The influence of disruptive technology on organisations and what it will mean for jobs, skills and the future of the workplace are among the issues in spotlight at the 4th HR Tech MENA Summit, which opened today at the Palazzo Versace, Dubai.
The two-day event brings together some of the most exceptional minds from both regional and global HR and IT domains to discuss key technology trends shaping the Human Resources function in the digital era.
The Summit kicked with a welcome address by Fareda Abdullah Mohammed Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for National Employment, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, UAE. The keynote sessions got underway shortly thereafter with a presentation by world-renowned futurist and bestselling author Christian Kromme, on the topic ‘The Humanification of the Workforce’, which explored how technology is radically disrupting and redefining the future of HR and changing the way we live and work.
The morning session on Day 1 features a series of insightful keynotes by prominent HR and IT leaders including Mohamed Emad El-Din of IBM Collaboration and Talent Solutions, Shub Saha of Infor, Frederik Ballon of PeopleFluent amongst many other regional HR experts. Topics range from the interface between Artificial and Human Intelligence and the impact of AI on the future of jobs, to the need to reinvent the talent market as Human Capital Management (HCM) moves to the cloud.
Sharing insights on the latest trends in HR technology and the catalyzing role the Summit plays in helping organizations to understand the present and prepare for the future, Frederik Ballon, Managing Director – EMEA at PeopleFluent, a Gold Sponsor of this year’s Summit, said, “The MENA region is going through a dramatic transition and we believe that a single collaborative workspace that reflects your unique talent strategies, culture, and employer brand will become the main driver reshaping the region in 2018 and beyond. Events such as the HR Tech MENA Summit offer an opportunity for HR managers to better understand how technology can be used to support people development, adapt to changes and build an effective digital workplace.”
Rounding off the morning session on Day 1 is a panel discussion on the topic ‘How Do We Create a Culture of Collaboration?’. Two more insightful panels are scheduled for the afternoon session, focusing on the topics ‘Enhancing Employee Experience in the Digital Workplace’ and ‘HR & IT: True Partners in the Evolving Workplace’.
Sidh N.C., Director, QnA International, said, “With technology continuing to evolve at a breakneck pace and offering ever new possibilities, simply automating and integrating your HR practices is no longer enough. To reap the full benefits of the digital revolution underway and to ensure that your organization is future-ready, HR must focus on developing the flexibility and speed required to respond effectively to changing circumstances and embrace next-generation technologies that have a measurable impact, not only on their work processes but also on productivity.”
The second and final day of the Summit will feature two parallel sessions focused on ‘Talent Tech’ and ‘Learning and Development Tech’, bringing on stage an exceptional lineup of speakers that would include renowned tech experts and high-level executives from top organizations from GCC.
