In a rapidly evolving digital world, employee productivity is falling, and workplace tools are becoming more complex. To address these challenges, many businesses are considering a bold move—merging Human Resources (HR) and Information Technology (IT).
A new report by Nexthink, a global leader in Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management, reveals that 93% of IT leaders believe uniting HR and IT could significantly improve productivity, employee satisfaction, and engagement. The report, titled “The Experience Silo: The Future of HR and IT”, surveyed over 1,100 IT professionals and found strong support for this transformative idea.
The Push Toward a Unified Experience Team
According to the research:
- 64% of leaders expect a full HR-IT merger within the next five years
- 31% foresee much closer collaboration, even if a complete merger doesn’t happen
- The driving force? The desire to improve digital workflows, boost engagement, and simplify employee interactions with technology
Here are some potential benefits:
- Faster digital transformation (85% of respondents agree)
- Higher success rates for tech projects (94%)
- Smoother onboarding for new hires (95%)
- Improved adoption of digital tools (97%)
- Better employee productivity, retention, and satisfaction (93%)
Why Now?
The urgency stems from a growing digital burden on employees. In 2019, workers used an average of six workplace applications. Today, that number has nearly doubled to 11, and IT leaders predict another 43% increase in the number of tools used over the next three years.
This tech overload is taking a toll on employee focus, motivation, and output—costing the global economy an estimated $430 billion in lost productivity.
“Most businesses are feeling the pressure,” says Vedant Sampath, CTO at Nexthink. “But this shift isn’t just about faster support or better onboarding. It’s about reimagining the workplace so employees can truly thrive.”
Challenges in the Path
While the benefits are clear, merging two major departments isn’t without hurdles:
- Unclear roles and responsibilities (58%)
- Poor communication between teams (50%)
- Conflicting departmental priorities (49%)
Despite these concerns, over 52% of leaders feel their organizations are ready to begin this change.
A New Role: Chief Experience Officer?
Interestingly, 40% of IT leaders believe that neither the CIO nor the Head of HR should lead this new function. Instead, they propose creating a Chief Experience Officer (CXO)—a dedicated leader to manage both the digital and human aspects of the employee journey.
The proposed combined department could take on tasks like:
- Managing all workplace tech and collaboration tools, including AI and automation
- Overseeing employee digital training
- Tracking and improving workforce productivity and engagement
- Leading efforts in employee experience measurement and strategy
Looking Ahead
Businesses now realize that employee experience is just as critical as customer experience. Whether or not a full HR-IT merger takes place, the focus on delivering seamless, intuitive, and empowering digital experiences is here to stay.
“Companies that prioritize the connection between people and technology,” adds Sampath, “will be the ones that attract top talent, improve performance, and stay ahead of the curve.”
