Generative AI in the Workplace

Generative AI has become the quiet revolution underpinning the modern workplace. Back in early 2024, Getronics mapped out just how this technology is transforming everything from HR processes to the very fabric of our digital workplaces.

Let’s dive into what that means for organisations today, and how you can harness it effectively.

Generative AI in HR: More than Just Automation

Generative AI in the workplace is changing the HR game. It’s now possible to offer an always-on HR service, where employees can get help with routine tasks (like changing personal details) at any time, no waiting for office hours required.

On the hiring front, AI tools are transforming the screening process. They can swiftly sift through large volumes of applications, spot the most relevant skills and experiences, and even evaluate how well a candidate might fit your company’s culture, all with less bias than traditional methods (when set up and monitored responsibly).

Onboarding benefits just as much. Imagine a new hire arriving on day one with everything already set up, access credentials generated, systems configured, and guided through a personalised induction tailored to their learning style. They can also be backed up by an AI-powered “virtual mentor”, available around the clock to answer questions and help them settle in.

Management isn’t left behind, either. In hybrid or remote work setups, generative AI in the workplace can help ensure that contributions don’t go unnoticed. By aggregating performance data, such as project milestones or deliverables, these systems help managers make informed, objective decisions about recognition, progression, and training.

And when an employee moves on, generative AI can step in to preserve institutional knowledge, capturing processes or insights from the leaving employee, turning them into handover documentation, and even automate the offboarding checklist, from revoking access to tracking returned assets.

The theme throughout? AI freeing HR from administrative burden, so teams can focus on strategic, human-centred work. It’s not about replacing people, but augmenting what humans do best. Ongoing staff dialogue, transparency, and training help dispel fears and build trust.

Beyond HR: Generative AI in the Digital Workplace

Generative AI in the workplace also reshapes the broader digital environment. It’s not simply about doing tasks faster, it’s about reinventing the employee experience across the board.

Major tech players like Microsoft (with CoPilot) and Google (Duet, powered by Gemini) are embedding generative AI capabilities into productivity tools. But the real game-changers could lie in custom-built AI solutions tailored to your processes and culture.

Generative AI holds the potential to reshape engagement, motivation and collaboration, helping employees feel more connected, valued and inspired to innovate. That in turn boosts loyalty, enhances customer service, and lifts business performance.

But moving AI from concept to impact isn’t plug-and-play. Leaders must ask hard questions: is your digital workplace strategy truly adopted? Are teams receptive to AI? What fears or frustrations remain? How do people feel about the technology in practice?

The upside is huge. A McKinsey report suggests generative AI could deliver $2.6 to $4.4 trillion in productivity gains across industries, especially in customer ops, software engineering, sales and marketing, and product development.

Virtually every cloud-based system and workflow in the digital workplace can benefit, if implemented thoughtfully.

What This Means for You

• HR teams: Move from reactive admin to proactive support, optimising recruitment, onboarding, performance management and intelligence gathering, all powered by generative AI in the workplace.
• Leaders and strategists: This is your moment to upskill the workplace itself. Custom AI solutions, backed by solid data governance, can reimagine the employee experience, from the tools employees use to the way they feel about work.
• Organisations at large: The promise is undeniable, but you’ll need a structured approach. Start by testing use-cases that genuinely need AI, ensure people are informed and equipped, and measure outcomes carefully.

Final Thoughts

Generative AI in the workplace is ushering in a new era, less about robotic automation and more about intelligent augmentation. It offers a unique opportunity to tackle the mundane, amplify the strategic, and enhance how people work, learn, collaborate and grow.

Adopting it isn’t about replacing humans, it’s about making work more rewarding for everyone. With transparency, empathy and thoughtful design, generative AI is the kind of friendly colleague you’d be glad to have around.

Starting a conversation with our expert team is the best way to learn how AI can make a difference in your workplace.