How to define the objectives of your HRIS implementation project?

Implementing a successful HRIS project is always a delicate operation, as the impact of this tool is so significant regardless of the size of the company. It is imperative to know the needs of the HR departments in order to draw up the most precise specifications possible, on which the project team can rely. A detailed analysis of your human resources needs will enable you to clearly define your company’s objectives. HRIS implementation project.

HRIS implementation project: analyze existing processes

Before even considering implementing an HRIS, a comprehensive list of HRIS processes must be established. To do this, you need to meet all the people involved in the HRIS system, and then produce a detailed written report.

From this report, it will be possible to define the requirements for the HRIS system. Team meetings and individual interviews will allow everyone to freely express their real needs in terms of HRIS solution. Once again, these meetings will be the subject of a written summary.

This step is an opportunity to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing information system. The former can be highlighted for inclusion in future tools, while the latter should be eliminated.

Define business constraints

Thanks to the inventory obtained in the previous step, it will be possible to identify various constraints linked to Human Resources, with the help of the HRIS project manager.

The strategic objectives will be determined by the expressed needs. The essential functionalities for the operation of the company must be highlighted. This work provides an opportunity to identify which functions of the existing system need to be maintained, which need to be improved, and which can be removed, either because they are deficient, or because their usefulness is called into question.

At the same time, it is important to take into account the legal constraints. Legislation is changing (notably with the entry into force of the GDPR for Europe) and the new management rules must be integrated into the future version of the HRIS system.

Define the technical constraints

Then come the technical constraints. The company’s IT infrastructure and any technical constraints of the existing system must be taken into account. Centralizing data internally will require a powerful network and significant computing capacity, as well as enhanced security. Storing data in the cloud requires a stable connection, but a lighter infrastructure.

If the company is present in several countries, it will be necessary to manage data distribution, which a cloud HRIS solution can easily do, but also to take into account the different local infrastructures to ensure that all HR departments will have access to the new system without difficulty

HRIS implementation project: defining priorities

Implementingan HRIS does not mean deploying all the required functionalities at once. Priorities must be set. The functional bricks can be added progressively, at each stage of the project. These priorities will be defined with the help of users, who will need to be involved and supported throughout the project.

The implementation of the HRIS system generally leads to a change in work habits, and a real change management policy is needed to help users get used to the new tools.