If we’re being honest, the way HR used to do analytics was kind of a mess.
Managers dedicated hours to a frenetic process based largely in old data, wading through a web of disparate solutions to try gleaning insights that, frankly, weren’t all that illuminating. All of the time spent manually inputting information and building custom reports mostly failed to teach us anything useful about the future.
HR professionals were left gasping for air, weighed down by overly complicated, outdated solutions that were stuck in the past.
Things have changed.
Now, user experience is at the core of HR analytics solutions. You don’t have to be a BI expert anymore to overcome logistical difficulties. Anyone can collect, analyze, simulate, plan, predict and report using any data, in one screen, at any time — without waiting for IT support.
This shift has been spearheaded by analytics tools with predictive capabilities, capturing data for the purposes of forward-looking budgeting, collaborative revenue forecasting, long-range strategic planning and more.
These new solutions are also based in the cloud, enabling better integration, clearer visualization and real-time data management.
Doesn’t sound like so much of a mess anymore!
We recently implemented a leading cloud-based analytics solution, SAP Analytics Cloud, for an 8,000-employee enterprise client in the UK. Our expertise in this kind of solution also led to a substantially faster rollout relative to traditional BI projects of just six weeks.
It’s innovation in action with deeper value.
Additionally, think about just a few benefits of cloud-based analytics that older approaches simply couldn’t provide:
• Instant access from desktop and mobile
• Personalized dashboards that tailor the user experience to specific roles
• Collaborative workflows that optimize resources while increasing engagement, accountability and productivity
That last point is crucial. This new approach to analytics empowers all workers across the spectrum to do their jobs more effectively. In turn, your organization can elevate its strategic value through the HR function, utilizing unique insights and predictive outlooks through data.
A commitment to a more sophisticated approach to analytics in the cloud will benefit your entire organization. Embrace this shift.
If we’re being honest, it’s the only way to go.
Thomas Meis is Executive Manager of Analytics & Business Intelligence at Zalaris. He joined Zalaris in 2017, following the company’s acquisition of ROC Global Solutions Consulting Limited. You can follow him on LinkedIn.