On the face of it, search and recruitment is the ultimate people business.

At its most basic level it is about matching the skills of applicants to the needs of employers.

But recruitment goes far further and deeper than that.

It is not just about match-making but helping people to fulfil their potential and realise their dreams.

It is no exaggeration to say that it can change lives. And that is what makes it such an intensely personal business.

All of which raises questions about the increasing role that technology plays in this people business.

After all, technology is generally considered to be cold and impersonal.

"Computer says no" is a comedy catchphrase which gets laughs because it brilliantly highlights the frustrations that many of us have felt at the impersonal hands of technology.

So is there a disconnect between technology and recruitment in the fast-growing and intensely competitive sports jobs sector?

Absolutely not.

In fact, I believe that effective and appropriate application of technology adds a new and liberating dimension to recruitment for both applicants and employers in a sector which is becoming increasingly global in its outlook.

While the human element remains at the core of effective search and recruitment, the computer has a vital role to play and is at the heart of www.globalsportsjobs.com, a new service which represents the natural evolution of the sector to meet its changing needs and expectations.

Let's consider how the industry is changing.

Sport is playing a more important role in society than at any other time.

On one hand it is a vital part of the entertainment industry, generating billions each year in ticket sales and media rights as well as providing an effective platform for promoting the widest range of corporations, products and services imaginable.

Sport is also gaining in importance on a social level as a means of promoting activity and good health and social cohesion.

Consequently, Governments around the world are investing heavily in community sports programmes.

These are among the trends which have helped create many new opportunities in the world of sport, but the competition for jobs is intense and very often the search for off-field talent is often international, making traditional recruitment methods not only expensive but potentially ineffective.

The use of technology continues to be a game-changer.

At GlobalSportsJobs we are in the process of creating a world's biggest sports careers network online.

It's a massive task but one that is progressing well and attracting the support of some of the biggest employers in sport.

They understand that by accessing this network - or community - they extend their reach, both geographically and numerically, and increase the opportunity of selecting the best possible talent for key roles.

And it is not just a question of extending reach.

Technology also provides opportunities for sophisticated profile matching and online psychometric testing, all of which helps to ensure the process is as efficient and focused as possible before the human element comes into play.

All the evidence is that the effective and appropriate application of technology in sports recruitment will deliver huge cost savings and enhanced efficiency, particularly at the lower- mid range of the market where demand outstrips supply.

None of this means that the human element of the process will ever become redundant.

If anything it will become even more important, particularly in relation to the most senior roles in international sport where top talent is highly sought-after.

As ever, the challenge facing the sector is the ability to meet the needs of employers and candidates in a fast-changing market and the application of technology is key to that.

I am proud to be part of this important evolutionary step.

Will Lloyd is chief executive officer of GlobalSportsJobs