But embracing technology in business might not be as widespread as we presume — a recent TomTom Telematics survey revealed 31 per cent of senior managers believe their firms aren’t taking advantage of innovations quickly.
So if you’re trying to convince your organisation to take a different tack, here are three corporate functions being transformed by tech.
- Learning and development
When large organisations need to regularly train and develop employees and introduce new products and services to clients, the learning and development department steps up to the plate.
Online learning platforms have long been used to save money by training and certifying large numbers of staff simultaneously — this method is particularly convenient for mandatory qualifications that are updated annually.
But some businesses are using tech in a much more substantive manner — for instance, adopting peer to peer crowdsourcing technology trains workers in everything from project management to meditation through gathering ideas from colleagues and connecting learners to expert teachers.
Lessons themselves are also interactive, which means that information is absorbed and understood much more robustly than through tick box tests that merely encourage memorisation.
- HR automation
Automation can free skilled staff members from time-consuming manual tasks and processes.
And in many organisations, the HR department is the first place it brings benefits.
Automated payroll software saves reams of paperwork while ensuring precise salary payments and tax compliance — but AI systems now also use intelligent learning in talent acquisition to predict the best candidates for job roles more accurately than humans.
So with much more time on their hands, HR employees can use their emotional intelligence to monitor employee health and wellbeing, introduce positive cultural change and maintain clear channels of communication between the C-suite and every hierarchical level.
- Communications
Traditional communications departments develop messaging for external and internal customers — effectively producing PR for reputational enhancement amongst clients and employees.
But any comms department that doesn’t understand digital media and marketing will find itself speaking a language that no-one understands.
Provided management understands the conversational conventions of social media, an internal platform can be used to maintain morale, share ideas and foster a sense of connection.
And externally, using effective search marketing helps to create and maintain a strong online presence — while an optimised website means you can capitalise on business from mobile customers.
So farsighted organisations will regularly retrain communications officers in the latest technology, strategies and techniques — otherwise much of their skillset will regularly become obsolete.
Rapid advancements in tech can potentially improve every area of business, but companies need to keep a keen eye on developments.
These three corporate functions being transformed by tech should convince any businessperson to get on board and join the 21s Century.
Does your company embrace technology? Share your opinions in the comments section.
