The document discusses the future of HR technology and the need for it to be based on the 3Es of Ease, Engage, and Experience. It notes that today's users expect technology to be easy to use. The 3Es will ensure the system is easy to use and widely accepted, engages all user groups at different levels, and provides a consistent experience across diverse business demographics through advanced analytics. A system based on the 3Es will establish HR's place in the digital lives of employees as more join virtual workspaces.

1. The Future of HR
Technology - The 3E's
HR technology is catching up with the pace of innovation and needs to be
based on the 3Es -- Ease, Engage and Experience
Today’s generation expects technology to be easy to use. Anything complex is a complete turn off.
That is why, Ease ensures maximum acceptance of a system by masses
The father of modern day innovation, Steve Jobs, once said “Innovation happens at the intersection
of technology and humanities”. The development of technology for humanities or Human Resources
has been no different. Its systems and technologies have evolved parallely for more than four
decades now. Right from the time when technology enabled HR by automating employee records,
managing employee time records and grievances, to the present day systems that facilitate in
strategic planning – helping HR to be more aligned with business (armed with utilization, productivity
and real-time performance data of employees and its impact on business numbers), the impact has
been phenomenal.
Technology and its related innovation are at its peak in recent times. Never before have so many
technology platforms converged together, be it web, mobile, cloud, social media interaction or
analytics – each day brings new advancements.

2. HR technology is not untouched by this “wave of change” and is quickly catching up with the pace of
innovation. It has taken a major leap by shifting its core focus to an employee-centric system, as
compared to the earlier traditional employer-centric or HR manager-centric system.
Imagine an HR technology system which has the ease of Facebook, the experience of Salesforce,
the ability to engage its user like the best in class CRM system and the capability to help HR
managers predict like pilots in BVR (Beyond Visual Range) cockpits used in modern day avionics.
This is the future of HR technology!!!
To reach this level, new-age HR technology would need to be based on the principle of 3Es: EASE,
ENGAGE and EXPERIENCE
Today’s generation expects technology to be easy to use. Anything complex is a complete turn off.
Perhaps that is why, of the 3E’s, EASE is the one which ensures maximum acceptance of a system
by masses. One needs to take inspiration from websites like Facebook and Google that have kept
evolving to meet user needs. For instance, when mobile markets seemed to grow (Mobile is already
62.5 per cent of traffic in India compared to 37.5 per cent for desktop and this number is expected to
grow manifold), Facebook, Google apps quickly registered their presence. They gave a clear
message “We will travel the extra mile for you” to the users.
The second E refers to ENGAGE. HR today is far more diverse and integrated with business and
hence has muti-faceted user groups, spanning employees, HR administrators, business users, line
managers etc. The Engage principle ensures that each user group is engaged with the overall HR
business life cycle at the transactional, functional and strategic levels. From employee self-service,
manager self-service, administrator self-services to cross integration self-services – these are the
new horizons that a futuristic HR technology system needs to reach.
The third E: The EXPERIENCE of using a system and its impact on business is the most valuable
addition of the new-age HR technology platform. Today, along with the advent of cloud and mobile
computing and its integration through advanced technologies, it is possible to replicate consistent
user experience through a large segment of diverse business demographics. The Experience
principle also focuses on new-age analytics platforms, which transform the way the interaction is
defined between HR and business. An HR system that imbibes the essence of 3E’s would
undoubtedly establish its place in the “Digital” life of employees. And as more and more employees
are added to the “Virtual” workspace of an organization, it is this very 3E transformation that HR
would need to make happen in order to meet the ever changing need of business.