Beyond the Review: HR Transformation & Success Stories with Kathy Kruse, SVP of Business Development at Sability
Embarking on a journey of HR transformation can be both exciting and daunting for most organizations. It’s a process that requires strategic planning, seamless execution, and the right partnership to ensure success.
As a leading UKG consulting and implementation partner, Sability has helped companies navigate and modernize their HR and workforce management functions across various industries for nearly three decades.
In a recent conversation, Kathy Kruse, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Sability, shed a light on the intricacies of HR transformation and shared success stories from recent UKG customer transformations.
Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
What is Sability’s role as a consulting and implementation partner for UKG software?
As an exclusive partner with UKG, Sability offers a unique solution that goes beyond traditional workforce management.
Kathy emphasized that Sability is dedicated to supporting customers throughout the entire lifecycle of UKG products, from initial implementation to ongoing post-launch assistance. Whether their customers are new to UKG, or seasoned users seeking to maximize their software utilization, Sability tailors their services to meet their customers wherever they are in their journey.
“We’re UKG exclusive, and while I could tell you it’s a narrow focus, it’s not so narrow due to the robust offering of UKG. The system takes you well beyond clocking in, clocking out and running payroll.” – Kathy Kruse
How does Sability help customers in transforming their HR operations while leveraging UKG software to its full potential?
Sability’s support extends beyond technical assistance, encompassing change management initiatives and fostering a holistic understanding of the company’s culture and employee experience. Kathy explained that this involvement goes beyond system navigation and helps to create a supportive environment for all.
“Sability provides insight beyond UKG and considers the downstream systems to round out the employee experience.“ – Kathy Kruse
By leveraging UKG’s advanced technology and with the help of Sability’s team of experts, organizations can optimize their HR processes, enhance employee engagement, and drive business performance.
How do you see the role of strategic partnerships like the one between Sability and UKG in delivering value to organizations?
While highlighting the importance of partnering with a reputable firm like Sability from the beginning, Kathy recognized their ability to offer a personalized, top-tier experience to clients, even before she joined the Sability team. Having previously collaborated with Sability while selling enterprise software, she was confident in their capability to provide exceptional support to clients.
Kathy also pointed out that Sability approaches every client interaction by putting themselves in the clients’ shoes, ensuring a complete understanding of their clients’ internal needs and unique challenges. They are more than a get in, get out partner, and stand out for their commitment to customer satisfaction and personalized service.
“The lens of Sability consultants is: “If it were our company, how would we handle it?” – Kathy Kruse
What are some common situations and challenges that organizations have faced that led/lead them to Sability?
According to Kathy, a common reason that leads customers to Sability is a lack of time to address essential projects, which often involve specialized tasks or are necessitated by events such as mergers. Many customers are often surprised by the amount of time and expertise that’s required for an implementation project.
Regardless of the circumstances, Sability excels in crafting strategic approaches to extract their clients’ vision and provide guidance, ensuring practicality and efficacy.
Can you share an example of a particularly impactful project where Sability helped a customer achieve significant improvements in their HR operations using UKG software?
One story Kathy shared focused on a lawn care company that required Sability’s assistance after experiencing rapid growth following an investment from private equity.
This growth changed their dynamic around culture and payroll. What worked yesterday wouldn’t work today. Sability provided strategic support by aligning technology and best practices with the company’s business goals, enabling it to thrive amidst change and successfully scale its workforce as it tripled in size.
“It’s cool that we get to grow and thrive with our clients on these big projects.” – Kathy Kruse
As the landscape of HR technology evolves, what trends or innovations do you believe will have the most significant impact on HR operations, and how is Sability staying ahead in this changing landscape?
In a rapidly evolving landscape of HR technology and generative AI, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. When asked about how Sability stays ahead of these rapidly changing technologies, Kathy believes that it all comes down to data, and making the best use of the tools that are available. She highlighted the importance of not underestimating the data that underlies these new technologies as so much of their functionality relies on it.
“Try finding an organization that has been able to go buy, sell, invest, and grow without having a good grip on their people and labor data that’s coming out of a system like UKG. It’s impossible” – Kathy Kruse
By leveraging advanced analytics and AI-driven insights as well as offering ongoing training and support, Sability helps its customers gain valuable insight and maximize the value of their investment.
What advice would you give to customers planning to implement UKG software?
For organizations planning to implement UKG, Kathy emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals and involving stakeholders from the outset; she stressed the need for a strategic, results-driven approach. By focusing on the ongoing journey and desired outcomes, organizations can maximize the value of their investment in UKG’s solutions.
“Don’t solely think about the initial implementation, but consider the vision for the organization for the long haul.” – Kathy Kruse
HR transformation is a journey that requires careful planning, expert guidance, and a commitment to continuous improvement. With Sability as a trusted partner and UKG’s innovative solutions at their disposal, organizations can navigate this journey with confidence, driving tangible results and achieving organizational goals.
About Sability
Sability is the Human Capital Management industry’s premier UKG partner and a leading HCM and WFM strategy and advisory consulting firm. For 30 years, they’ve helped companies navigate HCM modernization, from strategy and planning and global payroll to implementation and managed services. No matter where a customer is in their HCM journey, Sability’s decades of broad experience will enable them to travel with clarity and direction. Sability consultants are certified by UKG to ensure the best possible services across the full UKG product suite.
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