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Background
In today's fast-paced business world, Avon Services is taking charge of merging human resources and finance, skillfully navigating changes with creativity and foresight. As companies worldwide embrace digital transformation as a key part of their operations, the company stands forefront, using technology to shake up old ways of doing things and push its operations forward.
Avon Services recognises that change is not only driven by new technology, but also by changing expectations of employees and stakeholders. To respond to these emerging needs, they focuses on simplifying processes, increasing efficiency, and supporting their team to thrive in a more digital environment.
At a Glance
Embarking on an initiative to enhance efficiency within the company, Avon Services collaborated with industry partners to streamline HR and Finance processes through automation and digitalisation. Leveraging technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and SMS Blast, the project aimed to optimise airport pass applications and address updates.
In pursuit of this, Avon Services initiated a workplace learning project as a member of the Learning Enterprise Alliance (LEA) with the IAL’s National Centre of Excellence for Workplace Learning (NACE@IAL).
Why the need to enhance company efficiency?
Source: Article by HR Grapevine, titled “Workforce behaviour | Why you need to boost employee efficiency and not just productivity”.
Transforming the workforce through the NACE@IAL consultancy initiative
Avon Services partnered with the NACE@IAL consultancy initiative to spearhead a transformative journey aimed at enhancing their HR and finance processes. By leveraging advanced technologies like RPA and Microsoft Power Automate, they streamlined operations, reducing manual effort and processing time significantly by up to 80%.
They also reshaped job roles to match changing needs and trained their workforce to face future challenges. With this joint effort, Avon Services improved their efficiency, performance, and preparedness for the shifting business environment ahead, becoming a model of operational excellence in their organisation.
Our enterprise joined the IAL programme to leverage their coaching and change management expertise for meaningful transformation. We believe this investment in continuous learning will empower our employees, foster innovation, and ensure our competitiveness in today's dynamic business landscape.
Kwang Kit Tai, Executive Director
The journey for our project team was both challenging and rewarding, filled with moments of growth and collaboration. As we conclude this chapter, our focus shifts to applying our newfound knowledge and experience to drive even greater success in our future endeavours.
Lim Qing Li Randall, Head Operations Excellence
Being involved in this RPA project was an incredibly rewarding experience from the start. I was thrilled about the opportunity to delve into advanced automation technologies and play a role in driving our organisation's digital transformation. The outcomes of our project were particularly gratifying. Witnessing the tangible improvements in process efficiency and the positive feedback from stakeholders reaffirmed the value of our efforts. It was incredibly exciting to see our hard work translate into good results, achieving our goals and setting new benchmarks for operational excellence within our organisation.
Tan Yok Ling (Elene), Senior Human Resource Manager
Identifying existing performance gaps
To successfully initiate the change and secure employee involvement, the project team at Avon Services concentrated on finding and resolving existing performance issues in the HR and Finance departments. With a goal to leverage technology for enhanced productivity and efficiency, the team undertook the following steps:
- Analysed HR and Finance processes in depth, the team found ways to simplify tedious and lengthy tasks, such as applying for airport passes and updating employee addresses.
- Engaged with HR and Finance team members to gather valuable insights on daily operational challenges. This collaborative approach helped in understanding the practical difficulties faced by employees, such as the significant time spent on manual tracking and form submissions.
- Implemented a time-motion study to measure the exact time taken for each task within the identified processes. This revealed opportunities to save time through automation, highlighting areas ripe for improvement.
- Evaluated the current use of technology within the departments to identify areas where digital skills could be enhanced and technology better utilised. This review showcased the potential for greater automation capabilities.
Through taking these proactive measures, the project team at Avon Services identified and recorded current performance deficiencies. This thorough comprehension enabled specific interventions, like utilising Microsoft Power Automate for RPA and introducing automated SMS alerts. These new developments resulted in significant enhancements in operational efficiency and employee productivity, ultimately creating a smoother and more efficient workflow.
Integration of workplace learning interventions
Following the identification of performance gaps, the project team recognised the opportunity to enhance the skills and efficiency of the HR and Finance teams. The primary areas for improvement included boosting technological proficiency, particularly in process automation, and enriching job performance through role redesign and skill development. To achieve these goals, the project team, in collaboration with IAL’s workplace learning consultant, implemented the following interventions:
- The team employed a structured, proactive approach to systematically implement the workplace learning project. This ensured that the change was not only effectively managed but also embraced by the entire organisation.
- The project team created a compelling case for technological advancements and process improvements. By clearly communicating the benefits of automation and the potential for increased efficiency, the team inspired employees to enthusiastically embrace the changes.
- The integration of new technologies and procedures, facilitated by HR and the project team, resulted in improved job performance and satisfaction. By redesigning job roles and tasks, they reduced manual, repetitive duties and allowed employees to focus on more meaningful and value-adding tasks.
- The team implemented in-depth training programmes that targeted process automation tools like Microsoft Power Automate. The interactive training helped HR and Finance team members learn essential skills for effectively incorporating new technologies into their daily tasks.
- The project team promoted a dynamic culture of ongoing learning and creativity by motivating employees to investigate new concepts and approaches. Consistent workshops and brainstorming sessions helped maintain the team's motivation and enthusiasm for enhancing processes consistently.
Through the integration of these workplace learning interventions, the project team at Avon Service effectively dealt with identified performance gaps. These efforts improved the technical abilities of the HR and Finance departments and encouraged a culture of ongoing progress and creativity, resulting in notable increases in productivity and operational effectiveness.
Scaling up on the workplace learning imperative
As a result of the project with NACE@IAL, AVON accomplished these outcomes:
Avon Services embarked on a transformation journey that leveraged technology and redefined job roles to boost the performance and efficiency of their HR and Finance departments. The main goals were to streamline routine tasks, optimise team productivity, and empower additional skills. These measures created significant time savings and enhanced operational efficiency. The project cultivated a culture of continuous learning and innovation, enabling employees to embrace new technologies and methodologies. Overall, Avon Services excellently achieved their objectives of amplifying productivity, performance, and skill development in their HR and Finance departments.
What’s next for AVON Services?
Avon Services aims to extend automation to other departments, constantly improve their workforce's skills in advanced technologies, and promote a culture of innovation and ongoing enhancement. They will use data analytics for making informed decisions, continue their efforts in change management to incorporate positive changes and investigate new technologies to improve efficiency and productivity. These efforts seek to capitalise on their success and push for more productivity in the organisation.
Ready to embark on a workplace transformation project with us?