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The Method Behind the Madness: My HR Technology Hot Takes Manifesto
- Michael from Pennsylvania
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
The world of HR technology is moving faster than ever. AI is rewriting the rules, platforms are evolving, and the old playbooks are being thrown out. I started this "HR Technology Hot Takes" series to cut through the noise, challenge some conventional wisdom, and share my thoughts on this chaotic and exciting evolution.
After several posts, a few core beliefs have crystallized. These are the foundations of my perspective on where we are and where we're headed:
1. Diagnose the Real Problem Before You Buy the Tech.
This is the cardinal rule. Our industry has a dangerous habit of buying software as a painkiller for deeper organizational illnesses. We're trying to fix culture and process problems with a technology patch,
whether it's a failing Internal Mobility initiative,
or a People Analytics project built on messy data.
My core belief is that technology should be an accelerator for a healthy culture, not a substitute for one.
2. AI is Fundamentally Rewiring Our Roles and Systems.
AI isn't just another feature; it's a paradigm shift. It's changing the nature of user experience with Agentic AI making interfaces obsolete Screenshot-2a: Click the screenshot to jump to my LinkedIn post |  |
 | It's the key to solving previously impossible challenges, like making Skills-Based Hiring a practical reality Screenshot-2b: Click the screenshot to jump to my LinkedIn post |
And most importantly, it's forcing the HRIS Analyst role to evolve from a technical configurator into a strategic architect and "AI whisperer“ Screenshot-2c: Click the screenshot to jump to my LinkedIn post |  |
3. The Enterprise Platform is Finally Growing Up.
 | The old narrative of the core HCM versus nimble "best-of-breed" solutions is changing. The core platform is becoming a self-sufficient ecosystem. We're seeing this with strategic acquisitions like Paradox that solve native UX problems Screenshot-3a: Click the screenshot to jump to my LinkedIn post: Click the screenshot to jump to my LinkedIn post |
And new tools like ConnectR that fill the "donut hole" and eliminate the need for complex middleware Screenshot-3b |  |
The gravitational pull of the unified platform is getting stronger, and the market is consolidating around it.
Tying It All Together
So what's the ultimate hot take that ties this all together?
It's this: The era of the reactive, tool-focused HRIS 'admin' is over.
If your team's primary value is still just configuring systems based on a list of requirements, you're managing a legacy function. The future belongs to the strategic architects who diagnose real business problems and use these increasingly intelligent platforms to solve them.
The rest will just be maintaining the machines that replaced them.
Click the above screenshots or from this list to jump to my 7 LinkedIn posts:
See you on Sunday (9/14) at the pre-Rising weekend Share-a-thon. I will be joining the Boomerangs and Orchestrate sessions (2-4pm), which is also available remote, for those not in SF. Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/boomerangs-and-orchestrate-2025-09-14-pre-rising
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