2021 So far…
Well, we’re rounding the end of Q1 for 2021 and I’ve must say so far, not impressed. As we begin conference season, there hasn’t been enough time to make a full assessment of the year, but from what I can see so far there is substantial overuse and little tolerance of the “COVID” rationale. By now, most people I know are just “COVID Fatigued.” The plea from many professionals I’ve spoken with on this topic is, move on.
There is so much to examine about the post-world that is more exciting and uplifting. While much has been discussed about the response for professionals, I think we’re at the point to start examining all the ways we’ve advanced in such a short time. We finally shook off a decade of stagnation in the HR Technology space and are in the process of advancing some cool and overdue innovations. This week I am going to focus on six areas that I think are the Winners out of 2020 that will be accelerating and improving work life for 2021.
The Employee Experience
Yes, I know, we’ve heard this before. I would venture to say this time it is different. Why? The Remote Workforce. If there was ever a time to pressure test an interface or system of use for a company, now would be the time. The safety net of bringing people into a room for training on a platform or even a Zoom session seems more a waste of time than ever. As we work from home with the multitude of distractions and flex time, people need to get in, get to their work and get out as fast as they can. Whether its time to replace older systems with new SaaS/Virtual solutions, or tweak the existing portals, Employee Experience is now at the top of the list of things that will draw attention in 2021.
In the Flow
Consider this a “Best Supporting Character” of Employee Experience. The term “In the flow of work” will be prevalent throughout 2021. Not quite multitasking, but more efficient use of time, resources, and information. I would almost say “In the Flow” is like Kaizen or Six Sigma approaches that manufacturing applies to their processes. Often in manufacturing I’ve seen toolboxes with cut-out shapes for tools so precious seconds are not spent hunting for a tool. This same approach plays out with one-click access, integrations (API’s) or embedded screens to effortlessly access information at the moment of need.
Data
So what is it exactly that people need “at the moment of need,” Data of course. We’ve eclipsed the vast sums of data that bogged down the giant HCM systems for years. We’re now into actionable dashboards and systems that not only make entering information a breeze, but finding it easy as well. And given the distributed nature of teams lately, it’s essential that Data is accessible from any device at anytime, anywhere. This is forcing organizations that were location centric to rethink how they can operate virtually. Legacy data is also going to get a second look and may seem almost irrelevant given how different the world is in 2021.
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Just to be clear, this is the leveraging of data algorithms to serve up recommendations or look for trends in data. Being in this industry for a while, I know that there are terms that everyone likes to throw around without a fully grasping. xAPI was one of those terms. Everyone had to have a system that had it, yet when pressed on desired application, often yielded blank stares. AI could be following in the same tracks. It can mean so many things as it relates to a system. The first question is, do you have data to support these algorithms? If you do, what processes or conclusions do you want the system to be making without human oversight? This is where legacy data may make some AI wonky and out of touch with current day thinking. Look to solid examples of AI in applications that are beneficial but not beyond your level of comfort or control.
Skills
Yes, Skills are still going strong in 2021. If 2020 taught us anything it was to be adaptable. Whether you’ve become a WFH guru installing your own wifi network this past year or learning one of the shiny new systems put in place to connect everyone at work, it’s likely that “Upskilling” was what you were doing. For others, working remote required an entirely new role or even new job. We’ve all seen an increase in the need to learn new skills to adapt to changing conditions. Whether it’s the “return to office’ can that’s been kicked from August to November, to December then to April and now June; adaptability is key in today’s world.
Ecosystem
If there was ever a bow to be placed around this whole set of expectations and trends it would be in a word; Ecosystem. What is this? Well, it’s the realistic delivery on the premise we had decades ago when “Best of Breed” systems were bought yet never really worked as a team. Now, thanks to more standardized and robust API’s (Application Program Interfaces), systems that come from different vendors can work and share data. Suites are still coming on strong from the large HCM providers, but like Walmart is to a boutique, some functions are best when they have been specifically developed and curated for a purpose. With a multitude of HR Tech vendors out in the market, there’s a good chance that one has perfected a process or approach far better than a “module” that’s part of a suite. It all depends on the needs of the buyer.
So, there you have it for now. These are what I am considering the Top 6 Trends as I see it so far in 2021. My hope for 2021 is that we take advantage of the rare opportunity that so many are open to new ways of doing things. If I look back at the past decade, many were playing it safe. Innovation often occurred in “Pilots” or small segments of an organization. BOLD approaches to change were watered down when reality kicked in. If anything for this year, realize that it’s almost impossible to predict next month, next quarter or next year. So, if that’s the case, why not try something different and new?