The HRcoreLAB 2025 Summit, held on March 12-13 in Barcelona, was a landmark event that brought together over 500 HR professionals from more than 40 countries. Over two days, the summit explored the evolving landscape of human resources through three concurrent conferences: Human-AI, Recruitment, and HR Agility. With a focus on the intersection of technology and people, this year’s event provided an invaluable platform for thought leadership, networking, and innovation. Human-AI Conference Highlights The Human-AI conference set the stage for discussions on artificial intelligence’s role in HR, featuring opening remarks from Fiona Passantino, author of AI-Powered: An Integration Guide for the Professional Communicator, and Sjoerd van den Heuvel, a leading professor in People Analytics. The sessions that followed delved into AI’s transformative impact on HR functions, including case studies presented by Heiko Sindel of Deutsche Telekom and insights from Siemens’ Michaela Schütt on enhancing employee experiences with AI. Yvonne Rogers of University College London explored the concept of human-centered AI, while Novartis’ Kevin Erikson shared groundbreaking AI initiatives in the healthcare HR sector. The discussions culminated in a panel that examined the future of AI integration in HR, emphasizing the need for a balance between technological advancement and human-centric strategies. In addition to these sessions, Semos Cloud contributed to the summit by hosting an interactive session on the impact of AI on employee recognition programs. The presentation by Ivana Veskovska, Head of Solutions, showcased innovative strategies for leveraging AI to enhance employee engagement and retention, providing attendees with practical insights into the future of recognition technologies. HR Agility Conference Highlights Meanwhile, the HR Agility conference focused on the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the modern workforce. Natal Dank, author of Agile HR & Agile L&D, and Gerard Penning, a board member at Alliander, opened the discussion by highlighting the importance of agile transformations in HR. Sessions covered a broad spectrum of topics, from succession planning strategies at Electrolux, presented by Federica Alzetta, to insights from Merck’s Selina Millstam on building a skills-powered organization. Other notable discussions included Markus Graf of Novartis on revolutionizing talent management through skills mapping and Beatriz Rodriguez of Bayer on the transition toward systemic HR organizations. The conference concluded with a thought-provoking panel debate on the future of HR agility in the face of technological and workforce evolution. Recruitment Conference Highlights The Recruitment conference at HRcoreLAB 2025 focused on the latest trends and innovations in talent acquisition, including AI adoption, candidate experience, and employer branding. Notable sessions included talks by Irmgard Naudin ten Cate from EY on recruitment strategies in the age of AI, Toby Culshaw of Amazon discussing talent acquisition transformation, and Dennis de Munck from Ferrari on recruiting to embody company values. A key highlight was the panel discussion on the future of recruitment, bringing together insights from leaders across the field. “HRcoreLAB 2025 highlighted the power of AI in shaping human-centric HR strategies. At Semos Cloud, we were thrilled to contribute to the conversation on AI-driven employee recognition, reinforcing the role of technology in fostering engagement and retention. A fantastic event for meaningful discussions on the future of work!” – Ivana Veskovska, Head of Solution, Semos Cloud Beyond the Sessions Key takeaways from the HRcoreLAB 2025 Summit: AI’s Increasing Role in HR: AI is poised to revolutionize HR functions, from recruitment and employee engagement to enhancing the overall employee experience. Companies are exploring human-centered AI strategies to ensure technology complements human judgment rather than replacing it. The Importance of HR Agility: As the workforce and business environments evolve rapidly, HR agility is crucial. Companies must embrace agile HR practices that align talent management with organizational goals, enhance employee experiences, and foster continuous learning and development. Recruitment Transformation: Recruitment is evolving with technology, particularly AI, improving candidate selection, streamlining recruitment processes, and enhancing the candidate experience. Employer branding is more important than ever as organizations seek to attract the right talent in competitive industries. Focus on Skills and Succession Planning: Companies are moving away from traditional models of talent management and focusing on skills mapping, upskilling, and aligning succession planning with value creation and business goals. Human-AI Collaboration: The future of HR will rely on effective collaboration between human intelligence and AI. Human-centric AI design, as presented by experts, ensures that technology supports rather than overrides human decision-making. Networking and Knowledge Sharing: The summit offered valuable networking opportunities, allowing HR professionals to collaborate, share insights, and discuss innovative practices in a relaxed, informal setting. It underscored the importance of continuous knowledge exchange in shaping the future of HR. Practical Insights and Implementation: Sessions by industry leaders showcased how HR technologies can be practically applied to drive engagement and retention in today’s fast-paced digital workplace. Overall, HRcoreLAB 2025 reinforced the need for HR leaders to embrace AI, agility, and data-driven decision-making to navigate the complexities of modern workforce management. The event inspired a vision for an HR future where technology and human insight work hand in hand. Want to see how you can transform your workplace with personalized recognition, feedback and clear communication? Get a personalized demo tailored to solve your unique challenges! Request demo Final Thoughts The HRcoreLAB 2025 Summit successfully captured the pulse of HR innovation, leaving attendees with fresh perspectives, actionable insights, and a roadmap for navigating the future of work. As organizations continue to embrace AI, agility, and digital transformation, the conversations sparked at this year’s event will undoubtedly shape the next era of human resources.
