As a leading global defence and security company, Saab is no stranger to managing complexity. But when it came to its people operations, the company needed a simpler, more cohesive solution to support its expanding workforce and sharpen its focus on strategic HR initiatives.
Since implementing Workday in 2019, Saab has been steadily transforming how it supports employees, attracts talent and leverages data – all with a future-ready mindset.
Streamlining HR for a future-ready workforce
“For me, the biggest challenge now, and going forward, will be to attract and retain talent,” said Merin Dalmo, head of People Digital Solutions. Addressing that challenge meant re-evaluating how Saab managed everything from onboarding to employee engagement.
With Workday, the company found a unified platform that could flexibly adapt to evolving business needs while keeping employee experience front and centre.
“When looking at any streamlining of any process within HR, I think the power of one is still valid,” Dalmo explained.
This single-platform approach has created a more intuitive environment for Saab’s employees and managers, reducing friction across everyday HR tasks.
Whether it’s changing an address or checking engagement scores, users can now access what they need without relying on HR teams.
“People expect to handle things like updating their address or accessing last year’s merit reviews on their own. They don’t want to have to ask someone for it. It should just be available, and Workday offers that and more,” said Dalmo.
Workday is a key enabler of our people processes. It brings everything an employee, manager or HR professional needs into one place.
Head of People Digital Solutions
Driving smarter decisions with employee insights
Data-driven decision-making has also taken a significant leap forwards. Saab now uses Workday Peakon Employee Voice to continuously listen to its workforce.
“We’ve moved from asking standard questions once a year to checking in every other month, listening to where our employees are in their development,” Dalmo said. “We now have real, up-to-date insights at our fingertips, allowing us to tailor our action plans to better support the business, and all of that based on employee feedback.”
This data is extending its influence beyond HR. “We see teams across Finance, Occupational Health and Safety, and Real Estate also benefiting from meaningful insights, and this enables them to tailor their plans and strategies to better support our employees,” said Dalmo.
Unlocking value with Workday Success Plans
Saab is also seeing long-term gains from its investment in Workday Success Plans after using this solution for over one year. According to Dalmo, “It’s made a significant difference for us. We’ve explored various types of training, and the support is incredibly easy to access and effective. It’s designed to deliver real value to customers.”
Direct connection to product specialists has helped Saab move quickly from questions to action, particularly when refining complex processes.
Saab’s positive experience underscores how combining robust support with strategic success planning creates a resilient foundation for maximising the value Workday delivers to its people operations.
Trusted innovation through responsible AI
Innovation has also been central to Saab’s strategy, and the Workday approach to responsible AI has been positively received at the organisation.
Dalmo emphasised, “Responsible AI starts with solid processes. Workday has introduced it in a way that makes it easy for customers to adapt, allowing us to gain confidence and build trust.”
Looking ahead, Saab plans to use Workday AI capabilities to shift HR’s focus towards more strategic initiatives. “By using AI to support us, we’ll be able to concentrate on higher-level priorities, such as further developing our talent and driving our business goals to new heights,” Dalmo said.
Ultimately, Dalmo believes the strength of Saab’s partnership with Workday lies in balancing current organisational needs with future innovation.
Workday shows us what’s possible, and over time we realise it has become a necessity. They are always a few steps ahead, ready to support us as soon as we identify the challenges we need to solve.
Head of People Digital Solutions