HCM system implementation can feel like a daunting task. Implementation can indeed be a big undertaking, but that doesn’t mean that it needs to be complicated, stressful, or difficult. People often make common mistakes throughout the implementation process, which is why it is so important to have the right implementation team that considers a holistic view of your project from the start. At Covalence Consulting, we have a solid process that we walk each client through to make sure the journey is smooth, your team is happy, and at the end of the day, you get the most out of your HCM investment. Here are some of the ways we take to make that happen.
Conduct a custom needs analysis
Your business is unique and has specific needs. HCM system implementation is not a one size fits all project. Many leaders bypass their planning in an HR transformation and want to get right into the action. The truth is planning is an essentially important phase for a successful implementation. It’s crucial to analyze your current performance management process, prepare for your ideal scenario moving forward, and consider new solutions to achieve these goals. When you set up your project, it’s vital to produce a plan that includes a timeline, scope of work, costs, and a group of decision-making team members.
Develop an implementation timeline
A timeline will keep your project organized and ensure you’re meeting benchmarks on time. A solid implementation timeline typically follows these steps:
- Plan
- Discover
- Build
- Test
- Deploy
Test and test some more
Let’s say you’ve developed a detailed analysis of your needs and have created a plan and solutions to implement. The sometimes-harsh reality is that there can often be inconsistencies between that plan and what the system can accomplish. Being flexible and creative is key to making solutions a success. Once you’ve tweaked and solidified your system, create test groups to see how your new process works. It’s okay to make changes and tweaks to adjust the system if things aren’t running as smoothly as they could be. Gather feedback from your test groups and assess if there is further room for improvement.
Have a plan for go-live
Without a concrete plan before taking a project live, you could run into some serious issues down the road. This plan could look like this; migrate data from existing systems, make necessary software integrations, test the system, train employees, go live, track the system after implementation.
Reap the benefits
The benefits of a properly implemented HCM system extend throughout an entire organization. As a result, employees will have an enhanced experience, role clarity, and increased engagement. Managers will effectively coordinate with their teams and increase productivity, while the C-suite will have access to valuable reporting and data for planning and strategic decision-making. Above all, the HR department can automate processes, improve employee engagement, and gain valuable data. To reap these benefits, companies must implement them strategically from the very beginning.
At Covalence, we are implementation experts. Reach out to us today to learn what we can do for your organization.