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From Mark,
| In what I can only characterize as a transition year, the original HR Technology Conference & Exhibition took a final bow in Las Vegas last week, with the newly emerging “HR Tech” brand (replete with logo and identity changes) embracing the shortened moniker applied to this storied event for more than two decades. No matter the topic – whether related to the workforce, its skillset, the HR operating model, functional applications, risk mitigation, shared services, regulatory considerations, consent, personalization, or the overarching employee experience – bingo cards were filled with AI, GenAI, and digital assistants at almost every turn. It was the spoken and unspoken joke, with Gartner’s “trough of disillusionment” winning for the most PowerPoint citations at a single event. Despite the AI overload, we also found a renewed focus on end-to-end processes, governance, program management, provider relations, prioritization, and the unification of experiences across all modalities. This counterpoint punctuated the fact that a purely tech-led approach is simply not working, instead amplifying the need for employers to get organized, establish a strong point of view, and to prioritize the fluidity of true organizational needs given the dynamic nature of the work environment. The show itself was emblematic of what it feels like to serve as a modern HR professional. Movement in every direction, divided attention, difficulty separating signal from noise, and the feeling that although money is being spent, it’s unclear whether returns are to be had and can be measured. That said, we enjoyed spending time with our HR Tech family, including our clients, their providers, members of the Advisor Collective, the other Top 100 influencers, and the tireless HR Executive staff. As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new HR Tech era, it’s clear that the industry stands at a crossroads. While AI dominates the conversation, the enduring need for human-centric, strategic approaches remains paramount. Let’s remember that technology is a tool, not a panacea. The true measure of success will be how we harness these innovations to create more efficient, effective, and empathetic workplaces. The journey ahead promises both challenges and opportunities, and we look forward to exploring them together. |
 Founder/Managing Principal/Tech Debt Collector, IA |
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Change isn’t just lurking on the horizon anymore. It’s here, whether we’re ready for it or not. This means changes are going to be occurring across your organization, but there’s some good news: You don’t have to wait for sweeping changes to rattle the C-suite before you improve processes and efficiency in your HR practice. In fact, the longer you wait to isolate pain points and make improvements, the more difficult large-scale change is going to be down the road. It’s time for HR to step up and own it – and we can help you get there.
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