This was sent to me by one of our Sponsors for the recruitment software event we are running on the 22nd September. I thought it worth sharing.
It is almost a cliché that in order for technology to maintain its place in the recruiter’s processes, innovation must be constant and relevant. But while applications and services will always be important, the functionality being provided must stem from the needs of the individual consultant.
But how will the provision of technology for the industry change over 2011? Or, to put it more bluntly, how does its provision need to change?
Technology now allows consultants to treat all their clients like real people: on an individual and personal basis, and not as an amorphous mass. Ironically however, much of the industry’s technology research and development is not as personal. Due to a focus on satisfying hype and blinkered one-upmanship, many technology providers have spent time and resource developing applications and services without due care and attention being paid to the most important question of all – “how will this help recruiters in their day to day activity?”
The industry has only a handful of technology solutions that truly boost ROI, and these solutions are increasingly evolving into more personally engaging applications, suitable for every level of user.
Indeed, if every level of user, from the board to the junior researcher, is not considered, or even ideally directly consulted, the research and development efforts can only deliver short term ‘gimmicks’ that satisfy a temporary perceived need or unsupported desire. Instead, these efforts should be directed towards delivering quantifiable, readily identifiable ROI and competitive advantage.
Throughout our experience in the market, we have seen countless technological innovations boldly being launched that pay little attention to the needs of the individual recruiter– innovations that have often disappeared from view as quickly as they have arrived.
Flexibility and accommodation have to become the watchwords not only by the way in which the technology providers approach the market, but also by the way in which the products themselves are developed.
PS, if you are interested in the event there is still time to sign up!
