5 HR tech tools that will make work easier — whether we return to the office or not

Published August 11, 2021 12:37 PM EDT Updated October 18, 2021 12:22 PM EDT 1 Min Read

Courtesy of Owl LabsThe Meeting Owl by Owl Labs serves as a camera, speaker and mic to make conference calls more seamless.

With the delta variant and middling vaccination rates driving a fresh COVID surge across the country, the so-called “return to work” is less clear than ever. One thing is certain: remote work will continue, and businesses will need to adopt policies and tools to permanently support a hybrid workforce for years to come.

Lessons from the past 18 months of disruption have already fueled the creation of new and updated devices, tools, and technologies that will shape the future of work. From relying on virtual reality to boost DEI initiatives and get employees to engage with corporate trainings, to turning to TikTok to find fresh talent, here are five smart tech tools to help refresh HR operations and team collaboration.

This tiny (and cute!) device from Owl Labs is a 360-degree camera, mic, and speaker that works with existing conference platforms to create a more equitable experience for all participants, whether they’re in the office’s conference room or joining remotely from home.

“It features a panoramic view up top, and then can actually focus on the individuals that are speaking, splitting the screen,” says CEO Frank Weishaupt. “It sits in the center of the table, acting like the director of the meeting, serving as the eyes and ears for those remote people to really be a part of the room.”

Stephanie Schomer

Editor-in-chief

Stephanie Schomer is the editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News. She was most recently the deputy editor of Entrepreneur magazine and previously held positions at Entertainment Weekly, … Read full bio

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