Discover the dynamic world of employee experience solutions with insights on three crucial layers: productivity tools, workflow tools, and core applications. Learn how technology can innovate employee experiences, including a case study on a job-finding app created during the pandemic. Explore the importance of real-time data and strategic vendor selection, featuring key players like ServiceNow and Microsoft. Get valuable tips on managing HR systems and integrating diverse applications to enhance employee interactions.
The employee experience architecture is composed of three layers: productivity tools, journey tools, and core applications, each serving distinct functions.
Effective data management across these layers is crucial for optimizing user experience and ensuring clarity in data governance and service delivery.
Deep dives
The Three Layers of Employee Experience Applications
Employee experience applications are structured across three distinct layers: productivity tools, journey tools, and application systems. The productivity layer encompasses a variety of general-purpose tools, such as Microsoft Office, Slack, and Zoom, which facilitate communication and collaboration among employees, regardless of their specific job functions. This layer has seen tremendous growth due to the increase in remote working and the need for seamless interaction in a digital environment. In contrast, the journey layer consists of multi-step applications that guide users through specific tasks, enhancing the overall experience by interconnecting various functionalities without overwhelming the user with backend complexities.
The Significance of the Journey Layer
The journey layer plays a crucial role in simplifying complex processes for employees, transforming intricate tasks into intuitive experiences. This layer connects productivity tools with backend systems, allowing users to accomplish tasks such as onboarding or filing vacation days without having to navigate through multiple applications. For instance, a user may be guided through the steps required to reset their internet service, illustrating how a well-designed journey can streamline user interactions. The focus here is on creating an efficient self-service experience that incorporates AI and voice interfaces to further enhance user accessibility and satisfaction.
The Interplay of Data Across Layers
Data management is vital in the context of employee experience applications, particularly concerning where feedback and survey data are stored. Each of the three layers has different systems of record, with core HR and ERP systems housing transactional data, while the intermediate layer is likely to hold experience data. This highlights the potential for confusion regarding data governance as organizations look to improve service delivery and employee satisfaction. The challenge remains in ensuring that the data collected from user interactions in the experience layer is utilized effectively while clarifying the roles of different systems in supporting the overall architecture of employee experience.
The EX market is so dynamic it feels like every tool, vendor, and platform is moving in this direction. In this podcast I describe the three layers of EX and how you can think through what goes where. The three layers are A) the productivity tools layer, B) the workflow or journey tools layer, and C) the core application layer.
If you’re trying to sort out how to configure your core HCM systems to make work easier for people or if you’re building employee portals or journeys, this podcast may help you figure out what’s going on. And of course I talk about the role of ServiceNow, Workday, Oracle, SuccessFactors, Qualtrics, Microsoft, and many other vendors in this market.