By Mark Johnson, Talent Optimization Specialist with PI Midlantic
Small and medium businesses (SMBs) are increasingly leveraging AI tools to work alongside HR professionals, creating a partnership that enhances efficiency, improves employee experience, and supports business growth. Here are several practical examples of how AI and HR teams complement each other in SMB settings.
Recruitment and Hiring
• Automated Resume Screening and Candidate Matching: AI-powered tools like Zoho Recruit and SmartRecruiters help SMBs quickly sift through applications, screen resumes, and rank candidates based on fit, allowing HR professionals to focus on engaging with top prospects and making final hiring decisions.
• Sourcing Passive Candidates: AI can search job boards and social networks to identify qualified candidates who aren’t actively job hunting, expanding the talent pool for SMBs without requiring extensive manual effort from HR staff.
Here is a great article by the Cannata Report that shows how AI can help in hiring.
Employee Onboarding and Support
• 24/7 Employee Assistance: AI chatbots provide instant answers to common HR questions about benefits, policies, or procedures, making HR support available around the clock-even when the HR team is small or has limited hours.
• Streamlined Onboarding: Automated systems guide new hires through onboarding paperwork and training modules, freeing HR professionals to focus on welcoming and integrating new employees personally.
Here is an article that discusses how SMBs can use AI tools for onboarding and other tasks.
Learning and Development
• Personalized Training Recommendations: AI-driven learning platforms assess employee skills and suggest tailored training programs, helping SMBs upskill their workforce efficiently and ensuring that development initiatives match both business needs and individual learning styles.
• Tracking Progress and Identifying Skill Gaps: AI tools monitor employee progress in training and flag areas where additional support or resources are needed, allowing HR to intervene proactively.
More information on how AI can help with L&D can be found here.
Employee Engagement and Retention
• Predictive Analytics for Retention: AI analyzes work patterns, engagement surveys, and feedback to predict which employees might be at risk of leaving, enabling HR to take early action to improve retention.
• Continuous Feedback: AI-powered platforms can facilitate regular check-ins and engagement surveys, giving HR real-time insights into employee morale and satisfaction.
By combining AI’s efficiency and data-driven insights with the empathy, judgment, and strategic thinking of HR professionals, SMBs can create a more agile, engaged, and productive workforce. This collaboration allows small businesses to compete more effectively, foster a positive workplace culture, and focus on long-term success.
Mark Johnson, Talent Optimization Specialist mjohnson@pimidlantic.com www.linkedin.com/in/mhjohnson
About the author
Mark Johnson is a Talent Optimization Specialist who uses Predictive Index to help companies get the right person in the right seat, build high performing teams, and develop manager talent. Predictive Index is a leading platform for managing human capital with over 10,000 clients worldwide. Mark is a Chamber member and has an MBA from the University of Virginia.
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