Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, from driverless cars and voice enabled mobile phone assistants to Terminator style robots in the media. It is, however, only in the last decade that organisations have started to use AI to deliver value and benefits to business processes and drive digital transformation.
It is first important to understand what AI means within a business context. AI is an umbrella term which covers a whole host of technologies from Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to Process Mining and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). These technologies are deployed in combination to solve specific business challenges. For example, to automate manual data entry and even to support customer service interactions, however, it is within back office processes, such as HR where real benefits and transformation can be achieved.
Typically, HR has been considered a ‘cost centre’, adding little to an organisations profit and growth. This archaic view has meant HR departments are often the last place where AI and automation technologies
are deployed. This has resulted in cumbersome manual processes, where employees are reliant on multiple legacy systems and inefficient work arounds to complete tasks, leading to errors and frustration.
The fallout from the pandemic is changing this view, and HR is rapidly becoming one of the most important departments in an organisation. Business Leaders are now relying on HR Teams to ensure not only the productivity and the engagement of employees, but also to safeguard their wellbeing. Whilst there was an immediate rush to establish ‘easy fixes’ to support employees working remotely, many of these ‘fixes’ are not sustainable long term. HR and IT teams now need a future proofed solution to support employees. Technologies such as Digital AI Assistants could offer organisations a scalable solution.
Digital AI Assistants support HR teams by helping to keep employees connected through providing a 24/7 multi-channel conversational platform. The technology enables employees to ask questions such as ‘How do I submit my expenses?’, automates tasks like booking holiday and can even support training and recognition schemes. Additionally, a Digital Assistant can even support employee’s wellbeing by enabling them to seek advice without the need to speak to a person – allowing them to remain anonymous whilst still providing them with the right information and advice.
Crucially, Digital AI Assistants not only enable employees to access the information and support they need, whenever and wherever they need it, but also frees up HR Teams to focus strategic tasks such as leadership development and future planning.
Through enabling HR to be part of Digital Transformation initiatives and giving them the freedom to explore AI technologies, they can ensure the success of the organisation by putting the employee first.
To find out more about how Digital AI Assistants can deliver transformation to your HR processes, get in touch today.