PRO+ Premium Content/E-Handbooks

As companies strive to maximize their investments, many are considering human capital management (HCM) technology to help manage the workforce -- often their largest expense. But achieving the purported benefits of HCM systems -- lower turnover costs, for example -- is not easy. Disconnected systems, ancient human resources’ processes and a constantly changing workforce can keep companies from succeeding at human capital management initiatives.

Written by veteran IT journalist Sue Hildreth, this three-part guide puts a spotlight on HCM applications in the enterprise. For IT managers, the first step toward implementation means building a business case for investment in human capital management software. Several things make that a challenge, but chief among them is convincing executives that a change in software will help the bottom line. That takes a strong argument and even stronger financial figures, Hildreth writes.

Next, it’s time to decide between software-as-a-service and on-premises HCM systems. According to some analysts, SaaS systems are easier to manage and relieve IT departments of maintenance headaches. Choosing the right one -- along with applying some basic planning and data cleansing processes -- will put organizations on the path to HCM success.