HCM software delivers a holistic, digital strategy to people management. HR departments utilize the data from these applications to comprehend and oversee their total workforce.
HCM software allows HR departments to automate manual, everyday processes and streamline all facets of employee management – while giving workers more control over their benefits and records.
HCM systems are a crucial part of the HR digital transformation and incorporate features that enable automation and modernization:
- Payroll
- Contractor management
- Employee management
- Employee performance management and assessment
- Employee benefits such as PTO and health insurance
Implementing a new HCM system demands many moving parts, so breaking the process into steps can assist with keeping things organized and moving forward.
Project Planning and Resource Commitment
What are you planning? Do you have a practical understanding of the different phases of the initiative? HCM initiatives are multifaceted, even for small businesses. A lot needs to be done, from vendor selection to requirements gathering, solution design, build, testing, training, deployment and support.
Ask yourself, who will do that work? Who will work on the strategy? Of course, your team members and their knowledge of how things work today are a crucial component of the success of your project, but it is unrealistic to think you can remove them from their day jobs for prolonged periods. Therefore, you will require others to help lead the project and handle the daily pieces of the implementation. At the same time, your expert’s contribution will maximize efforts in a minimal amount of time.
Determine and examine all the processes that are currently in place and plan how these can be integrated into the HCM system. This planning assists you by listing all the functional and technical needs of the HCM system itself. It lets you identify all functions and workflows and also helps you identify the gaps. It also assists in pinpointing processes that can automate. By reviewing all designations to see their responsibilities and understand where you can make modifications, you will allow the HCM system to work best for your business requirements.
Installation and Customizations
The installation process comprises several steps typically covered by advisors or service partners. Security is a critical factor that must be prioritized during a large-scale digital
transformation procedure, like implementing an HCM system. No matter how ready you think you are, there will invariably be discrepancies and deficiencies that need to be taken care of.
After installing the software, specialists will test the systems to guarantee all functions are working as expected. Individual user profiles are also created to check the altered views and workflows. These also help identify gaps that can be bridged with the help of integrations and customized reports that you may have ignored in the initial phase.
Data Audit
As the saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out.” The quality of the information you put into your HCM solution will directly impact the system you deliver to your users. An HCM system needs a lot of data already in your organization. For example, your organization structure, job titles/positions, salaries and core employee data. Before your HCM project begins, knowing if the data is accurate and where it lives is crucial.
If the data lives in multiple systems, you must decide how to consolidate it. If the data is incorrect, you will need to clean it up.
Testing and Training
Testing and training are the most critical and overlooked components of an HCM initiative. Any errors with an HCM solution can be detrimental to business operations. In addition, if people do not know how the system is intended to be used and have no resources to get an answer from, they won’t use the system, so it is imperative to plan for both. How will the system be tested? Who is going to test? What is involved in testing? How are you going to train your users on this new application? What has worked well in training users? What hasn’t worked well
Go Live
Once everything is operating smoothly, it’s time to launch! This stage of the HCM implementation is governed primarily by the steps taken to ensure faster adoption rates. The successful implementation and end-user experience are highly dependent on employee engagement. Don’t hesitate – to announce to the company that the new system is in place and let everybody know how the new HCM system will help their experience with the company.
Conclusion
Implementing enterprise-grade HCM solutions can be very daunting. However, an organization’s ability to address these five steps separates a successful HCM project from a less successful one.
Contact us to help you navigate this journey and be your guide. We’ve done this before and know what to look out for!
