Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Reach Us
    • Career
    Subscribe Newsletter
    HR KathaHR Katha
    • Exclusive
      • Exclusive Features
      • Research
      • Point Of View
      • Case In Point
      • Dialogue
      • Movement
      • Profile
      • Beyond Work
      • Rising Star
      • By Invitation
    • News
      • Global HR News
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Diversity
      • Events
      • Gen Y
      • Hiring & Firing
      • HR & Labour Laws
      • Learning & Development
      • Merger & Acquisition
      • Performance Management & Productivity
      • Talent Management
      • Tools & Technology
      • Work-Life Balance
    • Special
      • Cover Story
      • Editorial
      • HR Forecast 2024
      • HR Forecast 2023
      • HR Forecast 2022
      • HR Forecast 2021
      • HR Forecast 2020
      • HR Forecast 2019
      • New Age Learning
      • Coaching and Training
      • Learn-Engage-Transform
    • Magazine
    • Reports
      • Whitepaper
        • HR Forecast 2024 e-mag
        • Future-proofing Manufacturing Through Digital Transformation
        • Employee Healthcare & Wellness Benefits: A Guide for Indian MSMEs
        • Build a Future Ready Organisation For The Road Ahead
        • Employee Experience Strategy
        • HRKatha 2019 Forecast
        • Decoding and Driving Employee Engagement
        • One Platform, Infinite Possibilities
      • Survey Reports
        • Happiness at Work
        • Upskilling for Jobs of the Future
        • The Labour Code 2020
    • Conferences
      • HRKatha Futurecast
      • Automation.NXT
      • The Great HR Debate
    • HR Jobs
    WhatsApp LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram
    HR KathaHR Katha
    Home»Exclusive Features»Does absence of mobile-first HR system mean zero engagement?
    Exclusive Features

    Does absence of mobile-first HR system mean zero engagement?

    mmBy Kartikay Kashyap | HRKathaAugust 9, 2019Updated:August 11, 20194 Mins Read16620 Views
    Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    Share
    LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

    The increasing number of smartphone users has changed the manner in which organisations choose and implement HR systems.

    Our country has reached a state where people are using their smartphones day and night, and almost everywhere—in bed, at the dining table, and even inside the toilet. They are obsessed with their smartphones—addicted to them—and cannot seem to survive without them!

    Statistics show that India currently has more than 400 million smartphone users. Another study has predicted that this number will cross 700 million by 2025.

    With the price wars in the telecom industry, the cost of data has fallen tremendously, making it easier for people to obtain data at affordable prices.

    Soon, the 5G revolution will sweep over India, leading to many more changes in all industries.

    Ramesh Mitragotri

    “We look for technology, which is relevant to the audience and fulfils the purpose it is aimed at. If the focus audience commonly uses smartphones, then we do select technology that’s smartphone based.”

    Human resources has not been spared either. Now HR professionals know that if they want to reach out to their people and engage with them, they have to reach out for mobile-first technology.

    While people may not carry their desktops, laptops or tablets everywhere, smartphones can be carried anywhere with ease.

    For instance, if an organisation wants to launch an internal messenger app for its employees, it makes sense for the employees to access the app through their smartphones.

    “There are HR products in market like chatbots which help in driving user experience and adoption,” says Amit Sharma, VP-HR, Zee Entertainment.

    “If we are adopting an HR technology, it should be simple and the user experience should be high enough for people to find it compelling,” adds Sharma.

    But does this mean that an HR system which is not mobile-first is useless?

    Adoption of a technology will not depend only on the mobile-first feature in that HR system. It should simply cater to the needs of the employees.

    Amit Sharma

    “If we are adopting an HR technology, it should be simple and the user experience should be high enough for people to find it compelling”

    “We look for technology, which is relevant to the audience and fulfils the purpose it is aimed at. If the focus audience commonly uses smartphones, then we do select technology that’s smartphone based,” shares Ramesh Mitragotri, CHRO, Ultratech Cement.

    “We also look for quick compatibility across systems in case of multiple audiences and scalability to smartphones for systems of frequent and continuous use,” adds Mitragotri.

    There is no doubt that people of all ages use smartphones today. All white-collared employees will have smartphones, but there may be some changes when it comes to engaging with blue-collared employees.

    “For blue-collared workmen, we may use SMS texts for reach instead of a smartphone app. As a supplementary or as an alternative to this, we may set up kiosks for their use,” reveals Mitragotri.

    While blue-collared employees may possess smartphones, the organisations may have to launch some learning programmes to teach them how to use the new technology to interact with the HR system.

    But can we say that if a technology is not mobile-first, it is completely useless?

    “I would not say that it is completely useless. Somewhere you need to have human interaction and not completely depend on technology, because HR technology cannot replace HR. It will only automate certain administrative tasks,” clarifies Sharma.

    A lot depends on the audiences you are engaging with, their needs and preferences. But with the increasing number of smartphones the engagement level will definitely go up with mobile-first HR system.

    With the changing demographics and manner of interaction and engagement, we can conclude that if we do not update ourselves with the changing world, outdated technology and traditional approaches will be rendered useless.

    apps mobile-first technology Smartphones
    Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    mm
    Kartikay Kashyap | HRKatha

    A mass communication graduate Kartikay is a quick learner. A fresh bake, yet a prolific writer, he is always keen to learn and discover new things. He is an easy going gallivanted and just likes to chill out when he is not chasing news. He loves watching movies as well.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    20 − one =

    Related Posts

    Red flags in job applications: What candidates miss but recruiters spot

    May 14, 2025

    A Nordic food giant’s HR strategy balances culture & coherence

    May 13, 2025

    The invisible wall: How tariffs are reshaping Indian tech’s talent strategy

    May 12, 2025

    How Accor is cultivating homegrown leadership in India

    May 9, 2025
    EDITOR'S PICKS

    Red flags in job applications: What candidates miss but recruiters spot

    May 14, 2025

    Managing Gen Z in the workplace: Listening to what isn’t said

    May 13, 2025

    People-first approach: Not a nicety but a necessity

    May 13, 2025

    A Nordic food giant’s HR strategy balances culture & coherence

    May 13, 2025
    Latest Post

    No right to retrospective promotion without DPC initiation: J&K HC

    News May 14, 2025

    The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has clarified that government employees cannot…

    Burberry plans to cut 1,700 jobs

    News May 14, 2025

    Luxury fashion house, Burberry is gearing to cut about 1,700 jobs globally as part of…

    Cancer-stricken employee fired after being denied remote work

    News May 14, 2025

    A disturbing account has emerged on Reddit detailing how a US health-insurance company allegedly mistreated…

    Burger King employee raises privacy concerns over personal camera in break room

    News May 14, 2025

    A Reddit post from an employee at a Burger King in Illinois has triggered fresh…

    Asia's No.1 HR Platform

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn WhatsApp Bluesky
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Career
    • Reach Us
    • Exclusive Features
    • Cover Story
    • Editorial
    • Dive into the Future of Work: Download HRForecast 2024 Now!
    © 2025 HRKatha.com
    • Disclaimer
    • Refunds & Cancellation Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.