Groundbreaking and even modest HR technology projects can face tough odds after they are rolled out, and success is far from guaranteed. In short, if these new tools and solutions cannot get employee buy in, they could be destined to fail. In fact, according to research presented by Josh Bersin, global industry analyst and keynote speaker at the HR Tech Conference, 42% of HR tech projects fail after two years.
What it means for HR leaders
“We are competing for the eyeballs of the employers,” Bersin said to tech developers in his Wednesday keynote titled “HR Technology Reinvented: The Big Shift Towards Work Tech.”
See also: 3 big ideas from Day 1 of HR Tech–and what’s up next
Once employers select new technology, rolling out the project is demanding work: Nearly one-third of respondents in Bersin’s research are over budget on ongoing HR tech projects, and 53% of their projects miss deadlines.
Projects are deemed failures, Bersin said, if, after two years, employees refuse to use them, do not have the time to use them or see little benefit in the apps and solutions.
Despite the challenges selecting and implementing tech projects, Bersin said, HR leaders need to realize that the success of a project is largely not about the technology itself but rather how it will be used by the workers. “Employee experience isn’t a set of features on top of software, rather it is a whole suite of tools to create a great experience for employees,” said Bersin.
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