Back to School: What You Need for Your HRIS Project
It’s September, and everyone has that back-to-school feeling. New bags, new pens, and new notebooks at the ready.
If your ‘fresh start’ also applies to your HR Tech project, here are a couple of pieces of key equipment you should stash in your bag.
Here’s what to pack:
1. Books and Notes – Knowledge
Every project starts with understanding. You need to know what your system can do, from the sales exploration process to vendor resources. Ask for materials at the start, not just the end, so you can plan with clarity and maximise what’s possible now and later.
2. Clean Source Material – Data
It doesn’t matter how fancy your new system is; if your data is old or incorrect, it will hold you back. Clean, accurate, and trusted data is the key to a successful HRIS project. If no one trusts it, no one will use it.
3. Tools and Supplies – Technology
Make sure you have the basics: a computer with product licences, Excel or Google Sheets for data prep, Word and Adobe for policies and templates, and communication platforms (Teams, Slack, email) to collaborate with vendors and your team.
4. Data and Process Maps
Know where you are starting from (“as is” processes) and where you want to go (“to be” processes). This clarity makes it easier to transform data and design processes that add real value, rather than recreating inefficient ways of working.
5. AI Calculator
AI is making huge strides in HR tech. Explore which processes could be automated or streamlined, and ask vendors about the potential. But remember — if it learns from bad data, you’ll struggle to unpick it later.
6. Copy of the Rules – Security
Permissions and access matter. Make sure you understand how security settings work and where they come from. You don’t want the wrong people having access to sensitive data.
7. Timetable – Project Planning
Plan your time wisely. You can cleanse data while negotiating contracts, but also check availability across teams. HR, IT, Finance, Comms — they’ll all need to be involved, and you’ll need to align schedules to avoid bottlenecks.
8. PE Kit – Team Sport
Implementing a new HR system is very much a team effort. Your people will need to play multiple roles: project managers, change managers, trainers, communicators, and problem-solvers — all on top of their day jobs. Pick your A-team carefully, and invest in training or extra support where needed.
9. Templates
Have ready-made documents for notifications, policies, and letters with merge fields. This will save time and help with consistency when rolling out.
10. Star of the Week Skills – Attitude and Communication
Systems projects involve change, and change brings resistance. You’ll need open-mindedness, strong communication, and teamwork to win people over and make the transition smoother.
11. Copy Someone’s Homework
It may not have been encouraged at school, but in HR tech projects it’s invaluable. Talk to peers who have implemented similar systems. What worked for them? What didn’t? Ask vendors to walk you through real scenarios — like a mock test — to check it can deliver for you.
12. Confidence and Curiosity
Projects will always throw up questions you didn’t know to ask. Stay curious and work through them with your team. Confidence and flexibility will help you adapt and ensure you get the best out of your new system.
With the right kit in your school bag, you’ll be ready to tackle your HRIS project head-on.
Talk to us about your plans for the future and we’ll guide you to the top of the class.
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