fit through Applicant Tracking Systems like SmartRecruiters and Zoho. This helps HR professionals to more effectively find talent as AI can scour through applications and distinguish qualified candidates from unqualified ones based on skills and job experience the job requires, allowing the HR department to focus on qualified candidates for next steps such as interviews.
Distinguishing between AI and automation, and determining the processes these robots can complete are important to analyse what benefits they can have for your employees and business, especially talent management. AI and automation run different processes and are often confused as doing the same thing. The main difference between the two, however, comes down to reasoning and what the robots are pre-programmed to do.
AI can be programmed to seek patterns and self-learn by adapting through experiences and selecting a choice from presented options. Automation, on the other hand, follows pre-programmed rules to run processes. Tapping into AI and automation can be beneficial to businesses as they can streamline certain tasks, allowing workers to shift their attention to work that could have a bigger impact on the business. From chatbots, shared documents, job application vetting and automated process tools, AI and automation are used in a myriad of ways that can help employees put their talents to better uses.
There is the concern that AI and automation may take over human workers completely but, rather than completely replace workers, robots and humans can work symbiotically to improve how jobs are completed. Companies should embrace the work that AI and automation can do, as this could help their employees focus on more meaningful and rewarding tasks.
Learn more about the impact of AI and automation in business in Sage’s in-depth article.
Asavin Wattanajantra is the global expert in large businesses at Sage. He focuses on enterprise-level technology and innovation, covering topics such as ERP, manufacturing, distribution, blockchain and artificial intelligence. He has over 10 years of experience working with enterprise software brands, initially as a journalist and then as a copywriter, content manager and analyst both client and agency-side. Before Sage, he worked with brands including Microsoft, Intel, SAP, Dell, Adobe and Rackspace.
