Digitisation was one of the most-discussed subjects at Staffing Industry Analysts’ Executive Forum Europe 2019, held last week in London. The two-day event touched on technology, leadership, legislation and more.

“While the topics discussed at Executive Forum Europe this year were about much more than just technology, it seemed like the threats and opportunities from digitisation pervaded many of the sessions,” said John Nurthen, executive director, global research, at SIA.

“I hope we managed to provide some clarity and direction to staffing executives as a blizzard of new and improved software solutions become available that have the potential to fundamentally change their business processes and services in a shifting landscape,” Nurthen said.

He discussed changing trends and how recruitment firms are using technology in his opening keynote at the conference, titled “Leading today and leading tomorrow”. Later, Nurthen also spoke on digitally transforming staffing firms in another panel where he discussed various tools to help staffing firms find the right balance with digitisation.

In addition, recruitment chatbots, the impact of blockchain, robotics and AI were all topics during roundtable discussions and networking sessions on the first day of the event.

“Technology is here to stay; what systems will be most important is not clear yet, but if you are not trying to answer that question, you are not going to be in business for long,” said Adam Pode, SIA’s director of research, EMEA and APAC.

In another keynote speech, cross-industry expert and “ideaDJ,” Ramon Vullings spoke on using creativity and innovation to lead in the digital age.

This year’s event saw more than 300 attendees at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St Paul’s, in London.