Combining ‘Tech and Touch’ with ‘human forward’
02
randstad: technology transformation with the human touch WRITTEN BY
SOPHIE CHAPMAN PRODUCED BY
KRISTOFER PALMER
03
w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p
R A N D S TA D J A PA N
With its mantra of ‘combining technology with the human touch’, HR giant Randstad undergoes its digital transformation journey with a focus on change management
A
s the largest human resources (HR) firm in the world, Randstad operates 38 different markets. The business aims to
bring people and work together whilst “combining technology with the human touch,” reveals Richard Tanaka, Chief Technology Innovation Officer of the 04
company’s Japanese division. As CTIO, Tanaka defines his position as very unique: “Innovation is really the core part of my role. I find ways to bring innovation and technology into the company, and we’re specifically aiming to do that in Japan, which is why the position was established here. It’s not so much an operational role as it is more a strategic one. I do not work alone. I work and align together with the tech leaders from around the globe to leverage that we are One Randstad. There is huge collaboration at the APAC regional level, as well as at the global level.” Within Tech and Touch, the company established a global initiative called “Digital Factory” which is already touching all parts of the world. While each country is different, with the Digital Factory,
05
w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p
R A N D S TA D J A PA N
“ Japan is really great at innovating and thinking of new technology, but to actually adopt it into a working environment or an office is a little bit of a challenge” — Richard Tanaka, CTIO of Randstad Japan 06
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘HOW WILL HR TECH CHANGE RECRUITMENT?’ 07 Randstad is able to re-use and share
ment or an office is a little bit of a chall-
all kinds of technology. “We don’t
enge. So, it’s a bit of a paradox. An
believe in re-inventing the wheel for
important part of my role is to help
each country,” remarks Tanaka.
facilitate the adoption of technologies,
In Japan, a very technologically
processes and ways of thinking. Mindset
advanced nation, Randstad is noticing
change is quite a bit topic at the moment,”
a conservative and risk-adverse
Tanaka notes.
approach to change. As an American
Despite working within a technology
who has lived in Japan for the past 17
framed role, it is clear that Tanaka’s job
years, Tanaka is able to bring a more
is heavily change management focused.
western approach to the business in
“A big part of it is the people manage-
order to facilitate the required changes.
ment side, so I need to get my staff in
“Japan is really great at innovating and
the right mindset to be able to adopt
thinking of new technology, but to
different ways of working, accept newer
actually adopt it into a working environ-
technologies, or maybe even take w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p
R A N D S TA D J A PA N
08
some risks. I need to get people on
and clients and bring operations together.
board,” he says. “In order for change
As HR is a people oriented industry, it
to happen we need to really focus on
has often remained traditional and main-
the people, and being able to give my
tained manual operations. For Randstad,
staff the Freedom within the Frame is
introducing technology to the front line
as exciting as much as it is not well
of its business strategy will bring it one
understood.”
step closer to meeting its mantra of
In 2016 the company revealed its Tech
‘combining technology with the human
and Touch strategy, which seeks to
touch’. Tanaka discloses: “We want to
address how the business can combine
make technology an integral part of the
technology to better serve its candidates
way the business works, and an integral
part of the way we interact with potential
a speed that was never seen before,”
candidates or with our clients. Tech-
remarks Tanaka. OutSystems’ offering
nology is all around us, so if you receive
enables Randstad to develop a system
a resume on a piece of paper then you
in a fraction of the time that it would
can’t very easily share it with a fellow
have previously taken – reducing years
co-worker or with a potential client or
to months to weeks. “The platform is
employer, so we’re striving for ways to
very modular and scalable. We have it
leverage technology and innovation,
set up in nearly a dozen countries, and
such as mobile platforms, artificial
so we can share, for example, a design,
intelligence (AI) and machine learning.”
corporate colours or branding, a layout,
Randstad Japan is currently
or even an app between the other
adopting low-coding platforms with
markets. It’s all pre-packaged for us,
OutSystems. “We embrace their
ready to go. Having to do everything
platform and it gives us the ability to
from scratch is a thing of the past – we
develop ideas, tools and systems in
have a very high reusability factor with
a very quick and efficient manner, at
what we’re doing,” he continues.
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
Richard Tanaka Richard Tanaka is the Chief Technology Innovation Officer at Randstad Japan. Tanaka is Japanese-American born in Los Angeles, US, and has a long working history in the IT industry. Having served as a Director in IT for the Asia Pacific region at 20th Century Fox, as well as working Theatrical Systems at Warner Bros. Entertainment’s APAC region and a Global IT Business Partner for Japan and APAC at Adecco, Tanaka’s career has span across the telecom, entertainment, and HR services sectors
w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p
09
R A N D S TA D J A PA N
10
“ Randstad Japan is taking its steps forward and embracing organisational change, embracing mindset change, and of course along with that comes system changes” — Richard Tanaka, CTIO of Randstad Japan
w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p
11
The Fastest Way to Build Enterprise-grade Applications • • • •
Visually develop full-stack apps Integrate with everything Deploy to any device No lock-in, no boundaries
Schedule a Demo www.outsystems.com/webinars/platform-demo-apac
13
According to the CTIO, Randstad
wasted,” says Tanaka. Through its
Japan is reaping the benefits of new
partnership with DOMO, the firm has
flexible systems that feature greater
gained access to a data visualisation
access to data. The firm is able to be
tool that has enabled data-driven
more data driven whilst taking advan-
decision making within the operations.
tage of the rapid adoption of mobile
By having more data-driven opera-
technology. The company is designing
tions, the company can also reduce
applications for mobile and tablets to
the amount of paper it uses and improve
be used by employees out in the field.
agility. “Compared to our previous
“The apps will hold client data, offering
functions, we had a lot of paperwork,
the latest information and orders. All
and with the importance of personal
that good, valuable information will be
privacy at an all-time high, most
available right at our employees’ finger-
paperwork will have to be shredded,”
tips, so no opportunity would be
Tanaka explains. “DOMO is allowing w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p
R A N D S TA D J A PA N
14
us to be more agile with where and
“At least half of any transformation is
how we work, and this is having
being able to take the first step. Rand-
a profound effect on improving our
stad Japan is taking its steps forward
business as well as giving our clients
and embracing organisational change
a better experience.�
and mindset changes, and of course
As the HR giant continues on its
along with that come system changes.
digital transformation journey, Tanaka
I think the transformation really starts
highlights that technology is not the
with the right people and the right
only important aspect of the evolution.
leadership with a common vision,�
“ OutSystems’ platform gives us the ability to develop ideas, tools and systems in a very quick and efficient manner, at a speed that was never seen before” — Richard Tanaka, CTIO of Randstad Japan
15
Tanaka comments. “I can really say that change management in Japan is not the easiest thing to do, but I think a little bit of creativity can help. Sometimes you have to do things a little outside of the box. Being able to tell a story, or being able to share the vision goes a long way, especially here in Japan.” w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p
Randstad Japan 4-1 Kioi-cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 102-8578 Japan www.randstad.co.jp