HR Glossary
AI-Powered Insights
AI-Powered Insights
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how organisations understand and respond to their workforce needs. One of the most valuable outcomes of AI in the workplace is the emergence of AI powered insights; data-driven recommendations that help employers make better, faster, and more informed decisions.
What Are AI-Powered Insights?
AI-powered insights refer to actionable information generated by artificial intelligence algorithms, based on the analysis of large volumes of data. These insights go beyond simple reporting – they detect patterns, predict future outcomes, and recommend next steps.
Unlike traditional analytics, which often rely on static reports and human interpretation, AI-powered systems can:
- Process vast datasets in real time.
- Identify correlations or risks that humans may miss.
- Continuously learn and improve over time.
- Deliver personalised recommendations based on context.
Examples of AI-Powered Insights in Practice
In some sectors, AI-powered insights are already having a significant impact. For example:
- In retail: AI analyses customer behaviour to recommend products or optimise stock levels.
- In finance: AI systems flag unusual transactions as potential fraud.
- In healthcare: AI tools help clinicians predict patient deterioration or tailor treatment plans.
When applied to workforce management, these same principles help organisations gain deeper understanding of employee behaviour, risks, and needs, especially in complex areas like absence and wellbeing.
How AI-Powered Insights Improve Absence Management
In the context of absence management, AI-powered insights help employers move beyond reactive reporting and toward proactive, preventative workforce support. GoodShape, for example, uses AI to analyse absence data in real time, generating insights that help managers and HR teams identify risks earlier and intervene more effectively.
Here’s how AI makes a difference:
1. Predicting Future Absence Risks
By analysing patterns in absence data, including reasons for absence, frequency, duration, department, time of year and more, AI can identify employees or teams at greater risk of future absence. This allows employers to intervene before issues escalate, whether by offering wellbeing support, reviewing workloads, or adjusting work patterns.
2. Identifying Root Causes and Trends
AI can uncover hidden drivers of absence that may not be obvious to managers. For instance, it might highlight that a team with high stress-related absences is experiencing significant organisational change, or that a spike in musculoskeletal injuries is linked to a specific job role or location.
3. Prioritising Support
With limited occupational health or HR resources, AI can help prioritise where support is most urgently needed. For example, it might flag employees who have reached specific absence trigger points and also show signs of deteriorating health trends, ensuring early and targeted intervention.
4. Benchmarking and Best Practice
AI can compare absence patterns across departments, roles or demographics, helping leaders understand what ‘normal’ looks like and spot anomalies. It can also suggest actions based on what’s worked in similar cases previously, such as referring to an Employee Assistance Programme or adjusting hours.
5. Enabling Line Managers to Act Confidently
AI-powered insights are translated into plain-language guidance for line managers, many of whom may lack training in complex HR or health issues. Instead of just flagging a problem, the system suggests what to do next, whether that’s holding a return-to-work conversation, referring to occupational health, or seeking HR advice.
How GoodShape Uses AI to Support Workforce Health
GoodShape’s AI-driven platform combines clinical data, real-time absence reporting, and machine learning to give organisations a clearer picture of employee health and absence risk.
Crucially, it turns that information into actionable insight.
Rather than relying on intuition or outdated reports, managers and HR teams are empowered with:
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Predictive modelling to anticipate and prevent long-term absences.
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Personalised alerts that surface the most pressing employee health issues.
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Evidence-based recommendations aligned to best practice and internal policy.
With these tools, organisations can improve employee health outcomes, reduce sickness absence, and manage their duty of care more effectively, all while boosting resilience and productivity.