5 Ways HR Tech Will Evolve in 2023

2023 will be a pivotal year in HR technology. With the disruptions of the pandemic mostly behind us, HR executives can refocus on establishing a firm foundation for the future of work. What will the workplace of 2030 look like? Let's examine a handful of critical trends and consider how they'll change (and empower) HR leaders this year and beyond.

Automation will come to HR—with a human twist.

AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible, and their adoption in business will offer many benefits (and risks) to enterprising HR leaders. The future of HR likely includes automated chatbots, data-driven performance reviews, personalized onboarding and more. But none of that automation will diminish the role of HR professionals. Instead, HR will focus more on what it excels at: understanding human needs and creating personal connections.

Innovation will reshape the talent landscape.

Attracting and retaining talent was tricky in 2022, and it looks like it isn't getting any easier in 2023. If your organization is going to overcome its talent challenges, it will need new methods and tools. Recently, some organizations have been taking a hard look at their job requirements and moving toward a skills-based approach. The next evolution of that trend could be workers using blockchain technology to create a permanent digital record of what they've accomplished during their careers—and those records taking the place of a traditional resume. On the retention side, we know workers are more likely to stay with a company if they have a clear career path. Innovations in creating internal talent marketplaces can help workers understand their opportunities and help organizations spot high-potential employees who could fit new roles opening up.

New tools will increase worker well-being and productivity.

Organizations increasingly understand that their talent strategy is essential to their business strategy. Looking after an employee's physical and mental well-being is another way of ensuring productivity. The challenge for HR leaders is finding ways to create this productivity halo effect at scale. This is another area where the right tools can make it easier to prevent worker stress and create a positive workplace culture through mental health apps, benefits platforms, virtual training opportunities and more. When these tools are in the hands of leaders who understand both technology and business needs, HR can profoundly impact employees' lives.

Data will be at the heart of everything HR does.

The future of HR is all about data. Rather than go with their gut, the HR leader of the future will have an unparalleled ability to make decisions based on analytics. Executives will need data literacy skills and a hearty dose of empathy to look at the numbers and see which programs (and people) are performing well. HR leaders' challenge in 2023 will be cultivating their skills while simultaneously addressing the cultural challenges of embracing data while retaining a "people first" approach to business.

HR will drive the conversation.

Tech expertise comes in many flavors. Not all HR executives have a software development or systems analysis background. Still, they can possess an equally valuable skill: understanding how technology supports their organizations. HR is uniquely placed to address the strategic business challenges their organizations face and the cultural challenges that need to be overcome for a new technology to be successfully integrated into the way people work. When HR leaders can bring their business acumen and people skills to a conversation about workplace technology, genuinely transformational change is possible.

The challenge is that HR leaders need support and education to stay on top of the fast-moving HR tech landscape. Most technical conferences aren't geared toward the business needs of HR, and vendors often dominate even HR tech events. That's why SHRM created its own event: SHRMTech 2023 | NorCal. This two-day conference will give you the most up-to-date knowledge needed to be a tech-savvy HR professional and expand your workplace tech toolbox with implementable strategies to lead your organization's digital transformation. You'll hear from the brightest minds in HR in an inspirational conversation that's truly focused on your needs.