Implications For HR From The Rise of 5G And Internet Of Things

In October 2022, 5G networks were officially launched in India. With data transfer rates at least 20 to 30 times faster than 4G, the new technology promises better streaming and faster downloads for the average user.

But for businesses, 5G holds a far bigger promise – it makes Internet of Things (IoT) more viable than ever before. IoT is a buzzword that has promised to revolutionise everything from manufacturing to logistics, healthcare and self-driving cars.

What is IoT, and why does it require 5G? And more topically, does the internet of things technology have any potential benefits or implications for HR and recruiting? You can find the answers to such questions, along with some industry insights, in this blog post.

What Is Meant By Internet Of Things?

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the billions of physical devices around the world that are now connected to the internet, all collecting and sharing data. In the very early days of the internet, only large computers were part of the network. Over the decades, thanks to miniaturisation of computer hardware, the size of the participating devices steadily decreased to smaller home computers, laptops, and finally, smartphones and tablets.

The next step was the creation of even smaller “smart devices” and sensors capable of connecting to wireless networks – watches, light bulbs, speakers, and even home appliances with embedded processors.

Internet of Things is the collective name for this technology where you have many devices, including every day “things” capable of connecting to a giant computer network. IoT opens up a whole new world of possibilities – you can control these devices from afar and receive sensor data in real time.

Some prominent internet of things examples include:

• A smart home filled with lights, appliances, fire alarms, temperature control, and security cameras all connected to a single network controlled by the owner.
• A hospital where patients wear sensors that collect their vitals at all times and allows doctors and nurses to make accurate decisions.
• A logistics network where all parcels and delivery vehicles are tagged with GPS and other smart sensors for real-time tracking and quality control.

Given its capability to give us visibility on hitherto untapped data and performance metrics, IoT has been rightfully hailed as a technology with immense potential for business. But its adoption in business has been rather slow, mainly due to network limitations. All that is changing with the advent of 5G.

How Does 5G Technology Enhance The Internet Of Things?

For IoT systems to reach their full potential, you need a wireless network capable of accommodating numerous devices. According to Bosch, there are an estimated 14 billion IoT devices currently active in the world.

Here the critical factor is data created by a multitude of IoT devices. According to IDC estimates, 55 billion connected devices will generate almost 80 zettabytes of data by 2025. Once zettabyte is equal to 1 billion terabytes.

To handle such massive volumes of data, you need faster, more efficient wireless network technologies. This is why 5G is so essential for the future growth of IoT in business. It facilitates three things:

• With lower latency, you can execute commands faster across IoT network devices.
• With higher network capacity, you can connect more devices to your IoT network.
• With network slicing, you can create subnets to better handle emergencies etc.

How Internet Of Things Can Benefit HR?

Through Industry 4.0 (PDF), manufacturing and heavy industries are expected to benefit the most from the future evolution of IoT. Self-driving cars, logistics, smart cities, and healthcare are often highlighted as some other areas where this technology can be a game changer.

In many of these applications, we can discern a clear HR angle to internet of things. They include:

Employee Health & Safety

Wearable smart devices and sensors attached to safety gear can help HR professionals keep track of many things that employees experience at the workplace. IoT-enabled wearable devices can measure different personal health indicators, including heartbeat, temperature, or even blood oxygen levels. That allows identifying workers with signs of strain, fatigue, stress, or other physical issues and when preventative actions are the most efficient. This approach helps to understand better when managers should provide breaks and promote reassigning resources.

Connected sensors placed across an office building can monitor things like indoor air quality. It can also help to reduce the risk of allergies, lung disorders, and sick building syndrome among your employees. Wearable tech in the workplace has become more popular since the pandemic, according to Forbes.

Optimising Productivity

Smart cameras and sensors can monitor the actions of your employees in the workplace, be it in an office cubicle, conference rooms, or on the production floor. Technology allows you to do some amazing things with this – for instance, you can use eye-tracking to see when and why an employee feels sleepy or distracted. Sweden is a global leader in the development of this technology.

Another example involves open-plan offices and co-working spaces, which are becoming quite popular in the modern Indian workplace. Smart location trackers can be used to guide your employees to the nearest vacant workspace and save a ton of time in the process.

Gain Honest Feedback

Employees are often highly reticent when sharing their opinions and feedback with HR teams. As ably pointed out in this timeless article from the 2002 edition of Harvard Business Review, workplace surveys rarely tell the true story.

Using sensor technology, you can pick up on non-verbal cues from your staff in the workplace. Things like human facial expressions and conversation tones can be used to gauge the workplace morale and satisfaction levels.

Internet Of Things In HR – Challenges Persist

Despite all these benefits, embracing IoT technology in HR will not be easy. Some of those tracking technologies do have distinctly Orwellian undertones. According to the BBC, workforce monitoring systems can increase employee stress and anxiety levels by almost 60%.

Then there is the issue of data security – if you manage to implement such systems, you also need robust online security to protect your employee data from hacking. Data leaks could lead to significant regulatory fines and lawsuits.

But these are still the early days of 5G in India (and the world). It will take another decade for the technology and infrastructure to mature. However, there is no doubt that IoT and other futuristic technologies like Artificial Intelligence will continue to play a larger role in the workplace.