HR TECH REPORT: What to expect in 2025

2025 is here and with that comes the opportunity to take a closer look at tech trends that we expect to remain the same or make a new appearance in the working world. These HR tech trends are important to keep an eye on as they will undoubtedly shape the workplace, allowing you to gain some competitive edge when it comes to planning for the upcoming year.

Firstly, we expect 2025 to be a year of fast-pace, but also one that reflects leading and engaging with employees intentionally. This intentional but also fast-paced approach will assist organizations in connecting with their employees, whilst maintaining a good level of productivity and efficiency in the workplace.

In 2025, the top three key trends we expect to see are remote and hybrid work securing its place, more personalized employee experiences and an increase in AI adoption across organizations. Staying ahead of these trends is crucial for achieving organizational success in the year of 2025.

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The Rise of Remote and Hybrid Work

Remote and hybrid work is nothing new in the workplace, however more companies are now adopting a remote or hybrid work policy due to global expansion demanding more flexibility among employees. In addition to this, another reason why we believe that remote and hybrid work is here to stay is because of the vast amount of collaboration tools that are now available to make remote work a seamless experience.

Many organizations have made the change from mandating employees to come in to the office to a more flexible approach, allowing employees to either work from home or come into the office a few times a week. Some companies on the other hand, like Zapier, embrace a fully-remote work culture.

This approach to work provides employees with more flexibility and benefits when it comes to doing their jobs, but employees have also said that having the flexibility increases their productivity, proving to be a win-win situation for both employees and organizations.

Of course, like all good things, there are also challenges to be mindful of when it comes to remote or hybrid work. One of them being maintaining team collaboration and culture in global and diverse teams. Organizations should prioritize regular team check ins and make use of cutting-edge mobile-friendly apps, like Qualee, to continue building a culture of connection.

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Personalizing the Employee Experience

Another trend we are likely to see come to the forefront of the workplace this year is placing more importance on creating personalized employee experiences.

It has become increasingly evident that employees want to be engaged on an individual level and not be seen as just another number. Moreover, the employee experience should be tailored to the employee’s needs across the journey of their lifecycle, moving more towards a cycle of continuous improvement.

We already see some organizations adopting this approach by making use of tools, like Qualee, with  advanced analytics to accurately understand the needs and preferences of their employees. By personalizing the employee experience, organizations will reap the benefits of having increased employee retention, engagement and overall productivity.

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A Future with AI and Technology

AI made its first appearance just a few years ago, but it has since grown exponentially, with more and more organizations realizing that AI is part of the future and needs to be adopted if they want to keep up within the competitive landscape.

Not only has AI dramatically increased productivity through HR automation, but it has also proven useful when it comes to onboarding new employees, engaging current employees and providing training to new and existing employees.

In addition to this, there is potential for job creation as a result of AI, with new opportunities arising within HR.

With that being said, as powerful and game-changing as AI is, it is important to consider how you implement AI within your organization. There should be a well-defined balance between AI technology and human touch, especially within human resources. AI should also be used in an ethical and unbiased manner when it comes to recruiting and hiring new employees.

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Middle East Emerges as a Growth Hub for HR Tech

Although not specifically a trend, something that organizations should be aware of is the growth surge in the Middle East region. The Middle East has seen rapid expansion in technology adoption in recent years, with it set to only increase. We have specifically noted an increase in HR tech adoption that is driving onboarding, training and engagement in the region.

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Trends We’re Saying Goodbye to in 2025

As we bring in new trends, it’s also time to say goodbye to trends that previously dominated the workplace. For one, the ‘Great Resignation’ is no longer, as we see a major shift from a predominantly employee-favoured hiring market to now, an employer-favoured hiring market. As a result, we’ll see fewer employees leaving their jobs without securing new opportunities beforehand.

Furthermore, mental-wellbeing initiatives were heavily prioritized in previous years, however organizations have now closed that gap and new generation employees are more comfortable with discussing mental health challenges, resulting in less importance placed on wellbeing at work.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, we expect to see three key trends emerge in 2025; the rise of remote and hybrid work, personalizing the employee experience and looking forward to a future with AI and technology. These three trends will undoubtedly have an impact on the way people work and have an overall effect on organizational performance and success. On the contrary, we’ll be waving goodbye to two trends that have previously dominated the workforce; ‘The Great Resignation’ and mental wellbeing initiatives. With the shift to an employer-favored hiring market and with mental wellbeing initiatives being well-established, these are two trends that we will likely see a lot less of in the year of 2025. Lastly, it’s important to note that the Middle East is emerging as a growth hub for HR tech, driving onboarding, training and engagement. Be sure to keep an eye out for these trends throughout the year to stay ahead of the curve and create a team powered for success!

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