DIGITAL SUSTAINABILITY: THE ROLE OF SMART HR TOOLS IN ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68302/std2026.vol1.78Keywords:
Digital Transformation, Sustainable HRM, AI and Automation, Employee Motivation, SDGsAbstract
This chapter explores how digital transformation, smart HR tools, and AI-driven systems are reshaping Sustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) and accelerating organizational progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It argues that digital sustainability is not only a technological shift but a strategic framework that integrates automation, data analytics, digital communication, and intelligent HR platforms to reduce environmental impact, optimize workflows, and enhance the employee experience.
The chapter investigates how digital tools - such as AI-based recruitment, cloud HR systems, automated performance management, virtual collaboration platforms, and digital well-being applications - can lower the organizational carbon footprint by minimizing paper usage, reducing travel, and improving energy efficiency. These technologies also strengthen employee motivation, support flexible work models, and foster higher levels of engagement by enabling personalized learning, transparent communication, and more inclusive decision-making.
Particular attention is given to the delicate balance between technological efficiency and the “human factor,” highlighting the importance of emotional intelligence, ethical AI, and human-centered digital design. Drawing on international studies and case evidence from European and Asian contexts, the chapter demonstrates how organizations that integrate both digital innovation and human values achieve more sustainable performance, stronger talent retention, and a healthier organizational culture.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Stoyko Stoykov, Valentin Vasilew, Gentian Koci
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