Taking a lead on tech-enabled humanity – 5 steps for industry leaders

Tech-driven disruption – particularly generative AI – has profound implications for most sectors of the economy. And the recruitment industry is not immune from this; in fact, it is at the absolute forefront. So here are five key take-aways for industry leaders from our recent report “Tech-enabled humanity: your recruitment business and the tech revolution”: 

1. Making the most of the immediate opportunities. How is AI reconfiguring the recruitment ecosystem right now? The most obvious manifestation is the opportunity to automate repetitive tasks, such as CV screening and interview scheduling and using chatbots for common enquiries. This can drive efficiencies and free up time for added value activities. The challenge is around being clear on what this looks like in practice and on how to recalibrate internal roles and nurture new skills.
    

2. Identifying specific training needs. What training, awareness-raising and upskilling is needed to ensure that both frontline recruiters and back-office teams are making the most of the new tech-enabled opportunities? At the same time, what core skills need to be focused on to nurture the tech vs touch equilibrium?
    

3. Ramping up the ‘human element’  Technology offers numerous benefits, but an underlying message from the ‘Tech-Enabled Humanity’ report is that recruiters must strike a balance by preserving the human element in their interactions with candidates and clients. Building strong relationships, understanding candidate needs, and providing personalised guidance is more important than ever. This shines a light on the enduring need to develop the best possible interpersonal and communication skills as a differentiator, even in this digital age!
    

4. Pre-empting future changes and new frontiers. What’s next and how do we stay on the front foot when harnessing future tech-driven innovations? In addition to refining the use of AI to enhance overall efficiency, new data analytics tools will continue to inform recruitment metrics, help recruiters make informed decisions and optimise business strategies. The opportunities to leverage AI for candidate sourcing, screening, and ‘ranking’ will also accelerate. We can also expect an increased focus on using AI to predict the success of each candidate in specific roles.
    

5. Managing the change. Industry leaders should not just focus on the why? And the what? Of tech-driven evolution. They are also need to focus on the how? Any successful change management requires leaders to engage with individuals and teams and to explain reasons for change and potential benefits for all. The sheer magnitude of change offered by AI adoption makes this collaborative approach especially vital.

Above are just five of the immediate steps forward for industry leaders based on the takeaways from our ‘Tech-Enabled Humanity’ report. As the recruitment industry strives to adapt and become more technologically advanced it is key to strike the right balance between technology and the human touch. By prioritising customer-centricity, data quality, and ethical considerations, recruitment industry leaders can navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that technology brings.