Which tech trends will help to shape the recruitment landscape in 2018? Machine learning could eliminate unconscious bias; on-chain recruiting has the potential to transform the way we think about CVs. The eBoss team considers the latest innovations in recruitment software which will power the industry over the next twelve months.

Will Artificial Intelligence outwit us all?

You can hardly have missed the recruiting sector’s current obsession with all things AI. From scare stories telling us we’ll soon be out of work, to the wonders of machine learning.

In fact, artificial intelligent is already here. Semantic search – which helps your system learn to interpret parameters and data – vastly improves results of standard Boolean searches. That’s artificial intelligence, though we don’t necessarily think of it that way.

But the next generation of artificial intelligence is solving some very human problems. The risk of enabling unconscious biases in hiring should worry any employer. But implementation of an AI interviewer can safeguard recruiters against accusations of unfairness.

Elsewhere, smart software is taking cultural fit testing to the next level. Remember the VK machines in Blade Runner? Tech firm HireVue has developed a similar system: one which assesses your personality through your facial reactions to the interviewer.

Chatbots, meanwhile, are becoming an indispensable tool in screening and after-care. Job seekers have never enjoyed the experience of being ‘ghosted’ after an unsuccessful interview. (In truth, it is usually a lack of resources that prevents further processing of failed applicants.) But in an age where brand identity is more important in talent acquisition than ever before, chatbots are performing superbly.

While HR may not have the time to connect with every failed applicant, a chatbot which debriefs candidates and collects experiential feedback leaves a positive impression – and finds useful data. Forbes has even suggested that these software AIs provide a 400 per cent ROI over their lifetimes.

Recruitment Software evolves

The eBoss team recently had a discussion where the topic of cloud computing came up. Already a mainstay of most offices, we asked whether advertising products as ‘cloud-based solutions’ might be considered old-hat. But, while blockchains and AI get everybody excited, cloud solutions are the ones enabling the digital transformation to take place.

Few firms run entirely server-based recruitment software, these days. Agility remains the buzzword for the industry. And, as Everything-as-a-Service gains traction as a concept, we should remember that the move to the cloud is just beginning.

Granular, service orientated architecture solutions are every recruiter’s dream. Pay for what you need, when you need it – and enjoy a system free from bloat. It’s worth remembering that it’s cloud computing which makes that happen.

Services providing easy GDPR compliance for recruiters

Sometimes the technology shapes the industry. Other times, the industry shapes the tech. It’s a symbiotic relationship where it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell which is the tail and which is the dog. But, in the case of GDPR, it is most definitely the demands of the industry which have shaped the tech.

GDPR re-states the privacy rights of EU citizens, and re-enforces the obligations of organisations processing their data. With heavy fines for non-compliance, it’s no surprise that companies are putting serious money into finding solutions.

But, with the right systems in place, GDPR does not mean high costs or endless re-papering of old customer consent forms. The eBoss team has developed our own GDPR compliance toolkit to reduce the bulk of the processes. Our working environment lets you spot outstanding consents at a glance, and react accordingly.

These are simple additions to your existing system. But they remove the risk of accessing or processing data for which you have no authorisation. They also make acquiring that consent much easier, too. Watch the video below, to see how you can deliver a consent request – via SMS – in seconds.

The reality is that GDPR compliance does not end on the May 25th deadline – it only just begins. Software that simplifies compliance will be something that you will come to rely upon – on a daily basis – long into the future. Because of that, GDPR tools are likely to remain the recruitment software trend for the first half of 2018.

Building a recruitment blockchain

2017 was the year cryptocurrencies gained mainstream traction. But will 2018 be the moment they experience broader commercial adoption?

Towards the end of last year, we began reporting on entrepreneurs who were bringing the blockchain to the recruitment sector. The blockchain – essentially a giant, public spreadsheet – is used by currencies like bitcoin to verify payments. But innovators are increasingly looking at the platform as a way to securely share and verify information across a global network. The impact that this could have on recruitment processes could be nothing short of revolutionary.

Right now, hype has led to the creation of hundreds of new coins and companies. As we reported at the time, many of these enterprises have profited despite offering no innovative uses of the tech. 2018 may be a bad year for businesses that over-promised and under-delivered; many currencies could lose value. But the underlying technology is sound – and likely to become a mainstay of cross-border commerce in the future.

2017 was characterised by strong growth within the recruitment sector. But it was also a transitional year, too. When we look back at 2018, will we see a year in which technology – and recruitment software – played a key role in finally addressing the issues of the jobs market? While we have considered a few of the emergent technologies in the industry, this is only a part of the picture. Have we missed any vital innovations? Let us know, in the comments section below.