Three Things HR Can Do to Manage Through the Economic Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 6, 2009 — By reviewing their function’s technology footprint and finding ways to streamline IT processes, HR departments can help their organizations cut costs, find efficiencies and support worker productivity in the current economic environment, according to technology experts at Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting firm.
“HR technology is ripe for review,” said Steve Hitzeman, senior leader in Watson Wyatt’s technology and administration solutions practice. “The goal is not only to find near-term efficiencies but also to ensure the organization is positioned for growth when economic conditions improve.”
Watson Wyatt experts offer three ways employers can use HR technology to manage the economic downturn more efficiently:
1. Optimize HR operational and service delivery effectiveness
According to Watson Wyatt’s 2009 HR Technology Trends survey, 61 percent of companies are seeking to optimize their delivery model and vendors. Conducting a review of the current HR service delivery model — which includes a mix of HR technology, call centers and vendors — can result in dramatic cost savings.
Despite the fact that in the last 10 years many HR departments have adopted organizational models that aim to reduce administrative costs and enable HR to take on more strategic work, the relative effort HR spends on administration has not changed significantly. This is because most HR departments adopted these models but did not follow up to effectively integrate different technologies.
