In today’s fast-paced digital world, staying ahead of the curve is essential for organizations to remain competitive. Recognizing the need for change, British Telecommunications (BT) embarked on a journey to revolutionize its HR system. To achieve this, BT turned to SAP technologies to create a groundbreaking digital platform that would streamline and enhance HR lifecycle activities.
Challenges with Legacy HR System
BT, like many other companies, faced multiple challenges with its legacy HR system. These outdated technologies were complicated, inflexible, and expensive to update and maintain. They no longer aligned with BT’s evolving needs and hindered its ability to efficiently manage its diverse businesses. Recognizing the need for transformation, BT aimed to create a single, integrated digital platform that could handle all HR lifecycle activities seamlessly across devices.
The need for an integrated digital platform
To meet the demands of its diverse businesses, BT knew it had to develop a unified solution for HR processes. The goal was to have a platform that could be accessed at any time, from any device, ensuring all HR activities were standardized, streamlined, and efficient. This approach would simplify operations, empower HR teams, and enhance the overall employee experience.
Existing relationship with SAP
BT had a long-standing relationship with SAP and had utilized their enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in the past. This existing partnership laid a solid foundation for BT’s decision to turn to SAP technologies once again to create its innovative HR platform. The familiarity with SAP’s solutions provided confidence and reassurance in choosing them as the technology partner for this transformative project.
Features and benefits of the digital HR platform
The newly created digital HR platform revolutionized how HR teams operated within BT. The platform offered a wide range of features and benefits, allowing HR teams to access it for various purposes throughout the HR lifecycle. From colleague selection to onboarding, career development, and learning, the platform provided a user-friendly interface that made tasks intuitive, efficient, and flexible.
Streamlining and standardization
With the deployment of the digital HR platform, 30 legacy systems were instantly decommissioned. This consolidation resulted in streamlined and standardized HR processes. Over 200 HR processes were simplified and reduced to fewer than 90, ensuring greater consistency and simplicity throughout the organization. This transformation allowed HR managers, teams, and colleagues to navigate the solution effortlessly, ultimately improving productivity and saving valuable time.
Productivity gains through cloud technology
The integration of cloud technology into BT’s digital HR platform resulted in immense productivity gains. By leveraging the cloud, BT eliminated the need for manual, labour-intensive processes and optimized HR operations. This cloud-enabled solution saved the company over a million productivity hours annually, freeing up its workforce to engage in activities that propelled the BT Group forward. The cloud-based infrastructure also offered scalability and flexibility, ensuring the platform could adapt to BT’s evolving needs.
Recognition at the SAP Innovation Awards
For its commitment to creating an exceptional digital colleague experience, BT Group received a distinctive honor at the SAP Innovation Awards. The company was designated the “10th Anniversary Superstar” winner, a testament to its dedication to using SAP technologies to transform not only its industry but also society at large. This recognition reaffirmed BT’s position as a leader in innovation and highlighted the significant impact of its digital HR platform.
BT’s decision to embrace SAP technologies and develop a groundbreaking digital HR platform has revolutionized the way HR operates within the organization. By addressing the challenges of the legacy system, BT successfully streamlined and standardized HR processes, saving time and resources. The integration of cloud technology further boosted productivity and allowed employees to focus on value-added activities. Recognition at the SAP Innovation Awards reinforced BT’s reputation as an industry leader in digital transformation. Moving forward, BT Group will continue to leverage innovation and technology to drive growth and improve the overall employee experience. To learn more about BT Group’s accomplishments and their journey to success, explore their pitch deck.