share on
"Ultimately, the collective effort of our employees and leaders drives continuous improvement and innovation in our HR practices," says Somita Rajendran, Head of Human Resources, BASF Asia-Pacific Service Centre.
Digital transformation in HR begins at the very first touchpoint: onboarding. By integrating technology and strategic processes, the onboarding experience sets the tone for a seamless employee journey, driving engagement, productivity, and long-term success.
One example of an organisation that takes this challenge and turns it into a learning opportunity is BASF Asia-Pacific Service Centre, which enabled the team to earn the bronze award for 'Excellence in Digital Transformation' at the HR Excellence Awards 2024, Malaysia.
Following the win, Somita Rajendran, Head of Human Resources, BASF Asia-Pacific Service Centre, shares insights with HRO on enhancing the onboarding process and fostering a culture of inclusivity within the organisation.
Q What was the motivation that sparked your passion & business case for pursuing your outstanding people strategy?
Our motivation stemmed from a clear need to enhance the onboarding experience. We recognised that traditional methods were often inefficient and could overwhelm new hires. We aimed to create a seamless onboarding process that not only saves time and reduces efforts but also fosters a welcoming atmosphere. By leveraging technology, we focused on ensuring that managers and new hires had a positive experience from the moment of offer acceptance.
The business case was clear: an improved onboarding process leads to enhanced engagement and better customisability, with notable cost savings occurring as a fortunate byproduct. We wanted to empower our employees to feel valued and supported, ultimately driving organisational success.
Q Looking back, can you share a challenge that you overcame in your journey of HR excellence? How did you triumph?
A key challenge was implementing changes to our onboarding processes. To address this, we benchmarked market practices to identify effective strategies other organisations used, guiding our decisions to meet our unique needs.
By collaborating closely with our country's HR, we developed a customised onboarding journey tailored to different countries and job functions. This partnership enabled us to integrate specific cultural and functional elements, ensuring a relevant and effective onboarding experience.
Engaging stakeholders throughout the process fostered support and enthusiasm for the new approach, resulting in a successful rollout that greatly enhanced the onboarding experiences for new hires and managers.
Q Beyond the recognition, what impact do you hope your feature in the HR Excellence Awards would have on the HR community and manpower landscape?
We believe our recognition in the HR Excellence Awards will catalyse innovation within the HR community. By sharing our success story, we hope to inspire other organisations to embrace digital transformation in their HR processes. Our journey underscores the importance of user-friendly technology in enhancing employee experiences and encourages HR professionals to rethink traditional practices. Ultimately, we aim to spark conversations around best practices in onboarding and employee engagement, demonstrating how a well-designed process can improve workforce productivity and satisfaction.
Through collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the HR community, we can collectively advance the manpower landscape and create more inclusive and effective workplaces.
Q Could you share some advice you would give to others aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
"For those aspiring to excel in HR, my key advice is to remain open to exploring how technology can enhance various HR functions and redesign the way we work."
Evaluating how different systems can be integrated to create more efficient processes is essential. Rather than jumping on the latest trends, focus on what truly makes sense for your stakeholders—namely employees, managers, and the organisation as a whole. Gather input from these groups to ensure your solutions effectively address their needs.
Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement and collaboration to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful change. It is also essential to communicate the importance of change effectively, ensuring that everyone is aligned and engaged throughout the process.
Q Let's talk inspiration! Who has been a driving force behind your success?
Our success is driven by our employees. As a Global Business Services (GBS) organisation in the APAC region, we value our workforce's diverse backgrounds and unique needs. Their perspectives are essential in shaping our HR strategies, motivating us to create an onboarding process that resonates with everyone.
Local leaders also play a crucial role in this journey. Their support for digital transformation, a key component of our corporate strategy, empowers us to innovate and implement effective solutions that align with our goals. By prioritising the experiences of both employees and leaders, we enhance our onboarding process and foster a culture of inclusivity.
Ultimately, the collective effort of our employees and leaders drives continuous improvement and innovation in our HR practices.
Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices - head over to our Winning Secrets section!
Photo: Provided
share on
