OCBC rolls out first AI-powered HR mobile app

It can provide immediate responses specific to each employee.

OCBC Bank launches a human resources app to meet the needs of its employees.

Dubbed as HR In Your Pocket, the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot is integrated with the Bank’s HR information system and can provide immediate responses that are specific to each employee.

Employees can also ask the app’s in-built chatbot, ‘Buddy’, HR-related questions and get an instant response. As ‘Buddy’ is fully integrated with the Bank’s HR system, the questions can be individualised: The employee can ask if he or she has met mandatory leave requirements or enquire after the status of an expense claim. ‘Buddy’ can then provide accurate and personalised answers.

HR In Your Pocket was developed in-house and feedback was gathered internally, with employees sharing that they wanted to be able to access HR information and perform HR-related matters anywhere and anytime, without having to contact the HR team or be seated at their desks.

Employees can ask ‘Buddy’ questions by either typing the questions in the chat window or using voice commands, as with Apple’s virtual personal assistant, Siri. ‘Buddy’ has human-like conversational skills and natural language processing capabilities, and is able to interpret questions and answer them in plain English.