Randstad Japan

Combining ‘Tech and Touch’ with ‘human forward’

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randstad: technology transformation with the human touch WRITTEN BY

SOPHIE CHAPMAN PRODUCED BY

KRISTOFER PALMER

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With its mantra of ‘combining technology with the human touch’, HR giant Randstad undergoes its digital transformation journey with a focus on change management

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s the largest human resources (HR) firm in the world, Randstad operates 38 different markets. The business aims to

bring people and work together whilst “combining technology with the human touch,” reveals Richard Tanaka, Chief Technology Innovation Officer of the 04

company’s Japanese division. As CTIO, Tanaka defines his position as very unique: “Innovation is really the core part of my role. I find ways to bring innovation and technology into the company, and we’re specifically aiming to do that in Japan, which is why the position was established here. It’s not so much an operational role as it is more a strategic one. I do not work alone. I work and align together with the tech leaders from around the globe to leverage that we are One Randstad. There is huge collaboration at the APAC regional level, as well as at the global level.”

Within Tech and Touch, the company established a global initiative called “Digital Factory” which is already touching all parts of the world. While each country is different, with the Digital Factory,

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“ Japan is really great at innovating and thinking of new technology, but to actually adopt it into a working environment or an office is a little bit of a challenge” — Richard Tanaka, CTIO of Randstad Japan 06

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘HOW WILL HR TECH CHANGE RECRUITMENT?’ 07 Randstad is able to re-use and share

ment or an office is a little bit of a chall-

all kinds of technology. “We don’t

enge. So, it’s a bit of a paradox. An

believe in re-inventing the wheel for

important part of my role is to help

each country,” remarks Tanaka.

facilitate the adoption of technologies,

In Japan, a very technologically

processes and ways of thinking. Mindset

advanced nation, Randstad is noticing

change is quite a bit topic at the moment,”

a conservative and risk-adverse

Tanaka notes.

approach to change. As an American

Despite working within a technology

who has lived in Japan for the past 17

framed role, it is clear that Tanaka’s job

years, Tanaka is able to bring a more

is heavily change management focused.

western approach to the business in

“A big part of it is the people manage-

order to facilitate the required changes.

ment side, so I need to get my staff in

“Japan is really great at innovating and

the right mindset to be able to adopt

thinking of new technology, but to

different ways of working, accept newer

actually adopt it into a working environ-

technologies, or maybe even take w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p

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some risks. I need to get people on

and clients and bring operations together.

board,” he says. “In order for change

As HR is a people oriented industry, it

to happen we need to really focus on

has often remained traditional and main-

the people, and being able to give my

tained manual operations. For Randstad,

staff the Freedom within the Frame is

introducing technology to the front line

as exciting as much as it is not well

of its business strategy will bring it one

understood.”

step closer to meeting its mantra of

In 2016 the company revealed its Tech

‘combining technology with the human

and Touch strategy, which seeks to

touch’. Tanaka discloses: “We want to

address how the business can combine

make technology an integral part of the

technology to better serve its candidates

way the business works, and an integral

part of the way we interact with potential

a speed that was never seen before,”

candidates or with our clients. Tech-

remarks Tanaka. OutSystems’ offering

nology is all around us, so if you receive

enables Randstad to develop a system

a resume on a piece of paper then you

in a fraction of the time that it would

can’t very easily share it with a fellow

have previously taken – reducing years

co-worker or with a potential client or

to months to weeks. “The platform is

employer, so we’re striving for ways to

very modular and scalable. We have it

leverage technology and innovation,

set up in nearly a dozen countries, and

such as mobile platforms, artificial

so we can share, for example, a design,

intelligence (AI) and machine learning.”

corporate colours or branding, a layout,

Randstad Japan is currently

or even an app between the other

adopting low-coding platforms with

markets. It’s all pre-packaged for us,

OutSystems. “We embrace their

ready to go. Having to do everything

platform and it gives us the ability to

from scratch is a thing of the past – we

develop ideas, tools and systems in

have a very high reusability factor with

a very quick and efficient manner, at

what we’re doing,” he continues.

E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE

Richard Tanaka Richard Tanaka is the Chief Technology Innovation Officer at Randstad Japan. Tanaka is Japanese-American born in Los Angeles, US, and has a long working history in the IT industry. Having served as a Director in IT for the Asia Pacific region at 20th Century Fox, as well as working Theatrical Systems at Warner Bros. Entertainment’s APAC region and a Global IT Business Partner for Japan and APAC at Adecco, Tanaka’s career has span across the telecom, entertainment, and HR services sectors

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“ Randstad Japan is taking its steps forward and embracing organisational change, embracing mindset change, and of course along with that comes system changes” — Richard Tanaka, CTIO of Randstad Japan

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According to the CTIO, Randstad

wasted,” says Tanaka. Through its

Japan is reaping the benefits of new

partnership with DOMO, the firm has

flexible systems that feature greater

gained access to a data visualisation

access to data. The firm is able to be

tool that has enabled data-driven

more data driven whilst taking advan-

decision making within the operations.

tage of the rapid adoption of mobile

By having more data-driven opera-

technology. The company is designing

tions, the company can also reduce

applications for mobile and tablets to

the amount of paper it uses and improve

be used by employees out in the field.

agility. “Compared to our previous

“The apps will hold client data, offering

functions, we had a lot of paperwork,

the latest information and orders. All

and with the importance of personal

that good, valuable information will be

privacy at an all-time high, most

available right at our employees’ finger-

paperwork will have to be shredded,”

tips, so no opportunity would be

Tanaka explains. “DOMO is allowing w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p

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us to be more agile with where and

“At least half of any transformation is

how we work, and this is having

being able to take the first step. Rand-

a profound effect on improving our

stad Japan is taking its steps forward

business as well as giving our clients

and embracing organisational change

a better experience.�

and mindset changes, and of course

As the HR giant continues on its

along with that come system changes.

digital transformation journey, Tanaka

I think the transformation really starts

highlights that technology is not the

with the right people and the right

only important aspect of the evolution.

leadership with a common vision,�

“ OutSystems’ platform gives us the ability to develop ideas, tools and systems in a very quick and efficient manner, at a speed that was never seen before” — Richard Tanaka, CTIO of Randstad Japan

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Tanaka comments. “I can really say that change management in Japan is not the easiest thing to do, but I think a little bit of creativity can help. Sometimes you have to do things a little outside of the box. Being able to tell a story, or being able to share the vision goes a long way, especially here in Japan.” w w w.ra ndst a d . co. j p

Randstad Japan 4-1 Kioi-cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 102-8578 Japan www.randstad.co.jp