New research from BT has uncovered widespread anxiety among business leaders in the HR sector regarding the pace of technological change. In fact, 96 per cent of HR company directors and executives report suffering from ‘bytemares’ – tech-related stress that’s severe enough to disrupt their sleep – with cybersecurity and AI coming up as the main sources of anxiety. With 74 per cent of leaders in the sector agreeing that tech transformation is critical to the survival of their business, tackling this tech anxiety could result in a significant contribution to the growth of both the HR sector and the wider economy.
Half of business leaders in the HR sector say their companies are tech-driven, but just as many admit they find it hard to keep up with the pace of digital transformation – with 55 per cent saying that thinking about the right tech solutions for their business is stressful. It appears this sentiment is impacting the sector’s adoption of new technologies, with only 11 per cent of HR businesses investing in tech, falling behind sectors such as IT & telecoms (15 per cent), legal (13 per cent) and finance (12 per cent).
When it comes to the most common reservations HR business leaders have about digital transformation, BT data shows the impact of AI on operations (69 per cent) and cybersecurity (66 per cent) are seen as the biggest barriers to adopting new tech. Asked about the perceived threats posed by AI to their business, data privacy/security challenges (32 per cent) and ethical considerations (32 per cent) come up as top concerns for more than half of business leaders in the sector. This could ultimately lead to a slower adoption rate for new tech solutions.
However, BT insights show that 70 per cent of HR executives are committed to mastering technology as they look to futureproof their businesses. In fact, four in five executives say they are optimistic about technology’s ability to transform their operations, with just under three quarters admitting that digital transformation is critical to the survival of their companies. This is why 65 per cent of leaders in the HR industry wish they had more support to tackle digital transformation and combat the tech-related decision paralysis almost half (48 per cent) of decision-makers grapple with.
BT is teaming up with ex-Dragon Sarah Willingham and meditation guru Izzy Judd, to arm business leaders with the mental tools to take on worries around tech transformation head on. Together they’ve created The Business Reboot, a series of tech-inspired guided meditations designed to help businesses of all sizes, and their employees, to hit the reset button before facing up to the tech challenges of the day.
“Today, HR is an increasingly digital business – and our research shows that the pace of change is taking its tol,” says Seetal Bhatti, Director of HR, BT. “Our job is to make things easier: providing the rock-solid digital foundation businesses need to thrive. Together with former Dragon Sarah Willingham and meditation expert Izzy Judd, we’re helping HR business leaders get into the headspace to make the most of the tech opportunity. Whether that’s AI, digital skills or cybersecurity, BT’s got their back.”
Sarah Willingham, adds: “Dealing with change and uncertainty are two of the hardest things about running a business, and I’ve always found meditation really helps with that. It’s an essential part of my every day – without it, I won’t be as present or productive for myself or my team. With all the tech challenges businesses are facing this year, I want leaders to embrace the power of mindfulness and meditation in their working lives.”
BT’s The Business Reboot guided meditation series is specifically designed to help business leaders beat their ‘bytemares’, with episodes focusing on AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital skills, and cloud computing. The audio meditations are available for free to everyone, including more than one million BT business and public sector customers across the world.
