AI use in business has taken off with a bang and has quickly evolved from experimental tech to an essential infrastructure component.
Forward-thinking CEOS and HR Leaders are no longer asking if they should use it; they’re asking how fast we can scale it.
SMES IN THE UK Are Adopting AI Faster Than You Think
Change can feel risky, but not changing is riskier.
Staying on manual systems while competitors automate hiring, streamline onboarding, and use AI to accurately predict (and strategise for) turnover is how good businesses risk being left behind.
Yes, implementation takes planning. Yes, data privacy matters (and must remain non-negotiable). But with the right tech partners (and a phased approach), AI isn’t some beast to fear. It’s a tool to free up your people team to do just that, focus on the people.
How HR Teams Are Using AI Across The Board
AI isn’t just about automating tasks. It’s about working smarter across every stage of the employee journey.
Here’s how HR leaders (especially SMEs) are using AI:
Recruitment & Hiring
- CV screening & candidate shortlisting in seconds, not days.
- Bias detection to improve equity in hiring.
- AI chatbots for scheduling interviews and answering FAQs.
Onboarding
- Automated welcome emails, checklists, training schedules
- AI-driven chatbots that guide new hires through company processes
- Tailored onboarding journeys based on role, location, and skill level
Performance Management
- Real-time tracking of goals, KPIs, and feedback loops
- AI-powered analysis to detect patterns in performance data
- Nudges for managers to check in or recognise wins
Zhoosh recommends: HireVue, and Canditech.
Zhoosh recommends: Effy AI and Betterworks.
Employee Engagement
- Sentiment analysis on surveys, messages, and internal chat
- Predictive models flagging burnout or turnover risk early
- Custom content or benefit nudges based on employee behaviour
Learning & Development
- Personalised training recommendations based on role and career goals
- Micro-learning delivery via chat or mobile apps
- AI-curated development paths that evolve with business needs
HR Admin & Compliance
- Auto-completion of forms (P11Ds, anyone?), contracts, and letters
- Real-time regulation alerts and compliance reminders
- Smart document storage and retrieval
Zhoosh recommends: Lattice and Culture Amp.
WHAT ABOUT THE RISKS?
It would be neglectful of us to pretend that there are no legitimate concerns around the use of AI.
But AI doesn’t have to remove the “human” from human resources. Its value is in freeing HR teams to be more human, giving them more time to focus on coaching, connecting, and creating brilliant workplace cultures.
The key is to:
- Start small (a single use case, like hiring or onboarding)
- Choose tools that integrate with your existing HR stack (we’ve included a handy list at the end of this blog)
- Get employee buy-in early
- Monitor, tweak, and keep humans in the loop
AI IS THE FUTURE OF HR. BUT IT'S ALSO THE NOW.
Tech to enhance your HR strategy isn’t out of reach. It’s not a far-off innovation reserved for big corporates with big budgets. It’s right here, it’s ready to go, and it’s a game-changer.
At Zhoosh, we’re already working to integrate AI into our benefits platform to help our clients’ benefits packages work smarter, not harder.
We’ll see you there!
