Why are companies merging their HR and IT departments?

Traditionally, Human Resources (HR) deals with employees, while information technology (IT) focuses on systems and infrastructure. These are two very distinct worlds, but they are now converging and even merging.

This shift reflects a more profound transformation: work is no longer viewed solely in terms of people and systems, but as an integrated flow where humans and technologies collaborate.

A trend confirmed by the figures

A survey conducted by Nexthink among IT decision-makers at large companies reveals that 64% of them expect an HR-IT merger within the next five years.

This convergence is significant. It underscores the need for organizations to break down traditional silos and rethink how work is organized, managed, and optimized.

When HR and IT Become Architects of the Workplace

Moderna: The Strategic Merger

At Moderna, the biotech company with over 5,000 employees, the role of Chief People and Digital Technology Officer already combines both aspects. The idea is no longer just to predict how many employees will be needed or to deploy a particular software solution, but to design the overall workflow :

• Which tasks should be automated?
• What soft skills should be prioritized?
• How can AI and digital tools complement human expertise?

Through a partnership with OpenAI, Moderna has trained all of its employees in the use of AI, encouraging them to redefine their own workflows.

Covisian: The Operational Impact

The same logic applies at Covisian, a customer service provider with 27,000 employees. The HR-IT merger enabled them to launch an internal career mobility tool. As a result, the number of internal applications for job openings has doubled.

Beyond the tools, it is above all the speed of execution that has improved. With a single decision-maker in charge, bottlenecks between departments disappear and solutions are rolled out faster.

Expected benefits

1. A common language between technical teams and HR.
2. Smoother processes, without conflicts of priority between departments.
3. Accelerated innovation, thanks to AI and new digital tools.
4. A better employee experience, where systems truly meet the needs of teams.

Limitations and points to watch out for

That doesn't mean everything is rosy, however. The The CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) warns that HR and IT skills remain very different.

HR must manage complex human resources issues related to culture, employee engagement, and labor law, while IT teams possess specialized and ever-evolving technical expertise.

The risk of a complete merger is that dilute expertise. The most appropriate path therefore seems to be closer collaboration, rather than a complete absorption of one by the other.

The Talenteo Perspective: Bridging the Gap Between People and Data

At Talenteo, we see this trend every day: the line between HR and IT is blurring as companies seek to increase efficiency while putting people at the center.

Our belief:

• HR can no longer be separated from the tools that shape employees’ daily lives.
  
• IT can no longer ignore the human, cultural, and regulatory dimensions of organizations.

With an integrated HR and payroll solution, we support our clients in this convergence:

• Automation of payroll calculations and legal filings,
• Centralization of leave, absences, and time tracking,
• Smoothness smooth recruitment and internal mobility,
• Transparency Data transparency for effective team management.
  

It is this combination of data, processes, and people that makes the difference.

Finally,

The convergence of HR and IT is not just a management trend: it is a response to the transformation of work. AI handles repetitive tasks, while humans focus on creativity, relationships, and strategy.

At Talenteo, we believe that the future of HR lies in this convergence. Not to erase the differences, but to speak a common language: that of performance, automation, and the employee experience.

Inspired by the BBC’s technology article, our piece summarizes, adapts, and reinterprets the key ideas.