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Uniteam Global Business Services (UGBS) is an international organisation with a focus on Accounting Administration, Staff Payroll, Information Technology and Human Resources.

With more than 25 years of experience, UGBS has evolved from an internal services organisation to a professional services provider, working with a wide range of internal and partner companies, including the Uniteam Group of Companies, to provide comprehensive solutions in a consistent yet flexible manner. With business units in hospitality, training, real estate and more, UGBS prides themselves on their ability to exceed the expectations of clients and tailor their services in line with their unique needs.

With offices in Cyprus, Germany and Myanmar and approximately 130 global personnel, Uniteam Global Business Services has a broad international presence and in-depth expertise providing outstanding business services within the group and beyond.

Utilising the latest technologies, Uniteam Global Business Services is dedicated to supporting its customers in developing a competitive advantage by focusing their time and resources on their core business activities. With a dedicated and internationally experienced team of professionals, UGBS offers cost-effective solutions with a mutually beneficial allocation of resources.

Romanos Yiangoudakis, Head of Human Resources at UGBS, leads the firm’s global operations and advisory services. Here, Romanos discusses the importance of Human Resources in an organisation, the role of technology, and what the future holds for the sector.

What role does Human Resources play in an organisation?

The role of HR influences all aspects of a business. To ensure your business succeeds, it’s essential to take good care of your employees, and this is only possible with an effective Human Resources strategy in place, and with people who support you in this.

Human Resources focuses on increasing employee performance, and plays a pivotal role in developing, reinforcing and changing the culture of an organisation. It is considered the gateway through which new employees enter the workforce, and as a department, it is uniquely positioned to facilitate communication, inspire motivation and drive performance.

How has Human Resources evolved over the years?

We live in an era of constant change and innovation, and this is no different for Human Resources. Over the years, Human Resources has evolved considerably, and has been significantly influenced by the rise of technology and social media.

Today, HR encompasses a great deal more than administration procedures, or performing pay reviews. It refers to many aspects of people management, and emphasises the importance of communication in building a positive workplace culture, and change management, which is critical in effectively managing change.

In recent years, we read more and more that businesses have entered a brand new paradigm of management where they are considered more as social enterprises than as companies. Technology is changing the landscape around us and we entered the digital era, transitioning from the back room of an organisation into the hands of customers, employees and society.

How are technology and analytics influencing the HR sector?

With the technological landscape changing at a rapid rate, many new and advanced systems, infrastructures and tools are becoming available. From Robotic Process Automation to Artificial Intelligence, technology is facilitating Human Resource operations while enabling HR professionals to focus on the more important parts of their work.

Meanwhile, analytics are helping Human Resource departments to identify and analyse people-related issues. Using data analysis, HR professionals are now able to discover new and useful insights that inspire them to make better decisions. That being said, while analytics are useful, it’s vital that businesses learn to correctly interpret and act upon the data in order to appropriately solve issues.

Are millennials impacting the workplace, and if so, how?

I consider millennials to be one of the main drivers of positive change, bringing innovation and new workflows into an organisation. They now make up a large percentage of the workforce, they value new ways of working, and I believe workplaces should adapt to this generation by encouraging collaboration, learning, transparency and feedback.

What does the future hold for HR?

As we move through 2020 and beyond, we must continue to implement strategies that embrace change and make HR the heart and soul that propels an organisation forward. Human Resources must focus on becoming a key differentiator that empowers, engages and connects communities.

Above all else, developing an inspiring work environment will help to deliver value for companies and enable them to hire the right talent. As we have seen time and time again, the best results often arise when employees are involved in processes and practices. This means fostering curiosity and diversity, and encouraging learning and employee growth.

As employees become a valuable source of recruitment, they are increasingly acting as ambassadors for companies, and are well-placed to identify the right people to join a team. As such, businesses must work to maintain a positive reputation if they want to attract and retain top talent. This in turn will impact on customers, resulting in good publicity that will undoubtedly inspire many to work there.

Finally, more and more companies are rating ‘inclusive growth,’ citizenship and social impact as critical or important, while the need to create 21st century careers is becoming increasingly relevant. Without a robust Human Resources strategy and a talented team in place, business will not be able to grow.

Fortunately, many modern workplaces are accommodating the expectations of millennials while enabling people from all generations and walks of life to thrive. Contemporary leadership is shifting towards a more people-centric approach that promotes empowerment, self-management, teamwork, emotional intelligence and agile processes.

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This article appeared in the INBusiness February 2020 issue.