Four HR tech innovators CHROs need to know about

Approximately 300.

That’s the number of HR technology products I see in a given year across the briefings and events I attend and the HR Tech Awards program run by our team.

That seems like a lot, but some estimates put the total number of HR technology-related products in the thousands.

Taking care of the workforce is a big job!

When I put myself in the shoes of a VP of Talent or a CHRO, I realize just how difficult it is for them to have this same depth of insight into the technologies that exist today.

I spoke with an incredibly talented and insightful talent acquisition leader recently that is struggling to understand the differences in several Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

To my surprise, the team had completely overlooked one of the best-fit ATS options based on their unique global makeup and hiring volume.

No judgment here; it’s just another symptom of a lack of market insight.

Increasingly in our conversations with talent and HR executives, they are telling us that their technologies aren’t just a necessary evil or a ‘nice to have’.

Their HR technologies are critical enablers of performance, productivity, and impact.

One indicator of this trend is how many leaders take a new job and bring their preferred technology stack to the new organization.

And in a recent survey on Data-Driven HR we completed with the team at PeopleInsight, HR leaders told us that their executives were nearly twice as likely to support budget for HR technology as they were budget for new HR headcount.

With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at some of the innovation happening across the HR technology landscape.

This year at the UNLEASH America conference, our analyst team at Lighthouse Research & Advisory is partnering with UNLEASH to bring a special edition of our HR Tech Awards program to the stage.

We’ll be announcing the overall winners across key categories like talent acquisition, employee experience, and total rewards in front of a live audience.

However, you’re in for a treat.

I’ve worked with our judging panel to pull in a handful of the technologies they have looked at so far within the program that stand out due to innovative technology, impressive case studies, and/or differentiators that are unique to the industry.

Note: The startup awards program facilitated by UNLEASH is a different program, but it’s one that I heartily support. The systems I had the privilege to judge last year in the program will likely be some of the industry leaders in just a few short years!

Four innovators in HR tech

So far, the team has reviewed dozens of entries for the HR Tech Awards and these are some of the ones that were noteworthy based on early judge feedback.

Please note that this is not a list of ‘winners’, just a list of innovative technologies that HR and talent leaders might not know about.

Cornerstone

Company name: Cornerstone

Category: Learning and talent development

Innovation: Integration of generative AI into learning workflows for both learners and administrators

Why it’s interesting: Each learner consumes content and understands it differently than others.

This new AI evolution lets users take a learning object (document or other content) and generate a more user-friendly interaction with the item.

For instance, users can use Cornerstone’s AI features to create a podcast conversation explaining the learning concepts in a discussion format, giving them a better understanding of the ideas.

As a bonus, this type of conversation can make content more accessible to individuals that are not neurotypical, such as those with dyslexia or autism.

ERIN

Company name: ERIN

Category: Talent acquisition and employee referrals

Innovation: ERIN connects not just with a company’s talent acquisition systems for referral tracking back to specific jobs and hiring activities, but also to a company’s payroll and HR systems to make bonus payouts a seamless activity for those administering a referral program.

Why it’s interesting: Our newest research shows that candidates are 7x more likely to say trust increases when a company encourages referrals.

While referrals aren’t new as a concept, they are giving employers a way to add a human layer to the increasingly automated aspects of the hiring process.

That novelty is something that stands out for candidates, creates better results for employers, and drives real value for talent acquisition teams.

ERIN has made this easy, enabling over one million referrals for clients in the last year alone.

HiBob

Company name: HiBob

Category: Core HRIS + talent modules

Innovation: Intuitive, employee-centric, and honestly fun to use

Why it’s interesting: The HR industry has long been known for 90’s-looking technologies that get the job done for HR but are a pain to use for the workforce.

When you use HiBob, it’s just easy.

While nobody will ever confuse an HRIS for a game, it does offer employees ways to share important information about themselves, connect with others who share their same passions and interests, and create a culture that can be felt even in remote/hybrid environments.

In the words of the judging panel, “it’s fresh”.

Betterworks

Company name: Betterworks

Category: Talent management and performance

Innovation: AI-enabled performance processes that increase completions AND value

Why it’s interesting: Performance management, goal-setting, and similar processes are often hated in many organizations. That leads to low completion rates, perceptions of unfairness or bias, and other negative outcomes.

Betterworks has carefully integrated AI throughout its performance and talent systems, helping to drive higher adoption, greater confidence, and more engaged workers and managers.

The numbers back this up: one client saw 85% OKR adoption, nearly twice as many check-ins, 75% faster performance review completions, and more strategic goals overall due to AI-enabled goal setting.

As you can see, there are some exciting changes happening across the industry.

While there are some pundits who may complain about a lack of innovation in HR technology, you have just joined us in the front row seat as we witness some of the newest and most innovative solutions that are helping employers solve their biggest talent challenges.

This is just a preview of some of the good things our team has seen through the HR Tech Awards program this year.

Want to learn more and meet some of these companies in person? Join us at UNLEASH America!

Ethics note: in the interest of transparency, our policy is that no Lighthouse team member is allowed to have an equity stake or advisory board position in any provider of HR technology, and we don’t do any referral agreements or kickbacks, meaning there is no financial incentive to promote one company over another.