{"id":63393,"date":"2018-02-08T07:22:39","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T05:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sageone.co.za\/?p=63393"},"modified":"2026-01-29T16:03:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:03:01","slug":"how-technology-puts-humanity-back-into-hr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/how-technology-puts-humanity-back-into-hr\/","title":{"rendered":"How technology puts humanity back into HR"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow technology puts humanity back into HR\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2018-02-08T07:22:39+02:00\">Feb 8, 2018<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How technology puts humanity back into HR\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/how-technology-puts-humanity-back-into-hr\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/author\/ashleyhindsmansage\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/Ashley-Thompson-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Ashley Thompson\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/Ashley-Thompson-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/02\/Ashley-Thompson.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Ashley Thompson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There are those who would have you believe that robots are a sure-fire way to put HR managers out of work. And while it can\u2019t be denied that machine learning and artificial intelligence have lessened the load of repetitive HR duties, there are some things that humans can do that robots can\u2019t \u2013 and may never.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we get into that, though, it\u2019s worth looking at what the machines have done right. For the longest time, conversations about the role of tech in HR have focused on how mobile, social media, cloud, and analytics have improved productivity by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increasing job satisfaction and improving work-life balance by making teams<strong> mobile;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helping HR teams find candidates that are well-suited to the company through <strong>social media<\/strong>, as well as maintaining a level of engagement with current employees via the same channels;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reducing admin, like leave and payroll, through automation and data <strong>analytics<\/strong>; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/sage-business-cloud\/accounting\/\">cloud software<\/a><\/strong> to manage all of the above.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While mobile, social, and cloud have their benefits, they aren\u2019t considered business differentiators anymore. This is because every business should be using these tools in their daily decision-making, and to give their teams the freedom to leave their desks. What truly sets a business apart is its data and analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-data-more-freedom\"><strong>More data, more freedom<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An HR manager\u2019s job description can lead them to feel as though their responsibilities are never-ending. From managing internal systems (e.g. payroll, leave, and performance reviews and management), to social media and external sources, the evolution of HR can only begin once all of the above is consolidated into an integrated database. Rather than your HR manager drowning under the weight of unread CVs when hunting for the perfect fit for your company, use tools like <u><a href=\"https:\/\/business.linkedin.com\/talent-solutions\/recruiter\" rel=\"nofollow\">LinkedIn Recruiter<\/a><\/u> and <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">ZipRecruiter<\/a><\/u> to scan them as well as various professional networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">Before resisting the role of tech in HR, see it for what it is: an opportunity to put the humanity back into human resources, by allowing your team to do what they do best: focus on human connections<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cultivating-happiness-where-it-matters-most\"><strong>Cultivating happiness where it matters most<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next time you\u2019re pouring energy into understanding your customers through data analytics, ask yourself if you\u2019re spending the same (if not more) amount of time on understanding your staff. Because, according to <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/business-functions\/operations\/our-insights\/the-secret-to-delighting-customers-putting-employees-first\" rel=\"nofollow\">McKinsey<\/a><\/u>, a phenomenal customer experience goes hand-in-hand with a motivated and engaged workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll never get to the crux of what matters and motivates your team without real and regular human interaction. There are those who would choose flexible hours over financial reward, and others who thrive within the confines of the 9-5 work day. Whoever the individual truly is, and whatever makes them tick, it can only be discovered by asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The true value of HR is invariable. It lies in connection, understanding, motivation, and growth. By embracing the technology that lightens the load of admin your HR team faces, they can focus on doing the things a robot never could: finding the right team and nurturing the right company culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This, in itself, makes an investment in technology worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Sage 300 People<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Secure, compliant, and familiar, Sage 300 People has everything you need to drive HR and payroll in your large business.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/products\/sage-300-people\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tid=\"cta-id-624\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-button-location=\"cta_box\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Find out more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-39-1064x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/07\/resize-1675x1275-39-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are those who would have you believe that robots are a sure-fire way to put HR managers out of work. And while it can\u2019t be denied that machine learning and artificial intelligence have lessened the load of repetitive HR duties, there are some things that humans can do that robots can\u2019t \u2013 and may [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":281,"featured_media":464,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,42,26,28,44,45],"tags":[161,185,338],"business_type":[2,3],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[10,14,16],"imagine_tag":[57,99,81],"coauthors":[414],"class_list":["post-63393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employing-people","category-managing-people","category-people-leadership","category-technology-innovation","category-todays-tech","category-tomorrows-tech","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-employee-benefits","tag-opinion-columns","business_type-small-business","business_type-medium-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-za","author_name":"Ashley Thompson","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-187512771.jpg","imagine_tags":{"57":"HR and Payroll","99":"HR software","81":"Technology and Innovation"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice South Africa","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/281"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=63393"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=63393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}