Brave new world of HR apps

HR-related apps are trickling into the market: last week there was the salary-checker app, this week a health and safety app and a career development app have caught our attention.

HR-related apps are trickling into the market: last week there was the app that allows you to compare your salary across 20 countries, this week a health and safety app and a career development app have come to the attention of HRM Online.

One health and safety consultancy in Australia is exploiting the arrival of Google Glass – the futuristic-looking glasses with an attached computer that allows voice-activated internet use. The company, SafetyCulture Australia, are developing apps for occupational health and safety purposes, according to SmartCompany.

“We released an app last year that allowed users to conduct safety checks and inspections using a smartphone, and that enabled them to have a much more efficient process. Google Glass gives us the ability to extend those apps into a platform that is wearable and hands-free,” Luke Anear, managing director of Safety Culture Australia, told SmartCompany.

One example of their use could be that of a trades apprentice who streams video back to their supervisor for further instructions, Anear said. Being able to do this without using their hands has clear benefits for health and safety practices.

Another app to catch our attention this week was Forte, a career development management tool released by Korn/Ferry International. First presented at HR Tech in October last year, and now available for both browsers and iPads, the app facilitates the development and execution of personal career plans.

“Forte gives employees control over their personalized career development plan and maps out a clear path to the next level – focusing on the specific skills needed at each stage,” according to a company press release. The app also allows line manager intervention at regular intervals.

“Organisations that will succeed and achieve a competitive edge in their industries will put employee engagement at the heart of their business strategy. To do this they need to focus on the development of individuals and allow them to take control of their own careers,” Byrne Mulrooney, CEO of Futurstep (a Korn/Ferry subisidiary), said.

Related story: New app allows you to compare salaries globally.

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