Human Resources has had to adjust quickly to evolving technological advancements.

Human resources have always had compliance and risk avoidance as essential values, and traditionally, averting risk has consisted of time-consuming tasks and substantial amounts of paperwork.

Advances in technology, however, have changed the tedious nature of human resources, thanks to new HR portals and platforms that digitize the information process. Big Data has impacted the way HR departments communicate with existing and prospective employees.

Big Data allows HR professionals to identify emerging trends, by giving them a fact-based view of the current workforce. HR is making better risk-management decisions and can more easily identify employees who need additional training, or those who may be suitable for a promotion. Recruiters can also use analytics to assess potential employees based off real information. They can improve the quality of new hires by basing their decisions on facts instead of hunches.

The cloud is another technological advancement having a significant impact on human resources. HR departments have always dealt with the collection and storage of data, and traditionally this meant hard drive space, desk drawers, and filing cabinets. Not only did this create chaotic office environments, but it lead to inefficiencies and data loss. Today, this same information can be stored in the cloud. Data can be collected through automated forms and easily accessed online by authorized parties. The challenge for Human Resource departments going forward will be understanding the measures needed to avoid data breaches.