How are we doing when it comes to implementing, using and managing HR technologies in our organisations? Has it revolutionised the HR function or is it more of a slow burn? SilkRoad recently surveyed 153 talent management professionals to reveal what's going on inside their companies in regards to HR technology.

The report explores some of the most intriguing questions challenging HR professionals today:

• How do professionals perceive the impact of HR technology on their businesses?
• How far along are companies on the path to integration and automation?
• Are mobile HR applications widely used, given all the industry hype?
• What trends in the consumerisation of HR do professionals consider most important?
• How would HR professionals like to use data and analytics more effectively?

Here are four key takeaways from the report:

For most companies, talent management technology remains a work in progress. It is being woven into the fabric of organisations, but at a slow, deliberate pace. Most companies in the study were at early to intermediate phases in system automation and integration, while the largest companies were at more mature stages in the adoption cycle.

Fully integrated talent management systems were not a reality for most companies yet. Professionals noted that a lack of technical integration deprives them of critical data and causes inconsistent workflow. There's clearly a need for the bits and pieces of standalone tools to be consolidated into a single cohesive system.

Inarguably, workforce data gives HR a strategic business advantage. Yet, fewer companies had plans for data analytics in the coming year. In general, 44% said they were at early stages of using data effectively for decision making, and nearly half rated their companies as intermediate users. What this means is that many companies are missing an opportunity to use data in holistic, strategic ways, e.g. to understand the relationships between learning and onboarding, or leadership and performance.

Surprisingly, a smaller percentage of companies made HR data and applications available via mobile devices – even though the majority of professionals rated mobile capabilities as important to their organisations. HR must put some muscle behind mobility to remain competitive, especially for recruiting applications, so that candidates can easily find positions via handheld devices.

Slowly, HR professionals are pushing their technology agendas forward. High on professionals' radar screens are plans to roll out new applications and integrate existing ones in the coming year. They're also well aware of complex trends in system usability—the demand for self-service applications and well-designed user interfaces for both employees and candidates.

SilkRoad's APAC Director Michael Lloyd commented on the report saying, “It's fantastic to see this kind of review done in the market, it really shows how HR and its leaders are crying out for more integrated and automated HR technology, better mobile capabilities and how to deliver better performance management processes so that they align with strategy at a business level.

        “This is an exciting time for HR and looking to the future we should see the technology landscape converge dramatically through integration, solution development and effective use of big data. This will pose challenges around change management and how employees engage with the business as a whole, however it will allow for greater strategic and real-time insight, as well as providing HR with the tools necessary to be integral to the success of the wider business.â€'

Download the full report here.

Michael Lloyd is the APAC Director for SilkRoad, a global provider of end-to-end cloud-based HR software solutions. Michael is passionate about using HR technology to help people achieve better business results. He is also a keen cricketer and at one point took an extended career break to play cricket full-time. He's still chasing that elusive baggy green…