Digital Transformation Consulting

Henkel faced the challenge of rapidly evolving customer relationships and intensifying market competition, which demanded a highly agile and digitally skilled workforce. The company sought to enhance its employees’ digital capabilities across multiple functions, including IT, Finance, Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, Corporate Communications, HR, R&D, and Supply Chain, to foster innovation and accelerate development of new solutions. Recognizing the importance of targeted, continuous learning, Henkel partnered with Accenture to design and execute a comprehensive digital upskilling program that could be scaled globally within a tight timeframe.

The solution involved a multi-stage process beginning with a voluntary digital capabilities assessment across 10 job families, providing detailed insights into existing skills and gaps. Based on this data, tailored job-family-specific learning programs were developed using a blend of Accenture Academy courses and Henkel-specific use cases, delivered through a modern learning management system (LMS). To enhance talent development, a new talent management process was implemented to independently evaluate employee performance and potential, supporting personalized growth pathways. Additionally, a "Recruiter Toolbox" was introduced to connect technical skills with hiring needs for digital roles, and plans are underway to incorporate an AI-based skill library of 52,000 skills to further refine talent sourcing, succession planning, and performance management.

Quantitatively, the initiative led to the rapid deployment of the new LMS within 18 weeks, a process that set a new standard for platform rollout. Over 215,000 employees completed approximately 215,000 eLearning courses, with 272,000 training registrations recorded across the organization. The revamped hiring process reduced application times from 30 minutes to 60 seconds, increasing candidate applications by 40 percent. This targeted digital upskilling strategy not only equipped Henkel’s workforce with future-ready skills but also reinforced its commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability as core differentiators in the global market.