Digital Transformation Consulting

Henkel, a leading global producer of adhesive technologies, faced significant challenges in a rapidly evolving market characterized by increasing competitive pressure and the need for innovation. To maintain its competitive edge, Henkel recognized the necessity of enhancing its workforce capabilities by implementing targeted learning programs for its 52,000 employees. The goal was to foster a culture of lifelong learning that would enable the company to anticipate customer needs and accelerate the development of innovative solutions.

To address these challenges, Henkel partnered with Accenture, leveraging their decade-long relationship to execute a comprehensive global digital upskilling initiative. The project unfolded in four key stages:

1. **Digital Capabilities Assessment**: Employees across ten job families participated in an anonymous assessment to identify their strengths and skills gaps, providing a clear understanding of current capabilities and areas for improvement.

2. **Digital Upskilling**: Based on the assessment results, Henkel developed job-family-specific learning programs that combined best practice courses from Accenture Academy with tailored Henkel use cases, delivered through a contemporary learning management system (LMS).

3. **Digital Talent Experience**: A new talent-management process was introduced to better assess employees' roles and ambitions, focusing on professional development by decoupling performance evaluation from potential assessment.

4. **Digital Talent Sourcing**: A "Recruiter Toolbox" was created to enhance the recruitment process for digital roles, establishing a clearer connection between required technical skills and job roles.

The results of this initiative were significant. Within just 18 weeks, Henkel and Accenture successfully rolled out the new LMS, setting a new standard for such platforms. The program saw 215,000 eLearning courses completed by employees, with a total of 272,000 training registrations recorded. Additionally, the recruitment process was streamlined, reducing application times for external candidates from approximately 30 minutes to just 60 seconds, which led to a 40% increase in applications for open roles.

Henkel's commitment to upskilling not only enhanced its workforce's capabilities but also aligned with its sustainability goals, positioning the company as a leader in fostering an inclusive and innovative workforce. This strategic investment in employee development is seen as critical to maintaining Henkel's competitive advantage in the market.