Article
The human element in HR tech: Lessons from Baker Tilly and Mercer
April 16, 2025 · Authored by Nathaniel Pease, Jeffrey Haynes
Hear from Mercer and Baker Tilly on HR tech transformations. Listen to the podcast on Apple or Spotify!
Organizations increasingly turn to human resources (HR) technologies to streamline operations and enhance employee experiences. However, the journey from legacy systems to cutting-edge cloud and AI-powered platforms is usually fraught with challenges that extend beyond simple technological implementation.
In a recent webinar with Mercer’s Harry West, Senior Principal of HR Digital Transformation, Corina Lam, Global Leader, Vendor Services of Technology Partnerships & Analysts, and Baker Tilly’s Jeffrey Haynes, Director – Oracle Solutions, Nathaniel Pease, Principal – Oracle Solutions, delved deep into the landscape of HR technology transformations. The discussion revealed the critical human elements that can make or break a successful implementation.
Q: What are the most common misconceptions clients have about HR technology implementations?
Harry West, Senior Principal of HR Digital Transformation, MercerOne of the biggest myths is that HR tech implementation is a one-and-done project. In contrast, it’s an ongoing journey. With continuous updates and evolving business needs, organizations must stay engaged, adapt and optimize their systems long after go-live.
HR is easy: Haynes highlighted the notion that many stakeholders perceive HR as 'easy,' underestimating the complexities of implementing HR systems. Unlike finance systems that typically cater to a smaller group that might touch 50 professionals, HR systems impact the entire organization, maybe up to 50,000 users across an organization. He noted that the complexity lies in designing workflows that cater to potentially thousands of users, each with specific needs.
