Signify illuminates HR transformation with Workday.

For Signify, the world’s largest lighting company, transformation has been a constant. Formerly Philips Lighting, Signify has a legacy spanning 135 years and, at the same time, operates as a dynamic seven-year-old start-up following its divestment. 

With 32,000 employees across 75 countries and revenue of €6.7 billion in 2023, the company has embraced change at an accelerated pace. At the heart of its HR evolution is an 11-year partnership with Workday, a collaboration that has fuelled significant advancements in efficiency, data-driven decision-making and workforce empowerment.

Creating more impactful HR functions.

Signify’s HR transformation has been profound. “We reduced our HR team from nearly 650 to about 300,” says Kiran Brar, chief human resource officer at Signify. “But this wasn’t just about downsizing – we built a more strategic and impactful function.”

Workday has been instrumental in this shift, boosting efficiency and shifting HR responsibilities to where they matter most: the people managers. “Today, managers are truly empowered. They can make informed decisions about their teams with constant access to real-time data and take the lead on key HR initiatives,” Brar explains.

With Workday, managers can independently handle hiring, payroll, attrition analysis and team health assessments – driving smarter, faster decision-making. “That’s the single most important impact of Workday – it ensures people decisions are made by those who know their teams best.”

Harnessing data with Workday Prism Analytics.

Analytics has been a game-changer for Signify, allowing the company to move from reactive reporting to proactive decision-making. According to Brar, “Analytics is a journey, and I think we are still on the journey of getting to predictive analytics.

“However, getting the basics right is crucial – many HR leaders will attest to this,” Brar continues. “They often ask, ‘How many people do we really have?’ Getting accurate reports on this is extremely important.”

Workday Prism Analytics has been key in helping Signify achieve this foundational goal. Beyond basic reporting, Workday Prism Analytics enables Signify to integrate complex workforce data from multiple sources, offering valuable insights into attrition risks and resource allocation. 

“Workday Prism Analytics consolidates data from various sources to pinpoint why employees may leave, identify areas that need attention, and highlight where to focus efforts, especially when HR resources and time are limited,” Brar says.

Workforce planning for the future.

Workforce planning is becoming an increasingly important focus for Signify’s leadership. “Strategic workforce planning is a growing priority for C-level executives,” says Brar. “They’re asking us tough questions like, ‘Can you predict what your workforce will look like two years from now?’” Workday Adaptive Planning is playing a key role in supporting these requests.

To meet these demands, Signify is focused on developing key elements such as effective headcount planning, alignment with finance on salaries and wages, and a comprehensive job architecture. “Once we have these core elements in place, we’ll be ready to advance to predictive strategic workforce planning,” Brar explains.

Workday is enabling Signify to lay the groundwork for these future workforce projections. “We’re not there yet; this is a step-by-step approach,” Brar notes. “Workday is helping us put the right building blocks in place for future strategic workforce planning.”

The role of AI: Unlocking productivity today and tomorrow.

AI is already providing significant value at Signify, particularly in streamlining HR processes. However, the company takes a pragmatic approach, deploying AI where it truly drives productivity. “AI offers great potential,” says Brar, “but not every challenge requires an AI solution.” By targeting the right areas, Signify ensures AI serves as a tool for impact, not innovation without meaningful impact.

Several key HR functions are being transformed, including recruitment support and assisting equity experts with complex data analysis. “AI can handle analytics, summarise data, and offer insights that weren’t possible before,” Brar explains. Looking ahead, the company envisions AI playing a growing role in workforce planning and skills management, with the ability to map skills, identify gaps and enable smarter decision-making.

The next step for Signify is integrating AI more deeply into decision-making processes. “The next stage is when AI starts shaping decisions for us. We’re not there yet, but we’re on a good path,” Brar notes. This evolution will be key to driving strategic workforce transformation and even more agility.

As Signify continues to lead innovation in lighting and technology, its partnership with Workday remains crucial to its success. “We’re an innovation-driven organisation,” Brar emphasises. “Workday Illuminate enhances the user experience, helping us create value and make better decisions.” This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to tech advancement, responsible AI use and co-creating solutions that shape the future.