Challenge

Addressing HR process fragmentation during accelerated growth

Following a period of accelerated growth, Manitou Group faced significant challenges in harmonizing its HR processes and administration. The initial attempt at standardization using Excel highlighted the limitations and inefficiencies of this approach. The company needed a more robust and centralized HR solution to unify its processes across all countries and provide a consistent view of recruitment, goal setting, annual reviews, and organizational charts. Additionally, the lack of a consistent employee database and incompatible data and financial tools further complicated HR management and administration.
Vincent Romain, HRIS Manager, explains, “It was with the takeover of Gehl in the United States in 2008 that we began to implement HR procedures at a group level. However, we do not yet have the appropriate solution to do this. It started with Excel.” The first attempt at harmonization quickly showed the limits of our approach. The need to digitize processes became obvious.

Solution

Implementing SAP SuccessFactors for integrated HR management in Manitou Group

In 2013, Manitou Group selected SAP SuccessFactors to oversee and reorganize its talent data management. This move aimed to centralize and share recruitment, goal setting, annual reviews, and organizational charts across all countries, creating a unified internal HR network.
Building on this initial success, the second stage of Manitou Group’s digital HR transformation took place in 2017. This included the deployment of the following SAP SuccessFactors products:

• Employee Central (Core HR)
• Talent Management
• Compensation and Benefits Management
• Internal Social Network

In 2019, Manitou Group partnered with Strada to implement SAP SuccessFactors’ Employee Central. Strada’s competitive advantage lay in its ability to mobilize local resources in each country where Core HR was deployed. Despite initial challenges and the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of Employee Central was completed on schedule.
The final step—implementing People Analytics to dynamically present data stored in Core HR.
Moreover, Manitou Group has continued its collaboration with Strada, now outsourcing its HRIS maintenance to the company.

Results

Manitou Group’s unified, data-driven, and efficient HR system

With the successful deployment of SAP SuccessFactors and support from Strada, Manitou Group achieved significant improvements in its HR operations:

Improved data accuracy and accessibility

• A single, consolidated database for all employees eliminated discrepancies in workforce data.

Operational efficiency and time savings

• Automated data integration with financial tools reduced manual HR administrative work.
• HR teams can now focus on strategic HR initiatives instead of spending time on data corrections.

Enhanced talent management & workforce planning

• Standardized processes across global subsidiaries improved talent acquisition, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
• Enabled better workforce analytics, allowing leadership to make informed HR decisions.

Successful on-time deployment despite challenges

• Phase 1 (Asia, MEA): Completed in December 2019
• Phase 2 (Europe, excluding France): Completed in April 2020
• Phase 3 (France & USA): Delivered in July 2020 despite COVID-19 disruptions

Future-ready HR analytics capabilities

• People Analytics implementation providing dynamic insights into workforce trends.
• Manitou Group’s HRIS maintenance is now outsourced to Strada, ensuring continued support and optimization.