Dive Brief:

• Forbes sat down with three CHROs to discuss the current state of HR and what they see as the future. Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Vice President Human Resources, Air Canada; Kim Hauer, Vice President and Chief HR Officer, Caterpillar Inc.; and Lori Gaytan, SVP, Americas Human Resources and Global Functions, InterContinental Hotels Group were all part of the interview.
• The most important function for these CHROs right now? Talent development. Social media like LinkedIn and, increasingly, Twitter matters more than ever for recruiting. Digital analytics are helping HR managers see how their workforces have evolved over time and make predictions on where they may be headed—and what their talent needs will be.
• The future of HR, they say, will involve managers contributing “even more strategically” to the company’s business goals thanks to these new tools. 

Dive Insight:

HR tech is having its day. Analytics continue to be one of the most important new tools for HR managers, for both recruiting and managing the current workforce. Mobile accessibility to company job websites is key to attracting passive candidates. And big data now allows HR managers to target certain geographies or disciplines in order to find the best talent – even though the net for recruiting is wider than ever.

But while big data remains a touchstone for future HR trends, practitioners shouldn’t lose track of the human side of human resources.  Hauer focuses not only on physical safety in the workplace, but emotional safety – the ability to openly share ideas and think differently. Gaytan speaks of IHG’s “Rooms,” including “Room for You,” which, she says, “recognizes our people as individuals.” Meloul-Wechsler also notes an increased focus on transparency and communication—a well-paced “cultural evolution” that is about the long game, not the quick wins.