First newsletter in the new format! The idea is: shorter and more frequent – landing around the 1st and 15th of each month.
But… this summer brought an unusually high number of updates in digitalization and AI, so this first edition turned out a bit longer than planned. Not everything made it in – I’m saving a few items for next time.
For me, summer has meant time off, reflection, and a chance to reprioritize both HR Digi’s and my own focus.
As I wrote in [this post], I believe it’s important to pause once a year and reflect on the bigger life choices. And that’s exactly what I’ve done ☀️
Before I share more about the changes I’ve made – and ask you a few questions – I want to mention that the event with Microsoft has unfortunately been cancelled.
The one I flagged in the last newsletter is affected by an internal reorganization at Microsoft, and we now need to rethink the concept.
Also – if you’re heading to HR Tech in Las Vegas, let me know at anna@hrdigi.se
I don’t talk as much about this event anymore now that we have a strong European alternative – but yes, I’m going!
🔹 What do you want to change this fall?
🎙️ HR Digitaliseringspodden
💡 Noted in the HR Tech industry
👌 Anna’s current activities
📅 Upcoming events and learning opportunities – see the full calendar at: [HRdigi | Events & Training 2025]
Perhaps, like me, you’ve taken some time for a personal kick-off – a few hours to reflect on what’s working, what’s bothering you, and what might actually need to change.
When it comes to work, it could be big questions: Am I in the right role, in the right place, with the right conditions?
But sometimes, small adjustments are enough – tweaking tasks, routines, or setting aside time to explore how generative AI could simplify your everyday work.
The main question for me was: How can I take on more strategy projects? And how can I live more like a digital nomad – meaning, do what I do from anywhere in the world?
(Aside from when I’m speaking at in-person events or running on-site client sessions, of course 🤩)
After spending time with an Excel sheet full of different parameters, I took myself to the mountains – completely alone, no phone signal – and let my thoughts flow for a few hours. That’s where the decision came: to let go of some things and hold on to others. Tough – but it feels really good now.
My takeaway? Prioritize and value my time.
I’m curious – have my changes inspired you?
Change doesn’t always have to be life-altering. Sometimes, small shifts can lead to big impact over time. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
– Try automating a task using AI.
Is there a recurring task that takes up your time – like summarizing meetings, organizing ideas, or writing text? Spend an hour exploring how an AI tool could help you streamline it.
– Create more focused time in your calendar.
What tasks truly require your presence – and which ones could be done differently? What if you booked a recurring “AI lab hour” each week?
– Say no to something.
A project, a meeting, a commitment. Just like I’ve let go of initiatives that no longer align – maybe there’s something you can let go of too?
– Be more intentional in how you use AI.
Instead of just “testing things out” – why not create a simple structure: when, how, and for what you use AI today? And how could it add even more value?
– Explore your strategic direction.
What do you really want your work to contribute to? In a time when technology is rapidly shifting the playing field, it’s easy to get stuck in day-to-day tasks. Maybe this fall is the perfect time to look up, think long-term – and get clear on where you want to grow.
*As we say on the HR Digi website: We (I) specialize in creating clear and sustainable strategies, grounded in the opportunities of HR Tech and AI. Through analysis, dialogue, and thoughtful decisions, we build strategies that are easy to understand, simple to communicate, and provide a strong foundation for decision-making – now and in the future.
The podcast is still on summer break ☀️🏝️🚐
Going forward, this segment will no longer appear in every newsletter – it’ll pop up occasionally instead. And we’re kicking things off a bit later than planned: the first episode drops on September 1st instead of August 18th.
The season opener dives into HR’s role in a time of rapid and widespread change – where technology, societal shifts, and new expectations are placing fresh demands on both leadership and ways of working. We talk about why it’s more important than ever for HR to step forward as a strategic partner – in conversation with Petra Schedin Stergel Secretary General of Sweden’s HR Association.
The episode also ties into the HR Loves Tech & AI training I lead in collaboration with the HR Föreningen – where we give HR professionals the tools to take active steps in digital transformation.
The next training cohort starts on September 23: https://www.hrdigi.se/kurser
🎧 Like what you hear in the podcast? Spread the word to your peers – and don’t forget to leave a rating in your podcast app 🌟🌟🌟
Mycket har hänt nu under juli och början av augusti. Spännande 👏🏻
Every year, HR Executive och HR Tech announce the Top HR Products of the Year – a list of solutions that combine innovation with clear business value.
The 2025 winners were announced this Monday and will be recognized at the inaugural HR Icons Awards in Las Vegas this September – where I’ll be attending.
I’m looking forward to learning more about these standout solutions 👏🏻
You can find the article here!
I see this as a very interesting acquisition – not to fill a gap in SAP SuccessFactors’ current offering, but as a clear signal that SAP wants to be at the forefront as recruitment systems evolve to become more proactive, AI-driven, and action-oriented.
SmartRecruiters has long been a global leader in the recruitment space.
And if you haven’t looked into them before – now’s the time.
On the same day our last newsletter went out, an important piece of news was announced in the HR Tech space: Heartpace HR has acquired Nyckeltalsinstitutet AB.
CEO Henrik Dannert highlights the significance of the move:
“Integrating Nyckeltalsinstitutet’s solutions into our platform opens up new opportunities to refine our customers’ strategic decision-making processes.”
On Nyckeltalsinstitutet’s side, CEO Tina Ekström shares the enthusiasm and looks forward to the synergies this partnership will bring.
At the same time, Heartpace is once again teasing its new initiative: “House for People.”
Stockholm-based Assessio – known for its psychometric testing and data-driven decision support for recruitment and leadership development – has acquired Elevo, a French HR tech platform focused on performance management and employee conversations. The aim is to create a comprehensive solution that integrates personality data, employee feedback, and goal setting – all in one platform.
The acquisition and strategy are noteworthy: Assessio is entering a space where players like Australia’s Culture Amp already offer a similar combination of personality assessments, engagement insights, and performance tools.
This hasn’t been a major investment area for Swedish or Nordic companies – but Assessio’s move might change that.
Tiltid (SEV Tidsystem AB) – a Stockholm-based scheduling and workforce management tool for the retail, restaurant, and hospitality sectors – has been acquired by Canadian company Valsoft Corporation.
According to the press release, Tiltid will continue to operate as an independent unit with the same team at the helm, while gaining access to Valsoft’s resources and expertise.
Congratulations!
London-based HR tech company Metaview, which automates interview note-taking and provides advanced AI insights for recruiters, has raised $35 million in a Series B round led by Google Ventures.
A great example of how AI is streamlining HR workflows – less admin, more time for strategic conversations.
The EU AI Act continues to roll out in stages. As of August 2, 2025, new obligations apply to providers of general-purpose AI models, such as language models (e.g. GPT-4). The aim is to increase transparency, safety, and regulatory compliance in AI use.
👋 You’ll find me speaking at Arbetsmiljöforum on August 28 in Stockholm (and online). After that, I’ll be at the Nordic Edtech Summit in Malmö on September 10. Once again, I’m heading to HR Tech in Las Vegas, September 16–18. Despite the state of the world, it’s still the place where I go to explore innovation – and I’ll return with fresh insights.
All links on the event calendar: [HRdigi | Events & Training 2025]
The purpose of this newsletter is to share news from the HR Tech market and highlight trends in digitalization, AI, and innovation for leaders and HR professionals.
About me
My name is Anna Carlsson, and I’m a strategic advisor and HR Tech analyst. I help HR and leadership teams make smart decisions in HR Tech, AI, and digitalization – through strategies that are clear, sustainable over time, and actionable. Assignments range from one-hour advisory calls to long-term projects where I support you all the way from current state to concrete results.
I run HR Digi, supporting HR professionals and HR Tech companies in navigating, understanding, and leading in a digital era. And it doesn’t always take major change – sometimes it’s about clarifying, prioritizing, and communicating strategically to achieve success.
Also proud memebr of Top 100 HR Tech Influencers globalt 2024 & 2025 🙏
