Future-Proof Your Organization: Implementing Effective Workforce Planning Systems

Aug 22

A team of professionals working on a project around a desk.

Nailing Headcount Forecasting

Getting headcount forecasting right is a game-changer for any company wanting to nail workforce planning. By keeping headcount data tidy and using flexible workflows, businesses can predict staffing needs like a pro.

Keeping Headcount Data Tidy

Having one go-to place for all your headcount info is a must. Workday users get real-time updates that keep HR, Talent Acquisition, and Finance teams in sync. This means everyone’s working with the latest data, making decisions a breeze.

Here's what you should track.

  
      Data Type
      Source
      Update Frequency
    
      Active Headcount
      Workday
      Real-time
    
      Pre-hire Headcount
      Workday
      Real-time
    
      Budget Info
      Finance
      Monthly

Data Type	Source	Update Frequency
Active Headcount	Workday	Real-time
Pre-hire Headcount	Workday	Real-time
Budget Info	Finance	Monthly

With this setup, companies can make smart calls about workforce planning. It also makes labor demand forecasting more accurate, which is key for hitting business goals.

Flexible Workflows

Flexible workflows are a big deal for headcount forecasting. Headcount planning tools like Kinnect offer workflows for position management that make approvals a snap for managers and budget folks. Plus, automating backfills from HRIS means HR, Finance, and Talent Acquisition teams can kick off hiring without a hitch.

The platform gives full control over hiring plans and job requisitions, thanks to its integration with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). This boosts everything from requisition management to onboarding, giving recruiting leaders and hiring managers the lowdown on metrics like time to fill and time to hire.

  
      Workflow Type
      Description
      Benefits
    
      Position Management
      Easy approvals for hiring
      Speeds up recruitment
    
      Job Requisition Management
      ATS integration
      Better visibility and control
    
      Automated Backfills
      HRIS triggers
      Cuts hiring delays

Workflow Type	Description	Benefits
Position Management	Easy approvals for hiring	Speeds up recruitment
Job Requisition Management	ATS integration	Better visibility and control
Automated Backfills	HRIS triggers	Cuts hiring delays

Using these workflows, companies can up their workforce planning and forecasting game, leading to faster hiring and better alignment with business goals.

Boost Your Hiring Game

Hiring the right people is like finding the perfect puzzle piece. It’s gotta fit just right. By focusing on job requisition management and automation, you can make your hiring process smoother and snag the best talent out there.

Job Requisition Management

Think of job requisition management as your secret weapon. Kinnect offers workflows that you can tweak to fit your needs, making it easier for managers and budget folks to give the thumbs-up. Plus, it automates backfills from your HR system, so HR, Finance, and Talent Acquisition teams can get the ball rolling faster.

Kinnect’s platform lets you set up workflows for creating and updating job requisitions, helping your teams work smarter, not harder. This keeps your headcount data in sync and ensures everything flows smoothly.

Here's how:

Customizable Workflows: Processes you can adjust for job requisition management.
Quick Approvals: Fast green lights from managers and budget owners.
ATS Integration: Works both ways with Applicant Tracking Systems for easy management.
Visibility Metrics: Insights into hiring plans, like how long it takes to fill a position.

With these tools, you get full control over your hiring plans. The integration with ATS gives recruiting leaders and hiring managers real-time insights into hiring metrics, making workforce strategy planning a breeze.

Automation and Integration

Automation is your best friend when it comes to hiring. Kinnect automates backfills and gives you real-time insights into budget forecasts and actuals for both current and future headcount. Configurable workflows with Budget Owner approvals make requisition management a walk in the park, ensuring clear roles between Finance, HR, and Talent Acquisition teams.

This level of automation cuts down on manual tasks and boosts teamwork across departments. The platform’s seamless integration with ATS makes it easy to track hiring progress and tweak strategies as needed.

  
      Benefit
      What It Means
    
      Real-time Insights
      Up-to-date budget and forecast info.
    
      Clear Roles
      Defined responsibilities for Finance, HR, and Talent Acquisition.
    
      Automated Tasks
      Less busywork, more focus on strategy.
    
      Smooth Integration
      Better teamwork through ATS integration.

Benefit	What It Means
Real-time Insights	Up-to-date budget and forecast info.
Clear Roles	Defined responsibilities for Finance, HR, and Talent Acquisition.
Automated Tasks	Less busywork, more focus on strategy.
Smooth Integration	Better teamwork through ATS integration.

By using automation and integration, you can align your hiring practices with your workforce planning strategy, leading to better talent acquisition results. Want more tips on workforce planning? Check out our article on workforce planning tools.

So, ready to up your hiring game? Dive in and see how Kinnect can make your life easier and your hiring process more efficient.

Keep Tabs on Your Team

Getting a grip on workforce planning means you can keep an eye on your team and make smart moves. Two big things here are managing your budget and forecasts, plus making sure your data flows smoothly.

Budget and Forecast Management

Nailing your budget and forecasts is key to good workforce planning. Our platform gives you a clear view of your budget, forecasts, and actual numbers for both current and future hires. This clarity helps you make smart staffing decisions.

With customizable workflows and Budget Owner approvals, you can stick to your budget while staying flexible with your headcount. Clear roles for Finance, HR, and Talent Acquisition teams make communication a breeze.

Workday Adaptive Planning shines here, letting finance teams work closely with operations. This boosts confidence in financial planning, as noted by a Global Finance Transformation Leader at Veolia. By automating finance tasks, your team can focus more on strategic advice and business growth.

Here's how:

Real-time visibility: See budget, forecast, and actuals for headcount.
Custom workflows: Approval processes that fit your budget needs.
Team rolesn: Clear responsibilities for Finance, HR, and Talent Acquisition.

Smooth Data Flow

Having your data flow smoothly between systems is a must for good workforce planning. Our platform syncs with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for easy requisition management. This keeps your data up-to-date across all platforms, cutting down on errors and boosting decision-making.

Workday Adaptive Planning's integration capabilities mean it can work with any ERP/GL or other data sources. This flexibility lets you use your existing data to improve your workforce planning.

The result? A system that helps departments work together better and keeps your headcount forecasts accurate. This smooth data flow leads to better strategic workforce planning and more efficiency in your organization.

Workforce Planning Solutions

Workforce planning systems are a game-changer for organizations looking to nail their headcount forecasting. These systems come packed with tools that make teamwork and goal alignment a breeze.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

One standout feature of top-notch workforce planning is the use of collaborative tools. Take Workday Adaptive Planning, for example. This tool simplifies the whole workforce planning gig. Users can model, forecast, and budget their workforce from one central hub. On average, folks see a 70% cut in planning time and a 50% boost in productivity after using it.

Workday Adaptive Planning offers a suite of tools for different workforce management needs:

  
      Feature
      What It Does
    
      Headcount and Cost Planning
      Keeps tabs on workforce expenses.
    
      Workforce Capacity Planning
      Makes sure you have enough hands on deck.
    
      Strategic Planning
      Syncs workforce plans with company goals.
    
      Talent Planning
      Spots talent gaps and needs.

Feature	What It Does
Headcount and Cost Planning	Keeps tabs on workforce expenses.
Workforce Capacity Planning	Makes sure you have enough hands on deck.
Strategic Planning	Syncs workforce plans with company goals.
Talent Planning	Spots talent gaps and needs.

These tools use Elastic Hypercube Technology for multidimensional modeling and scenario planning. This means you can mix and match data insights to make smarter workforce decisions.

Syncing Workforce with Business Goals

Getting your workforce in line with business goals is key to running a smooth operation. Workday Adaptive Planning helps by pinpointing talent needs and gaps, and automating hiring plans. This ensures your recruiting team is always on point.

Workforce planning is all about working together to plan how you deploy, develop, keep, and hire your team to hit both operational and strategic targets. HR analytics drive this process, giving insights into hiring, retention, team performance, engagement, and other workforce trends. By using these insights, companies can make smart decisions that align their workforce with their big-picture goals.

With solid analytics and timely insights, Workday Adaptive Planning helps decision-makers manage planning, forecasting, and budgeting across the board. If you're looking to up your workforce planning game, check out our resources on strategic workforce planning and workforce optimization software.

Seena Mojahedi

Seena is the Founder of Kinnect, a headcount planning product designed for Workday customers. In his 12+ years of experience in the Workday ecosystem, Seena has supported tens of customers in implementing and maintaining their Workday platform, many of whom utilize position management and all of whom have struggled to land on their feet with effective headcount management processes.

After experiencing the pain from position management and solving it repeatedly, he sought a path to invent a better solution. And so Kinnect was born to solve headcount planning and position management, integrate your technology stack, enable manager self-service, and much more! What started out as a “side project” is now full-time with a rockstar team looking to bring a world-class headcount management solution to the market.

Before innovating Kinnect, Seena founded Kandor Solutions back in 2019 to bring top-tier Advisory, Consulting, and Staff Augmentation to Workday customers. He and his team have supported their customers’ success in all facets of Workday, from implementation to post-production, with a unique, customer-side approach unmatched in the market.

When Seena’s not working, he loves spending time with his family, traveling around the world, snowboarding, hiking, and enjoying his morning cappuccino. He holds a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems from California Polytechnic University, Pomona.