Skip to main content
  • Personal
  • Business
  • Foundation
    Close
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
  • mySHRM Login
  • MySHRM
    • Dashboard
    • Account
    • Logout
SHRM Business
  • HR Solutions
    • Elevate HR Skills & Organizational Capabilities
      Empower Talent Management & Acquisition
      Support AI Adoption & Execution
      Manage Organizational Change
      Create an Inclusive & Diverse Workplace
      HR Tools Marketplace
  • Leadership Solutions
    • Linkage
      • Advancing Women Leaders
      • Accelerating Purposeful Leadership
      • Linkage Institute
  • Brand Partnerships
    • Advertise With Us
      Exhibit & Sponsor Events
      Become a Recertification Provider
      Executive Positioning
  • Events & Insights
    • Resources
      • Assessments
      • Corporate Membership
      • News
      • Research
      Attend as a Team
      • Certifications & Learning Systems
      • Conferences & Events
      • Education Programs
      • Training & Development
Buy Team Packages
Close
  • Personal
  • Business
  • Foundation
  • HR Solutions
    back
    HR Solutions
    • Elevate HR Skills & Organizational Capabilities
      Empower Talent Management & Acquisition
      Support AI Adoption & Execution
      Manage Organizational Change
      Create an Inclusive & Diverse Workplace
      HR Tools Marketplace
  • Leadership Solutions
    back
    Leadership Solutions
    • Linkage
      • Advancing Women Leaders
      • Accelerating Purposeful Leadership
      • Linkage Institute
  • Brand Partnerships
    back
    Brand Partnerships
    • Advertise With Us
      Exhibit & Sponsor Events
      Become a Recertification Provider
      Executive Positioning
  • Events & Insights
    back
    Events & Insights
    • Resources
      • Assessments
      • Corporate Membership
      • News
      • Research
      Attend as a Team
      • Certifications & Learning Systems
      • Conferences & Events
      • Education Programs
      • Training & Development
  • Buy Team Packages
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
SHRM Business
mySHRM Login
  • MySHRM
    • Dashboard
    • Account
    • Logout
Close

  1. Enterprise Solutions
  2. Enterprise Insights
  3. The 4 Phases of Successful HR Technology Transformations
Share
  • Linked In
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus convallis sem tellus, vitae egestas felis vestibule ut.


Error message details.

Copy button
Reuse Permissions

Request permission to republish or redistribute SHRM content and materials.


Learn More
In Focus

The 4 Phases of Successful HR Technology Transformations

March 4, 2025 | Olivia Gebreamlak

Four-step flow chart with the phases of successful HR technology transformations: analyze, build, execute, and embed.

To thrive in an ever-changing business environment, companies must remain agile and implement enterprisewide changes that impact people, processes, and products. In many cases, these transformations center on HR technology as organizations seek to modernize systems, improve efficiency, and enhance the employee experience. 

External factors, such as advancements in AI-driven recruitment tools, shifting compliance requirements, and evolving workforce expectations, often drive HR technology transformations. In fact, 90% of CHROs predicted that the integration of AI into the workplace will be much more (18%) or more (72%) prevalent in 2025, according to SHRM's CHRO Priorities and Perspectives report.

Likewise, internal factors — including growth ambitions, new service models, and the need to streamline HR operations — can also spark major system overhauls. These transitions come with obvious and often significant costs, making strategic change management essential to ensuring a return on investment. 

When it comes to HR technology, change management means developing and applying strategies, structures, and procedures that not only facilitate technical implementation but also drive adoption and minimize disruption. 

HR transformations directly impact employees, but much of a company’s budget for these initiatives often goes toward software and system integration rather than the people who will use those tools. Without a thoughtful approach to change management, even the most advanced HR technology can fail to deliver its intended benefits.

The Benefits of Well-Managed Change  

  • Maximizing return on investment — HR transformations demand significant investments of time, money, and effort. Effective change management ensures that these investments yield substantial returns.
  • Enhancing employee engagement — engaged employees are more likely to embrace change and actively contribute to organizational goals. When done right, change management increases employees’ involvement, fostering their sense of ownership in the transformation. This enhances overall engagement and commitment to the process.

The Risks of Overlooking Change Management

  • Increased resistance and fear among employees — without change management, employees may resist new initiatives because they fear uncertainty and disrupted routines or have concerns about job security.
  • Operational disruptions — failing to implement change management can result in unstructured, poorly executed transformations that disrupt daily operations and lead to profit loss.

SHRM sat down with Confirm, a company specializing in performance management platforms, to discuss the risks of overlooking change management and Confirm’s approach as a technology-focused company. SHRM learned that Confirm approaches change management through four phases: Analyze, Build, Execute, and Embed.

The four-step process guides companies from preparation to initial and long-term implementation. Want to learn more about successfully implementing new HR technology? Read our article series for in-depth insights on each step. The article on the Analyze phase is out now! 

Take SHRM's Change Management Course

 

Methodology

Confirm is an all-in-one people platform built on the science of organizational network analysis to reveal who is driving impact — and who needs help. Recognizing a critical need for an HR technology transformation process that focuses on the “people” side of change, Confirm developed its four-phase change management methodology: Analyze, Build, Execute, and Embed. This methodology emerged from lessons learned in previous large-scale transformations, during which inadequate resources and lack of buy-in led to suboptimal adoption. 

This methodology was developed with three main goals in mind:

  1. Reduce resistance to change by involving stakeholders, addressing concerns, and promoting buy-in, which leads to smoother transitions. 
  2. Ensure that disruptions are minimized and productivity slips are avoided to help maintain operational efficiency during the change.
  3. Commit to enhanced employee morale and engagement, transparent communication and support, and fostering a sense of trust and stability.
Change Management


Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

​An organization run by AI is not a futuristic concept. Such technology is already a part of many workplaces and will continue to shape the labor market and HR. Here's how employers and employees can successfully manage generative AI and other AI-powered systems.



Related Content

Kelly Dobbs Bunting speaks onstage at SHRM24
(opens in a new tab)
News
Why AI+HI Is Essential to Compliance

HR must always include human intelligence and oversight of AI in decision-making in hiring and firing, a legal expert said at SHRM24. She added that HR can ensure compliance by meeting the strictest AI standards, which will be in Colorado’s upcoming AI law.

(opens in a new tab)
News
A 4-Day Workweek? AI-Fueled Efficiencies Could Make It Happen

The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.

(opens in a new tab)
News
How One Company Uses Digital Tools to Boost Employee Well-Being

Learn how Marsh McLennan successfully boosts staff well-being with digital tools, improving productivity and work satisfaction for more than 20,000 employees.

HR Daily Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest HR news, trends, and expert advice each business day.

Success title

Success caption

Manage Subscriptions
Our Brands

SHRM Foundation Logo
SHRM Executive Network Logo
CEO Circle Logo
SHRM Business Logo
SHRM Linkage Logo
SHRM Labs
Overview

  • About SHRM
  • Careers at SHRM
  • Press Room
  • Contact SHRM
  • Book a SHRM Executive Speaker
  • Advertise with Us
  • Post a Job
Advocacy

  • Workforce Development
  • Workplace Inclusion
  • Workplace Flexibility & Leave
  • Workplace Governance
  • Workplace Health Care
  • Workplace Immigration
  • State Affairs
  • Global Policy
  • Advocacy Team
  • Take Action
  • Generation Cares
  • The Section 127 Coalition
Member Resources

  • Ask An Advisor
  • SHRM Newsletters
  • SHRM Flagships
  • Topics & Tools
  • Find an HR Job

© 2025 SHRM. All Rights Reserved
SHRM provides content as a service to its readers and members. It does not offer legal advice, and cannot guarantee the accuracy or suitability of its content for a particular purpose. Disclaimer

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

  1. Privacy Policy

  2. Terms of Use

  3. Accessibility

Join SHRM for Exclusive Access to Member Content

SHRM Members enjoy unlimited access to articles and exclusive member resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Limit Reached

Get unlimited access to articles and member-exclusive resources.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join to access unlimited articles and member-only resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join the Executive Network and enjoy unlimited content.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join and enjoy unlimited access to SHRM Executive Network Content.

Already a member?
Unlock Your Career with SHRM Membership

Please enjoy this free resource! Join SHRM for unlimited access to exclusive articles and tools.

Already a member?

Your membership is almost expired! Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew now

Your membership has expired. Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew Now

Your Executive Network membership is nearing its expiration. Renew now to maintain access.

Renew Now

Your membership has expired. Renew your Executive Network benefits today.

Renew Now