Modernising a traditional organisation’s HR practices with end-to-end digital transformation to enable agility, business continuity, and future-readiness.
Time to Read: 7 mins
Background
NRB Bearings, a legacy organization with strong roots in traditional HR practices, operated heavily on paper-based systems for its people processes. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, new and urgent challenges emerged, ensuring business continuity, supporting remote working employees, and meeting stringent compliance requirements from health and labor authorities. Manual HR processes were no longer sustainable in a world that demanded speed, digital access, data transparency, and remote operability. Recognising this, we embarked on a bold transformation journey to digitise HR completely, setting a new industry benchmark among domestic OEMs.
Objective
To seamlessly transition NRB Bearings’ HR operations from manual, paper-driven methods to a fully automated, agile, and resilient HR ecosystem, enabling work-from-home effectiveness, compliance, and employee experience excellence, while working from home.
Actions Taken
- Platform Implementation:
- Implemented Darwinbox, a comprehensive cloud-based HRMS platform, to digitize the entire employee lifecycle.
- Modules Deployed:
- Core HR (Employee Master Database)
- Digital Onboarding & Offboarding
- Attendance & Leave Management with Biometric Integration
- Performance Management
- Recruitment & Applicant Tracking System
- Helpdesk & Case Management
- Employee Wellness & Surveys
- Employee Self-Service (ESS) and Mobile App Enablement
- Process Reengineering:
- Re-engineered HR processes to align with best-in-class digital workflows.
- Mapped every process digitally to ensure remote operability and audit-readiness.
- Post-COVID Initiatives:
- Introduced Hybrid Work Policies promoting flexible work.
- Launched Digital Wellness Programs including virtual fitness, mental wellness, and health initiatives.
- Rolled out 100% Digital Onboarding and offboarding with e-signatures and automated documentation.
Results
- Onboarding:
Reduced employee onboarding cycle from weeks to 1 day, ensuring seamless integration even while working remotely. - Offboarding:
Shrunk offboarding processing time from 65+ days to under 15 days, enabling faster workforce planning and compliance closure. - Employee Experience:
90%+ of employee queries and services resolved digitally via self-service platforms and online helpdesks. - Cost Savings:
Eliminated significant manual administrative costs, saving time and money across HR functions. - Awards:
NRB Bearings was honored with the “Most Preferred Workplace in Manufacturing” award twice, recognizing our progressive HR transformation. - Business Continuity:
Most important – Enabled seamless HR functioning during lockdowns and beyond, ensuring zero business disruption from an HR perspective.
Benefits of Darwinbox Implementation During Work-from-Home
- Centralized access to employee services and records
- Seamless remote onboarding and documentation
- Biometric attendance integrated with geofencing
- Online performance evaluations and feedback loops
- Quick policy updates and employee communication
- Health and wellness tracking for employee engagement
Recognition
NRB Bearings has established itself as a pioneer among domestic OEMs by fully automating its HR processes. This transformation has not only modernised their approach to human resources but also set a new standard within the industry, showcasing the significance of embracing digital solutions to enhance efficiency, employee experience, overall operational effectiveness and appreciation by Automative Players.
"Transforming HR isn't just about digitising processes, it’s about enabling the organization to thrive anytime, anywhere, even in the most difficult times, without missing a beat and keeping positive attitude."
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