From Fragmented Systems to Oracle Cloud HCM: Building a Unified HR Future

The Client is the world’s leading data-science CRO, driving advancements in human health through robust analytics and innovative clinical trial software.

For nearly four decades, the Client has set the standard in adaptive trial design, leveraging extensive data insights to inform strategy throughout every phase of drug development and commercialization. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Client has a global presence with 1,800 employees in more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Chazey partnered with the Client in early 2023 to develop the HR Transformation Roadmap and recommended a new global operating model built on the vision of “OneHR”, with a single shared services center, three global Centers of Expertise (CoEs), global business partnering, and a lean corporate function. Global process owners would drive standardized, optimized, and technology-enabled process worldwide.

One of the challenges the Client faced lay in HR due to fragmented and non-integrated HR systems, resulting in data silos, inconsistent information, and a heavy reliance on manual processes such as spreadsheets and paper-based workflows. Core HR functionalities were limited, and reporting was time-consuming. The current SAP SuccessFactors application was unable to meet the demands for HR and had previously been implemented without aligning to HR business processes.

While evaluating a suitable HCM replacement, the concurrent implementation of Oracle Cloud ERP by Finance presented a strategic opportunity to align HR operations to Oracle Cloud HCM. Migrating to Oracle Cloud HCM enabled a unified, integrated solution that streamlined processes and enhanced organizational efficiency.

In January 2024, the Client selected Chazey to be the system integrator for Oracle Cloud HCM, recognizing the value from integrating the operating model and system integration projects under a single program management structure.

Chazey recommended the following Oracle Cloud applications to support and optimize day-to-day HR operations.

Core Human Resources
Recruiting
Onboarding
Compensation
Talent Management
Benefits
Oracle Payroll Interface
HR Help Desk

Chazey Partners led the data clean-up effort to ensure that the Client obtained the most value from Oracle Cloud HCM. We leveraged an Agile approach, loading data in logical groupings, cleansing personal data, and supporting the Client subject matter experts in resolving gaps that required reference to internal data sources. The multiple data conversions into test and production environments were a seamless process.

Result

The biggest challenge to the project was outside of HR: the concurrent and separately managed Oracle Cloud ERP project.

The ERP project facilitated the decision to move to Oracle Cloud HCM but also required significant coordination to align development and testing cycles, data dependencies, cutover planning, and go-live dates. The original cutover plan included both ERP and HCM going live together, however the ERP track was delayed and Chazey planned for bridging strategies until ERP would be ready to cutover.

Chazey developed scenarios to understand the impact of delays on the ERP side, culminating in the Client to decouple the ERP and HCM projects, enabling the new HR operating model and Oracle Cloud HCM to go-live in advance of ERP with bridging solutions. Chazey’s experience with Oracle Cloud ERP and Oracle Cloud HCM system integration, as well as business transformation, enabled the Client to successfully navigate and manage risks during the periods of coupled and decoupled projects, achieving the HR go-lives with minimal delays.

The client underwent two transitions in the CHRO role, during which Chazey provided extended governance support—effectively managing the roadmap and business case throughout the changes. Oracle Cloud HCM was delivered on time, despite delays and specific dependencies on the ERP project.

Following the transition to Oracle Cloud HCM, the client’s HR operations achieved several key operational efficiencies, as outlined below.

Retire legacy HR applications.
Eliminate manually intense HR processes.
Reduce cycle time for Hire and Onboarding.
Through Oracle Help Desk, provide centralized employee support and streamlining of case management.

Many system integration projects fail to achieve their promise, as they underestimate or do not consider the effort to transition processes and people to maximize the investment in new systems.

Overall, the Client gained efficiencies with the newly implemented HR Operating Model and Oracle Cloud HCM solution and will further maximize investments with the ERP go live achieving a fully integrated enterprise-wide solution.

Selecting Chazey as the system integrator that understands operational transformation and not just technology was a key differentiator and driver for the success of this project.