Why cloud computing may be failing to deliver

Dive Brief:

The cloud may be coming to HR in a big way, but it's not quite as simple as plugging it in and achieving results, according to the recently released survey.
The KPMG 2016 Global HR Transformation Survey of 854 HR executives in 52 countries found that 42% say they will replace their current HR system with a cloud-based one, 63% expect improved "value-added" benefits of the cloud, but only 24% report that cloud HR brings the ability to reconfigure the HR function to drive great business value.
Along those lines, it seems other cloud-based HR benefits don't always match the hype, as only 20% cited having improved availability of workforce analytics (including predictive analytics), while just 13% reported improved collaboration and feedback between employees.

Dive Insight:

Formerly known as the Towers Watson HR Service Delivery and Technology Survey (KPMG acquired Towers Watson's Human Resources Delivery practice in September 2015.), the report, now in its 19th year, uncovered an uneven landscape among employers on their HR transformation journey – one largely a letdown so far as investment in cloud-based HR keeps rising.

Expectations for cloud computing to deliver revolutionary new HR benefits are largely failing to materialize. The reason? Even with the cloud, employers must follow intelligently designed strategies to maximize cloud computing's impact. Unfortunately, some HR initiatives lose their way because they focus too narrowly on new technology.

While many are calling for HR to switch to the cloud,the KPMG survey offers a cautionery tale on how important it is to include organization and change management for true HR transformation.