You’ve already selected a Human Capital Management (HCM) vendor and recognize the pivotal role that implementing your HCM system will play in your organization’s growth and development. However, implementing your HCM system successfully should not be viewed as merely a technical project but as a transformative journey. Inevitably, along this journey, you are going to need a guide. Someone to help you plan your route, navigate and foresee challenges, adjust direction if required, and ultimately get you to your destination. Your guide on this journey is essential and that is where engaging with an HCM implementation partner can help. So, how do you determine which HCM implementation partner to use? Below, we’ve listed our top five tips for selecting the best partner for your implementation journey.
Five Tips for Selecting Your HCM Implementation Partner
1. Experience & Expertise
Many implementation partners will offer you similar things, but one thing you can not reproduce is experience and expertise. A partner that can provide you with an extensive history of successful implementations and a proven track record of handling implementations that fall in line with what you are looking for is crucial. This expertise comes from a partner with extensive product knowledge and hands-on industry experience that only comes with time invested.
2. Industry Knowledge
Implementation partners should be more than just software technologists. They should have a high level of understanding of the many aspects of Human Capital Management that could affect your HCM platform. Industry-specific HR challenges and unique compliance requirements are essential for your partner to understand.
3. Collaborative Approach
You want an implementation partner who will work closely with your team, taking the time to understand your company culture, operations, nuances, and end goals. According to Gartner research, 63% of employees stop using technology if they don’t see its relevance to their day-to-day work. Therefore, HCM implementation must be handled as a team effort with implementation partners, management, IT, and employee insights all considered when executing an implementation.
4. Innovative & Forward Thinking
It’s important to ensure that your HCM solution is implemented in a way that can scale for future growth. Eventually, your business needs will change and evolve, and you need a system that can grow with your organization. A partner who stays up to date on the latest trends and innovations is someone you will want on your side when implementing a new system.
5. Project Management Experts
The journey through an implementation can feel daunting. However, an exemplary implementation partner will have a clear project methodology for planning and execution. They can pivot to changes and remain flexible while also meeting critical deadlines.
Ultimately, HCM implementation is a transformative journey. Like any journey, it requires careful planning, the right partners, perseverance in facing challenges, and a commitment to ongoing improvement. In short, you need a trusted guide – an HCM implementation partner to navigate this journey. At Covalence Consulting, we are pioneers in Human Capital Management. We are implementation experts with a history of 25+ years of proven workforce management experience. We help organizations navigate the complexities of HCM technology while creating solutions that target your organization’s specific needs and ensure a successful implementation. Take a look at a couple of our success stories to see how we’ve partnered with organizations on their journey through implementation.