Dive Brief:
- Nearly one-third of U.S. CHROs said their primary role is to digitalize their workplace, according to a global survey of 500 HR executives commissioned by ServiceNow.
- More than half of the CHROs polled (56%) said their future role would be creating a "digital, consumerized employee experience," while only 6% said their role will continue to be identified by traditional HR activities.
- Results indicate that U.S. organizations are ahead of their counterparts in Europe, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Islands when it comes to digitalization; more than one-third (38%) of U.S. employers plan to increase their investment in digital technology, a percentage that is higher than that of both Europe (19%) and Asia/Australia/Pacific Islands (21%).
Dive Insight:
It's not surprising that a significant number of CHROs see themselves as responsible for their organizations' digital transformation; employers' future success depends on digital preparation. Moreover, strategists say CHROs in particular play a key role in both introducing technology and building employees' trust of new tools and processes.
Employers who fully embrace technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, and who have invested in upskilling workers for digital transformation, may edge out their competitors in attracting and retaining talent. In a recent study, Randstad U.S. called these employers "digitally superior," saying these companies are 165% more likely to meet their business objectives, earn higher revenues, save on costs and have higher ROI.
A common roadblock to digital transformation is a lack of resources. The Hackett Group found in a study that while the overwhelming majority of HR leaders think technology will significantly change how their organizations function, less than 50% have the resources to make digital transformation a reality. HR may need to champion the benefits of adopting new tech using real people data, from productivity measurements to employee survey results.
