AI Tools Are Helping Firms To Prioritize DEI, Report Claims

Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) firms in the UK now prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), a new report claims, with AI tools playing a significant role in this transformation. 

The findings come from a recent Workday survey, Global Blueprint for Belonging and Diversity, with views from CEOs and leaders in HR, IT, and finance.

Can AI Support DEI Programs?

The report found that overall, having the right technology stack is essential and can be critical in enabling DEI.

In particular, it was found that there is a significant correlation between AI adoption and effective DEI programs.

For example, AI is currently used to improve the results of sentiment surveys (95%) and promotion discussions (91%). 

Additionally, 86% of organizations using AI for performance development noted a positive impact.

Daniel Pell, VP of UKI at Workday, emphasized the influence of software such as Workday Skills Cloud. Workday Skills Cloud is a solution that enables businesses to understand the skills and capabilities of their entire workforce.

“By using this data, organizations can build even better people strategies and identify gaps and opportunities to upskill, re-skill, and even hire new talent with ease,” Pell said, according to TechRadar.

Technology Transforming DEI Efforts

The study additionally found that internal communications tools are the most-used DEI technology currently in play, followed by talent management and employee engagement and retention tools.

The insights offered by these technology applications can help decision-makers improve their DEI initiatives and core business processes such as recruiting, onboarding, and performance development.

“The combination of skills-based hiring, and rapid skilling initiatives, such as skills bootcamps, could help fill hundreds of thousands of hard-to-recruit for roles across the UK whilst also improving diversity and widening access,” said Michael Houlihan, CEO of Generation UK&I.

“AI tools can play a big role here, both to improve and accelerate peoples’ learning journey, as well as helping employers roll out skills-based hiring in a coherent, impactful, and business-improving way.”

However, the journey to integrate AI into DEI strategies is ongoing, and while 62% of firms are making headway, 40% have yet to begin. 

Workday suggests that successful DEI implementation requires joint responsibility and leadership commitment.