“Good companies will be distinguished from great companies by their ability to hire the right people and to embrace technology,” he advised delegates.
He argued that the world has reached a tipping point: economic power has shifted, and technology will change the way we live and work. Therefore, leaders must consider how elements such as the Internet of Things, Machine Learning and Augmented Reality will shape workplaces of the future.
For HR, this means embracing four key elements: understanding the role of your organisation in the modern world; defining what ‘best-in-class’ talent looks like; simplifying and modernising your processes; and embracing technology. “As well as being joined at the hip with the chief finance officer, HR now needs to be closely linked to the chief information officer,” he said.
While many HR functions have become more powerful, focused and commercially minded in recent years, Schuster believes there is an opportunity to be more strategic and focused on the long term. “If you cannot articulate your people strategy in 30 seconds, you need to work on that,” he urged the audience. “Be proactive and step up.”
More from Helmut Schuster
To watch Helmut Schuster's full presentation at the Future Talent Conference, click here
To read an in-depth interview with Helmut on the impact of technology and the capability of HR, click here