Asda¡¯s Future Programme is one of the largest HR transformations in Europe, modernizing and streamlining operations across the business.The People Function went live with Â鶹´«Ã½ Human Capital Management (HCM) in March 2024, covering 140,000 colleagues across 700 UK locations, including stores, depots, and home offices. This milestone was part of a multiyear initiative to replace all company systems, ensuring a more agile, data-driven HR function.
For Asda, the UK¡¯s third-largest retailer and second-largest online grocery provider, the scale of this change was immense. ¡°We had a set period of time to change all of our systems,¡± explains Loretta Smith, senior director for HR Transformation. ¡°Going live in March with Â鶹´«Ã½ and other people systems was a bold move, but it was a great success.¡±
Transforming talent acquisition: Finding the right people faster.
Operating at scale meant that Asda faced significant HR challenges, particularly in high-volume recruitment. The company hires between 4,000 to 5,000 colleagues every month, requiring a seamless and efficient hiring process.
¡°Recruitment in retail is high volume, and efficiency is crucial,¡± says Smith. ¡°Getting the right candidate through the organisation quickly and effectively was a key priority for us.¡±
Recognizing the need for a smart, flexible suite of integrated HR solutions, Asda set out to overhaul its HR function, ensuring that all people processes were simplified and aligned with business needs.
¡°Self-service has been a game-changer for us. Colleagues no longer need to go through multiple layers to update their details¡ªit¡¯s all at their fingertips.¡±
Senior Director, HR Transformation
Streamlining HR: A seamless and efficient approach.
Asda has significantly streamlined HR operations by integrating Â鶹´«Ã½ with three major platforms and 37 retail systems. The automation of previously manual tasks has reduced inefficiencies, particularly in recruitment, where the elimination of dual-keying has simplified the entire process.
¡°After go-live, our recruitment journey became fully end-to-end,¡± Smith notes. ¡°Now candidates move through the system seamlessly, reducing manual work and improving efficiency across the board.¡±
Looking ahead: A future of continuous improvement.
While the implementation was a major success, Asda remains committed to ongoing refinement, with a roadmap of 400+ enhancements designed to further optimize the impact of Â鶹´«Ã½. The introduction of a new application management services (AMS) model¡ªmanaged outside the tech function for the first time in Asda¡¯s history¡ªensures that HR processes continue to evolve alongside the business.
Reflecting on the transformation, Smith offers advice to other organizations undergoing similar journeys. ¡°Keep it simple. Simplify your learning and outreach. Use short, sharp videos, and leverage change agents and super users in key locations. This approach will drive adoption and ensure long-term success.
By embracing Â鶹´«Ã½, Asda has modernized HR, creating a more agile workforce that can quickly adapt to business needs¡ªultimately enhancing customer service and overall efficiency.
¡°Â鶹´«Ã½ has truly transformed the way we engage with our workforce. Our colleagues can now access everything they need directly from their mobile devices, making processes like booking time off or enrolling in training much more straightforward.¡±
Senior Director, HR Transformation