Everyone working in human resources has heard the buzz surrounding HR Cloud Transformation. The role of HR technology has grown from just performing basic HR tasks efficiently to becoming an essential element of business operations as a whole. The truth is that the cloud computing market is here to stay and is growing to an anticipated $947 billion industry by 2026.
There are undoubtedly many benefits to cloud transformation, but many are hesitant to make the leap. An HR cloud transformation project can seem daunting, but we’ve outlined some tips below to help with the transition to digital.
The Benefits of HR Cloud Transformation
The shift to a more mobile and remote workforce has only increased the adoption and need for cloud technology in the past couple of years. Here are just a few of the benefits of making the switch to the cloud:
- Productivity: Features like automation have proven to show an increase in productivity and help enhance the employee experience
- Automation: The cloud brings ease to human resource tasks like talent management, employee experience, recruiting, and online learning.
- Data: Cloud technology also offers organizations one other big perk: data. Data stored in the cloud allows HR leaders to develop data-driven workforce plans, offer more accurate reporting, and aid in decision-making.
- Compliance: Software can significantly reduce the risk of human error and help organizations stay on top of regulations.
- Security: Saving data in the cloud has proven to be much safer and more reliable than past methods
5 Tips for HR Cloud Transformation
1. Define your key objectives
A well-planned start at the beginning of an HR Cloud Transformation is key to success. Ensure the entire team is in alignment with the objectives and expected benefits of transitioning to the cloud. Involving different departments like IT, business, and HR in your planning will help give a holistic view of your objectives. Maintain the focus on your objectives throughout the project to ensure success.
2. Create a dynamic plan of action
A common mistake made when planning a cloud transformation is creating a plan based on your needs of today. If the Covid-19 pandemic taught us anything, you should plan on changes and work flexibility and agility into your project. Be proactive in planning for things like changes in business operations, acquisitions, mergers, or changes in employee experience expectations. According to HR Technology Advisor Soumyasanto Sen, “A successful digital HR strategy should be aligned to the needs of the business, agile, focused on strategic enablement rather than just efficiency and effectiveness, and should be owned by HR in partnership with IT.”
3. Be selective with your technology and vendor selections
Once you’ve outlined your objectives, take that information and use it to determine which technology best aligns with your vision. Consider using a third-party consulting firm like ours that is vendor-agnostic. As third-party consultants, we always ensure we follow our client’s objectives while using our decades of experience and industry knowledge to back it up. Ultimately, the HR Cloud technology you choose should streamline your processes, increase productivity, and have a cost-efficiency benefit.
4. Have a people-focused approach
A recent Gartner study found that most HR leaders agree they aim to improve employee experience with technology. However, half of CHROs feel HR technology hinders rather than enhances employee experience at their organizations. Many organizations are implementing technology, focusing on only the usability of the software without considering whether the technology is helping employees accomplish their projects and goals. Before beginning any HR Cloud Transformation, it’s vital to connect with the people in your organization to understand how the technology can have a positive impact on their roles. Get feedback from employees, ask questions, and remain transparent throughout. As a result, transparency and communication will enhance the employee experience and increase your ROI.
5. Promote cloud adoption throughout your organization
The success of any cloud transformation relies heavily on adoption. Now more than ever, employees feel the change fatigue set in at work. A great way to avoid this is to heavily promote your HR cloud transformation from the start throughout your organization. C-suite, management, employee, and the HR department should understand the value of the conversion and provide detailed training on using the new system. Showing each employee the system’s benefits and addressing any concerns can significantly help the adoption process.
HR cloud transformation is rapidly becoming the standard for organizations. Those that don’t make the switch will find themselves falling behind. While cloud transformation may seem like a massive undertaking, you’ll reap the benefits of making the transition to the cloud when you have the right strategy and processes in place. With decades of experience and hundreds of projects under our belt, we are here to help you with your HR cloud transformation. Reach out to us today to see how we can make what is often a complex transition simple.