Not all cloud-based platforms offer the same level of flexibility and scalability, which affects whether leaders can enable their teams to unlock innovation and drive growth. It can mean the difference between companies that transform and those that stay stagnant.
Cloud technology has become foundational for operational flexibility, scalability, and innovation. But as companies navigate and respond to rapid-fire pivots in the business landscape, even a cloud-based platform can get a little cloudy. The fact is, not all cloud-based platforms offer the same level of flexibility, scalability, and innovation.
Choosing the right platform can be the difference between innovation and leadership—or stagnation.
Driven by the desire for more standardization and greater efficiency in order to lower costs, many companies shift their on-premise human capital management (HCM) systems to the cloud. But if the cumbersome architecture of an on-premise system shifts to the cloud as well, companies still encounter the same challenges, which include difficulty accessing the necessary financial, workforce, and operational data in real time.
For HR leaders, the real-time data capability is especially critical: HR data holds insights into workforce trends, employee skills, payroll costs, and more—all of which guide business decisions and affect a company’s strategic goals.
The thing is, HR leaders are factoring in not only how the technology supports them with strategic decision-making but also how it helps them with people management. People management involves optimizing workers for business performance, which takes into account what workers need in order to feel engaged and be productive. When done right, a cloud HCM platform enables HR leaders to empower their workforce.
The same is true for IT leaders: they’re looking at technologies that serve the business and the workforce by getting the most return on investment (ROI) through integration with other workplace technologies and high usage of technology across the company.
Companies have long realized the benefits of the cloud, but what’s needed now is maximizing what the cloud does best: enabling companies to innovate and lead.
Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) is fundamentally different from platforms that move from on-premise to the cloud. For starters, Workday HCM is built in the cloud, unlike many other cloud HCMs that are lifted and shifted from on-premise architecture. With Workday HCM, a frictionless foundation is possible, meaning that multiple types of data from multiple sources flow across systems and can be accessed in real time.
Let’s dive into the three surprising ways—usability, time to value, and partnership—your HCM could be holding your business back—and how you can navigate the landscape ahead and go beyond.
User experience (UX) in an HCM system plays a critical role in ensuring that HR processes are efficient, engaging, and easily accessible. UX directly impacts the productivity and satisfaction of both HR professionals and employees by simplifying interactions with the system. This, in turn, encourages the adoption of technology and streamlines HR operations, making it easier to attract, retain, and develop talent. An effective UX in HCM is foundational to maximizing the strategic potential of HR and transforming it into a pivotal component of organizational success.
However, many companies fail to prioritize user-centered design in their HCM cloud solutions, leading to complex interfaces. This oversight results in increased frustration among users who struggle to navigate the system, ultimately impacting the efficiency of HR processes and employee satisfaction.
The design philosophy behind the Workday UX focuses on simplicity and functionality, eliminating unnecessary complexities that often hamper the adoption and effective use of HCM systems. With features such as customizable dashboards and real-time analytics, Workday HCM empowers users to access critical information swiftly, make informed decisions, and execute tasks with unprecedented ease. This level of accessibility and personalization ensures that each user’s experience is tailored to their specific roles and needs, boosting engagement and contributing to the overall success of HR initiatives.
What’s more, the Workday commitment to mobile-first design principles means that users enjoy a consistent and fully functional experience across all devices. This flexibility is crucial in today’s dynamic work environments, where mobile access to HCM functions can significantly enhance workforce agility and responsiveness. A majority of workers say mobile devices play a key role in their productivity level.
When deploying an HCM system, companies often underestimate the complexity of aligning the system with their specific business processes and culture. Additionally, insufficient planning for change management and user training can hinder a seamless transition to the new system, affecting productivity and overall UX. These challenges, if not anticipated and addressed early, can significantly delay the benefits of implementing an HCM solution.
A key strategy for maximizing ROI is a simplified deployment. A streamlined implementation process not only reduces initial costs and time to go-live but also mitigates the risk of early-stage errors that could have long-term impacts on system efficiency and user adoption rates.
Workday offers a simplified deployment strategy that incorporates best practices for data migration and system integration. By ensuring that existing data is accurately transferred and that the new HCM system seamlessly integrates with other software and tools already in use, organizations can avoid common pitfalls that delay the realization of system benefits. In fact, customers who choose our Workday Launch rapid deployment approach realize value 42% faster. Prioritizing ease of use, data integrity, system integration, and configurability means organizations can set the stage for a successful HCM cloud implementation with streamlined deployment from Workday, maximizing HCM ROI and delivering lasting benefits.
The deployment of an HCM cloud system is just the starting point. Continuous improvement and updates are essential to keep pace with technological advancements and evolving workforce dynamics. An HCM system demands ongoing, proactive support to adapt to evolving business needs and to leverage new features and capabilities as they become available.
But companies may inadvertently choose a software vendor that focuses solely on deployment. In an ever-evolving business environment, companies need a dynamic HCM that effectively supports the organization’s objectives, fostering an environment of continuous innovation and growth. This requires ongoing support after deployment—a service that vendors often offer for an extra cost.
HR data holds insights into workforce trends, employee skills, payroll costs, and more—all of which have a direct impact on how a company meets its strategic goals.
As your organization grows and changes, so, too, will your HCM system requirements. This is where the distinction of services, such as those provided by Workday, becomes crucial. Proactive support means having access to a team of experts that not only responds to issues as they arise but also works with you to anticipate changes and adapt your HCM system accordingly. This strategic partnership helps ensure that your HCM solution continuously aligns with your business objectives, fostering resilience and agility. In fact, Workday aims to maintain a customer satisfaction rating of over 95%, a goal we’ve surpassed for more than a decade.
Ongoing support can help you refine your use of Workday HCM, ensuring you are delivering a differentiated employee experience and deriving actionable insights that inform better decision-making in any environment. Regular updates and training sessions provided by Workday can help your HR team stay ahead of the curve, enabling your organization to operate seamlessly and maximize value from your workforce. Additionally, since the landscape of HR best practices is continuously evolving, our Workday Community portal is another form of ongoing support where Workday customers can share ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback.
When done right, a cloud HCM sets up HR and IT leaders to be strategic partners with their C-suite leadership and the workforce. As a result, the entire organization is elevated to shape the future of work, together.
The cloud has proven to be an indispensable platform for achieving agility, growth, and innovation. However, the rapidly changing market landscape puts businesses at a crossroads: strategic decisions can make all the difference in how HR and IT leaders drive toward desired outcomes in a dynamic environment.
When done right, a cloud HCM sets up HR and IT leaders to be strategic partners with their C-suite leadership and the workforce. As a result, the entire organization is elevated to shape the future of work, together.
Discover the power of Workday Human Capital Management—a performance-driven HCM system—in our eBook Three Reasons Why Workday Human Capital Management Enables Modern HR.
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