How to start your quest for an HR solution?
This approach is based on the Lean implementation process to gain speed and is application agnostic, which means that no concrete choice has been made during these first three steps, but that the insights from this can be used regardless of the provider(s) of your choice after the third step.
You are building a WorkTech stack, in which you are free to choose whether you opt for an all-in-one solution, or for various applications that work together seamlessly.
1. Analyzing the current situation
It makes no sense to use technology that is not being used optimally. Therefore, keep the following bottlenecks on top of mind when you start a search for new software, because to choose the right provider(s), you must first understand the requirements and expectations of your team.
By involving your HR team members, if any, you can map the workflows of the different HR processes and break them down step by step, after which the team can identify those workflows and steps that they find challenging. For example with a post-it exercise. This will help you spot bottlenecks that hinder your team's efficiency.
2. Mapping suggestions for improvement and process optimization
Mapping out the bottlenecks, however, is not always sufficient to find a solution and to optimize the processes, although a first overview usually contributes to the strategic plan of what one is trying to achieve, why and how. To put it in other words, mapping out the bottlenecks helps to define the key elements of a targetted search.
By having access to market intelligence and being aware of possibilities and trends in the WorkTech Market, recommendations for improvement and optimization can be made very concrete. These can i.e. be formulated as tangible expectations towards that WorkTech Market (which most likely can be met).
3. Designing the application structure, searching and/or selecting applications
The formulation of recommendations can therefore even be made concrete to the extent that these can be put to the WerkTech market as a question - knowing that there are suitable solutions and there is often a wide choice as end user and customer.
This is called a request for information or request for proposal (RFI/RFP) and often also contains a visualization of the processes and the expected optimizations or applications.
A request for information is a document that a company sends to suppliers to collect information about suppliers' available services, qualifications and products. RFI documents can include everything from general goals and objectives to evaluation criteria and submission details.
By distributing this request for information or proposal in a targeted manner in the WerkTech Market, you then gain insight into the offer, if desired even concrete quotations and ultimately the solution of your choice.
Continuation
After making your choice, the development or implementation and monitoring or evaluation of the solution follow. These steps vary widely in time and cost, depending on the case and the solution. That is why it is my belief these are also something buyers/users should follow up in-house (within the team), within an agreed project timeline and in direct line with the software supplier/provider or its representatives.