CUSTOMER STORY
Experian Established a Single Source of Truth and Cut Reporting Time by 70% With Visier
Experian is a top-tier global information services provider, specializing in credit reporting and data analytics. With a dedication to innovation, they empower individuals and businesses by delivering crucial insights for responsible lending and enhanced risk management, playing a pivotal role in shaping the modern financial landscape.
INDUSTRY
Financial services
HEADQUARTERS
London, UK
EMPLOYEES
21,000
VISIER PEOPLE® SOLUTIONS:
• Essentials • Talent • Benchmarks • Standardized Occupations
• Visier Certified Developer
Key outcomes
Established one source of data truth
Reduced reporting workload by 70%
Improved retention risk analysis
When Experian’s People Analytics team shifted from manual data reporting and analytics to Visier, they freed up 70% of their time previously spent on reporting. Now, the team gets to focus on more important initiatives, and accurate people data is driving decisions across the organization.
THE CHALLENGE
Deciding whether to build or buy people analytics
In the initial phases of Experian's people analytics journey, the organization maintained manual reporting processes. This approach led to data quality issues and was a resource drain on the team—especially as demand for insights increased. With a small People Analytics team, the organization came to a crossroads where they needed to evaluate if buying the right solution was more cost-effective and productive than maintaining their own, internal reporting measures.
THE SOLUTION
Overcoming data quality and reporting challenges to streamline processes and expand access
Implementing people analytics at Experian quickly resulted in an operational transformation. Visier replaced manual reporting processes and introduced in-house capabilities that ensured greater consistency in data and reporting.
Kevin shared, “Before that the People Analytics team was a reporting function and all of our reporting was delivered either through Excel or Oracle OBI-EE suite. And we knew at the time we had a lot of data quality challenges with that.”
The shift from a build to a buy approach with Visier marked a revolutionary turn for Experian. This strategic decision resulted in overcoming challenges in data quality and manual workload. It facilitated regular and timely updates, streamlining processes and positioning Experian as a best-in-class HR strategist.
The team focused on democratizing people data, expanding access beyond the HR function to include users in finance and, in the future, to leadership populations. Strategically aligning with the organization's goals, the people analytics team utilized insights to improve talent acquisition processes, making them more insight-led and efficient.
Our current strategy is very much around maturing the data-led approach across the function and becoming more insight-led as an organization.
Kevin Metherell, Head of People Analytics Insights and Innovations, Experian
THE SOLUTION
Investing in the right people analytics solution
Under Kevin Metherell’s leadership people analytics at Experian began a transformative journey. Visier replaced manual reporting processes and introduced in-house capabilities that ensured greater consistency in data and reporting.
Kevin shared, “Before that the People Analytics team was a reporting function and all of our reporting was delivered either through Excel or Oracle OBI-EE suite. And we knew at the time we had a lot of data quality challenges with that.”
The shift from a build to a buy approach with Visier marked a revolutionary turn for Experian. This strategic decision resulted in overcoming challenges in data quality and manual workload. It facilitated regular and timely updates, streamlining processes and positioning Experian as a best-in-class HR strategist.
The team focused on democratizing people data, expanding access beyond the HR function to include users in finance and, in the future, to leadership populations. Strategically aligning with the organization's goals, the people analytics team utilized insights to improve talent acquisition processes, making them more insight-led and efficient.
Our current strategy is very much around maturing the data-led approach across the function and becoming more insight-led as an organization.
Kevin Metherell, Head of People Analytics Insights and Innovations, Experian
1. Better data architecture
Curated an HR tech ecosystem that allows data to flow across systems.
2. Faster insights
Delivered pre-built visualizations for at-a-glance, accurate analysis.
3. Less manual analysis
Empowered HR professionals to refocus on more strategic initiatives.
4. Deeper conversations
Sparked meaningful discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
After the implementation of Visier we—almost overnight—managed to cut about two-thirds of our reporting capacity and capability into the self-service remit, which was massive in terms of the time saved for the team and the effort we were spending on it.
Kevin Metherell, Head of People Analytics Insights and Innovations, Experian
THE OUTCOME
70% time saved on reporting
With time freed up and one source of truth for accurate data established, the PA team now has the time to tackle new initiatives that will empower the organization as it scales.
After the implementation of Visier we—almost overnight—managed to cut about two-thirds of our reporting capacity and capability into the self-service remit, which was massive in terms of the time saved for the team and the effort we were spending on it.
Kevin Metherell, Head of People Analytics Insights and Innovations, Experian
THE OUTCOME
Saving 70% of reporting workload, freeing up time for more business-critical initiatives
With time freed up and one source of truth for accurate data established, the PA team now has the time to tackle new initiatives that will empower the organization as it scales.
1
RETENTION RISK PLANNING
Accurate people data allowed Experian to identify high-potential middle managers who were on the trajectory to make senior leadership. Succession plans were made to mitigate the resignation risk for these influential employees.
2
DEI INITIATIVES
A large focus for Experian moving forward is DEI. The company wants to ensure that it understands its workforce and makeup, where unconscious biases come across processes, and how they can be addressed. Notably, the company wants to ensure it continues to grow diversity in senior leadership.
3
REDUCING COSTS
For several years, Experian built and used an in-house attribution risk model. However, it was a huge resource drain on the team to refresh and rebuild this model. A quick analysis showed that it was costing, at a minimum, $30,000 annually to upkeep. The decision to migrate this data to Visier has saved the team significant money and time.
After the implementation of Visier we—almost overnight—managed to cut about two-thirds of our reporting capacity and capability into the self-service remit, which was massive in terms of the time saved for the team and the effort we were spending on it.
Kevin Metherell, Head of People Analytics Insights and Innovations, Experian
THE FUTURE
A shift to skills-based decision-making
In just a handful of years, Experian has seen an important shift in how the entire organization, not just the People Analytics team, uses data in strategic business decisions.
Kevin shares, “We've saved time and money, but I think the bigger benefit has been the increase in adoption that we've seen across our user base and across our life cycle. People are using that data more readily and becoming more insightful learners.”
When asked what’s next, Kevin shares that Experian aims to transition into a skills-based organization, utilizing data to understand workforce skills and aligning them with business objectives. This will involve democratizing knowledge about skills data and requiring change management efforts for users accustomed to traditional data perspectives.
THE FUTURE
A Shift to Skills-Based Decision-Making
In just a handful of years, Experian has seen an important shift in how the entire organization, not just the People Analytics team, uses data in strategic business decisions.
When asked what’s next, Kevin shares that Experian aims to transition into a skills-based organization, utilizing data to understand workforce skills and aligning them with business objectives. This will involve democratizing knowledge about skills data and requiring change management efforts for users accustomed to traditional data perspectives.
We've saved time and money, but I think the bigger benefit has been the increase in adoption that we've seen across our user base and across our life cycle. People are using that data more readily and becoming more insightful learners.
Kevin Metherell, Head of People Analytics Insights and Innovations, Experian
Visier solutions used by Experian
Visier People® Essentials
With core HR metrics, Essentials starts you on your analytic journey answering questions around headcount, employee starts, and demographics, and how you compare to Visier Benchmarks.
Visier People® Benchmarks
Visier Benchmarks complement government-published measures such as those from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and US Bureau of Labor Statistics—also included with Visier— adding even more relevant context and timeliness.
Visier People® Talent
Identify the attributes that produce long-term, high performing employees and make better hiring decisions faster.
Visier People® Standardized Occupations
Match your organization’s jobs using job titles and any other fields that add details to jobs to a standardized list of job names and hierarchies.
Visier Certified Developer
Unlock a new level of self-serve access to Visier’s open platform to build custom solutions that fit your organization’s business needs and deliver more insights and value in less time.
About Visier
Visier’s purpose is to reveal the human truth about your workforce and contribute to a better future. Visier was founded to focus on what matters to business people: answering the right questions, even the ones a person might not know to ask. Questions that shape business strategy provide the impetus for taking action, and drive better business results. Visier delivers fast, clear people insight by using all the available people data—regardless of source. With best-practice expertise built in, decision makers can confidently take action. Thanks to our amazing customers, Visier is the market leader in Workforce Analytics with more than 40,000 customers in 75 countries around the world.
For more information, visit visier.com