Cascades and Covalence Consulting Inc.:

Achieving Complex & Large-Scale HCM Implementation with Excellence

Client
Cascades
HCM Software
Ultimate Time Solution

The Project

When Cascades, a large packaging, hygiene, and recovery product production company needed to implement Ultimate Time & Attendance (UTA) as a part of their UltiPro deployment, they knew to rely on the Human Capital Management (HCM) Implementation experts. With 11,000 employees and 90 production facilities across North America, Cascades’ UltiPro project would be highly complex, as well as time sensitive. Cascades and Ultimate Software engaged Covalence Consulting to bring the expertise and knowledge of UTA to their HCM project.

Key Wins
  •  Successful completion of complex Implementation
  • Worked closely with Cascades internal team
  • Time sensitive project completed to high standards

Wide-Scale Implementation Done Right

Cascades’ UltiPro project required multiple plant locations and sites to be implemented simultaneously. With numerous sites being configured the Covalence team knew that they would be carrying out a highly detail-oriented and large-scale HCM implementation project. Beyond this, each location had their own unique configuration requirements which were specific to that site’s needs. In addition, Cascades also had complex Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) which needed to be navigated and adhered to. 

“Each of Cascades’ plants was essentially an independent implementation. So, under the umbrella of the wider UltiPro project was the need to provide highly specific implementation services for every one of their locations with no two being alike. We knew the Cascades team was committed to carrying out this incredibly complex HCM project in a timely manner – and we were up for the challenge,” explains Lakhbir Sian, VP of HCM at Covalence Consulting Inc., an HCM and WFM software implementation and optimization firm specializing in complex projects.

With highly unique requirements with respect to scheduling, overtime pay, holiday pay, premium pay and more, the Covalence Consulting team focused on both the details as well as the overarching needs of Cascades. Among other things 115 calculation groups were configured. This work was done for both the US & Canadian locations. 

“We had a big ask and felt Lakhbir and his team were up for the challenge. The Covalence team was able to keep in mind the big picture of what we were trying to accomplish with our new UltiPro system while still being incredibly meticulous and detail oriented with every specific requirement and every request we had, “ states Melanie Bouffard, Human Resources Shared Services Manager at Cascades.

Partnering In An Agile Implementation

Cascades’ UltiPro project was truly an agile implementation, made possible by both the Covalence Consulting and Cascades teams working closely together. Project stakeholders from Cascades and Covalence Consulting experts worked together to gather requirements, and  conduct testing of optimal UltiPro system use. The newly configured system was placed in the hands of the Cascades plant supervisors as quickly as possible and the Covalence Implementation Consultants adapted quickly to any changes that were requested as a result. In this way the Cascades project was like an implementation and an optimization at the same time. Not only did Covalence configure the system as required, but also made customized improvements as they went along with the work. The result was an implementation which specifically spoke to the organizational needs that Cascades hoped to address when they bought UltiPro. 

“What we initiated was true parallel testing, with our team and the Cascades team working together to ensure the highest quality configuration and testing possible. We tested against actual employee data and worked to provide a solid HCM project which was done using agile principles. Our cycle for this project was to get requirements gathering done first, followed by planning and design, then realization and testing. Finally we would review and refine,” says Lakhbir Sian. 

Covalence Consulting always applies their unique HCM software methodology which entails using an agile software development approach. This agile approach allows for Human Capital Management implementations to be designed in a more flexible manner, resulting in an UltiPro configuration that works for the real-world needs of an organization. Covalence’s goal is always to get the clients’ ‘hands’ on the UltiPro system configuration as soon as possible with the understanding that there will be changes requested. When these changes are made Covalence HCM experts do so with minimal impact to the end-users. As such system delivery and subsequent changes are done iteratively and quickly, providing a very agile implementation experience for clients. 

“The Covalence Consulting team really stayed with us with the same level of dedication to our project throughout. Over a two year period they configured and implemented our UTA in a way that did not impact our live sites but still got the HCM work done that was needed. I really believe it was this attention to the detail that enabled us to successfully execute such a complicated and large project successfully,” states Melanie Bouffard.

So how does Cascades’ Melanie Bouffard characterize her experience with Covalence Consulting Inc.?

“The Covalence team has been thoroughly dedicated to Cascades’ success throughout this project. When they say they intend to partner with you in our success – they mean it! They have become our trusted partner for UltiPro success,” says Melanie Bouffard.

manufacturing line

Covalence Consulting Inc. is a Human Capital Management (HCM) & Workforce Management (WFM) consulting firm focused on delivering tailored HCM software implementation services that empower clients to fully deploy their HCM/WFM systems with confidence. As a trusted HCM implementation partner to leading HCM software suppliers, Covalence Consulting Inc. specializes in workforce management, payroll and time and attendance. Whether it is HR transformation or managed services, our approach centers on partnering with our valued clients, making their success, our success.

Contact Us Today