Johan van Dyk, Author at VirtualResource https://virtualresource.org/author/johan-vandykvirtualresource-org/ We are the fixers in the HR Digital Transformation landscape Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:42:39 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://virtualresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/cropped-VR-32x32.png Johan van Dyk, Author at VirtualResource https://virtualresource.org/author/johan-vandykvirtualresource-org/ 32 32 AI-driven Talent Lifecycle https://virtualresource.org/webinars/ai-driven-talent-lifecycle/ Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:20:27 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=15804 At VirtualResource we are passionate about everything AI and how it fits into our world, how it can be leveraged and ultimately how it takes the Talent Lifecycle to the next level - from recruiting to retention. In this webinar we will be looking at Workday Delivered AI tools to enhance Talent overall, take a sneak peak at a couple of 'Agents' built by our own Incubane team and cover highlights for a digital roadmap, guiding you through key principles and discussing highlights to Agentic AI for Talent.

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At VirtualResource we are passionate about everything AI and how it fits into our world, how it can be leveraged and ultimately how it takes the Talent Lifecycle to the next level - from recruiting to retention.

In this webinar we will be looking at Workday Delivered AI tools to enhance Talent overall, take a sneak peak at a couple of 'Agents' built by our own Incubane team and cover highlights for a digital roadmap, guiding you through key principles and discussing highlights to Agentic AI for Talent.

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]]> From Data Chaos to Clarity https://virtualresource.org/webinars/from-data-chaos-to-clarity/ Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:08:00 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=15796 Most Workday environments are functional - but few are truly under control. As organisations grow, data quality, security, and governance often fall behind. The result? Less trust in reporting, growing risk, and increasing effort just to keep things running. In this webinar, we’ll explore what causes Workday data to drift over time, the risks organisations often overlook, and how leading teams create clarity without large transformation programmes.

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Most Workday environments are functional - but few are truly under control. As organisations grow, data quality, security, and governance often fall behind. The result? Less trust in reporting, growing risk, and increasing effort just to keep things running. In this webinar, we’ll explore what causes Workday data to drift over time, the risks organisations often overlook, and how leading teams create clarity without large transformation programmes.

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]]> VRCares 2025 Highlights https://virtualresource.org/vrcares/vrcares-2025-highlights/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:30:03 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=17185 This year, Virtual Resource's VR Cares initiative made its mark across communities in meaningful, lasting ways. From transforming a pandemic-era street school into a thriving Smart Hub serving nearly 160 children, to partnering with Check Know Prevent to empower nearly 3,000 young women with life-saving health awareness - 2025 was a year of real impact.

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This year, Virtual Resource's VR Cares initiative made its mark across communities in meaningful, lasting ways. From transforming a pandemic-era street school into a thriving Smart Hub serving nearly 160 children, to partnering with Check Know Prevent to empower nearly 3,000 young women with life-saving health awareness - 2025 was a year of real impact.

Watch as we reflect on the hunger relief efforts, food gardens, surf therapy partnerships, and the 4,000+ kilometers our team covered in the I Love Boobies Imagine Challenge - all in the name of something bigger than ourselves.

None of it would have been possible without our partners, clients, and community. Thank you for walking this path with us.

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]]> Restructuring a Global Business Operations Model https://virtualresource.org/use-case/restructuring-a-global-business-operations-model/ Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:21:00 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=14108 This transformation set out to do more than restructure HR - it aimed to simplify complexity, boost employee experience, and build a future-ready service model that could scale across regions. Together, we co-created a model that delivers today and adapts for tomorrow.

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Transforming HR at Scale: A Global Use Case

This transformation set out to do more than restructure HR — it aimed to simplify complexity, boost employee experience, and build a future-ready service model that could scale across regions. Together, we co-created a model that delivers today and adapts for tomorrow.

Company Information

Industry:
Pharmaceutical
Headquarters:
London, United Kingdom
Number of Employees:
~100k
About the Organisation

Founded in the early 2000s through the merger of two major healthcare firms, this British multinational is headquartered in London, UK. Today, it ranks among the world’s largest biopharma companies, employing around 100,000 people globally across research, development, and large-scale production.

Driven by a mission to unite science, talent, and technology to get ahead of disease together, the company operates with a purpose-led culture and a deep commitment to global health. Innovation, collaboration, and improving lives sit at the heart of everything it does.

The Challenge: Transforming the HR Service Model

To support its bold ambitions, the company needed to evolve how HR operates. The aim: to create a future-ready service model with integrated business partners, regional hubs, and global Centres of Excellence.

The transformation tackled over 400 employee experience pain points, focusing on the moments that matter most, and tied every improvement to measurable outcomes. It also sought to streamline operations, introduce smarter self-service options, and equip teams with the right skills and tools to meet future demands.

The Solution: Building the Foundations for Scale and Agility

The initiative focused on aligning the HR operating model and delivery approach. This included:

  • Launching regional hubs and a global business services model to drive consistency and coverage
  • Mapping core HR processes and building service catalogues to standardise delivery
  • Fully integrating systems and processes end-to-end for seamless experiences
  • Enabling knowledge transfer and upskilling through hands-on training and transition support

The Outcome: A Scalable, Strategic HR Ecosystem

A new service delivery model is now in place, with clear roles and responsibilities that support a more strategic approach to HR. This included setting up four regional hubs, a global function for business services, and satellite teams for complex local compliance.

80 key HR processes were mapped and service catalogues created to standarise & optimise service delivery.

All HR knowledge were transitioned to regional hubs while extensive training were provided on systems such as Workday and ServiceNow.

20%

Increased user adoption

>80%

Key employee experience requirements addressed

7000

Weeks of effort automated annually

496

Process steps automated

70

Teams consolidated into 4 regional hubs

248

Process steps identified for simplified self service

Looking Ahead

This Use Case shows what’s possible when HR transformation is grounded in clarity, co-creation, and measurable outcomes. By aligning strategy with people, process, and technology, the organisation is now positioned to scale with confidence, and ready for what’s next.

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]]> Developing a Future Focused Service Model https://virtualresource.org/use-case/developing-a-future-focused-service-model/ Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:09:00 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=14105 When a global consumer organisation undertook a major business restructure, it needed more than a new operating model, it needed a People function that could scale, respond, and lead through change. This transformation shows how aligning people, process, and technology unlocked new levels of agility and impact.

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Building Agility Through HR Transformation: A Global Use Case

When a global consumer organisation undertook a major business restructure, it needed more than a new operating model, it needed a People function that could scale, respond, and lead through change. This transformation shows how aligning people, process, and technology unlocked new levels of agility and impact.

Company Information

Industry:

Manufacturing & Retail

Headquarters:

Bristol, United Kingdom

Number of Employees:

~25.7k

About the Organisation

Headquartered in the UK, this global consumer business is one of the world’s largest in its category, with leading positions across markets including the UK, US, Germany, Spain, and Australia. With a history spanning over a century, the company is now focused on forging a healthier future, offering a portfolio that includes both traditional products and next-generation alternatives such as vapes and nicotine pouches.

Guided by a vision to build a strong, responsible challenger brand, the organisation is investing in transformation across its workforce, operations, and culture, with a renewed focus on agility, accountability, and choice.

The Challenge: Reshaping the People Function for a Global Business Shift

As part of a bold shift from a geographical to a line-of-business structure, the organisation needed to fundamentally rethink its People & Culture function. This included restructuring global operations, introducing new technology and ways of working into additional markets, and evolving the HR operating model to support business transformation at scale.

The priorities were clear: build a more agile People & Culture function, mature the service model to match evolving business needs, and streamline operations to enhance both efficiency and responsiveness. Equally important was leveraging technology to enable intuitive self-service, while equipping teams with the skills and capabilities required to adapt and thrive in a changing environment.

The Solution: Aligning Strategy, Structure, and Capability

To enable this transformation, the organisation focused on five key areas:

  • Restructuring the global business and aligning the HR operating model to support new ways of working
  • Mapping end-to-end People & Culture processes and creating service catalogues to support consistency and scale
  • Integrating systems and service delivery across regions, ensuring streamlined access and usability
  • Rolling out tailored change management initiatives to embed the new model and engage teams at every level
  • Building future-focused capabilities across the People & Culture function, enabling sustainable impact

These solutions were co-created with internal teams to ensure relevance, ownership, and seamless execution.

The Outcome: An Agile, Tech-Enabled People Ecosystem

The transformation successfully aligned leadership, teams, and processes with the organisation’s new structure, fostering agility, enhancing operational efficiency, and enabling faster adoption of new technology and working practices.

A roadmap for an agile, responsive People & Culture function was established, bringing together service models, process clarity, and a strong foundation for ongoing evolution. Over 116 global processes were mapped and built into Workday, while 64 markets were aligned to the new structure and ways of working.

Technology enablement was key to the success of this change:

  • 17 countries received new People & Culture platforms
  • A new People Portal launched in 11 languages
  • 40% of colleagues adopted the Colleague Portal at go-live

The programme also delivered deep engagement and capability building:

  • 2,419 People Leaders were engaged and aligned throughout the rollout
  • 581 People & Culture team members were onboarded to the new operating model
  • Persona-driven training enabled teams to manage and adapt to change with confidence

The result is a more connected, capable, and future-ready People function, designed not just to support business strategy, but to help lead it.

11

Languages supported by newly established People Portal

2419

People Leaders engaged and aligned

116

New global processes in Workday

40%

Colleague Portal adoption at go live

17

Countries receiving new technology

581

People & Culture team members onboarded to new operating model

64

Markets aligned to new structures and ways of working

Looking Ahead

This Use Case highlights what’s possible when HR transformation is anchored in clarity, co-creation, and enablement. By aligning structure with strategy and empowering teams with the right tools and support, the organisation has laid the foundation for continued growth and adaptability, wherever the future leads.

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]]> Workday SMART Goal Assistant with AI https://virtualresource.org/apps/smart-goal-assistant/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:58 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=12810 Workday SMART Goal Assistant (with AI)
Set, track, and achieve goals with AI-powered guidance. This app helps employees and managers define SMART goals, align with business objectives, and get real-time AI coaching to stay on track.​

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Workday SMART Goal Assistant (with AI) Set, track, and achieve goals with AI-powered guidance. This app helps employees and managers define SMART goals, align with business objectives, and get real-time AI coaching to stay on track.

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]]> Getting Remote Working Right https://virtualresource.org/knowledge-papers/getting-remote-working-right/ https://virtualresource.org/knowledge-papers/getting-remote-working-right/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:03:45 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=12824 Lessons Learned from Our Six-Year Journey - Remote working has transformed the modern workplace, offering employees flexibility, autonomy, and the potential for a healthier work-life balance. However, for many businesses, making remote work successful remains a challenge. How do you ensure productivity, maintain strong company culture, and keep employees engaged when they’re spread across multiple time zones?

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- Lessons Learned from Our Six-Year Journey.

Remote working has transformed the modern workplace, offering employees flexibility, autonomy, and the potential for a healthier work-life balance. However, for many businesses, making remote work successful remains a challenge. How do you ensure productivity, maintain strong company culture, and keep employees engaged when they’re spread across multiple time zones?

At VirtualResource, we’ve been fully remote from day one, with no physical offices anywhere in the world. Our employees are based across 20  countries and multiple time zones, yet we continue to provide exceptional services while fostering a strong sense of belonging among our team. We’re not here to say we’ve got it all figured out—but we have learned a lot along the way.

Here are our key lessons learned  for making remote working successful—whether you’re new to remote work or looking to refine your current approach.

 

1. Trust and Autonomy: The Foundations of Remote Success

One of the most common concerns from leaders is : How do I know my employees are actually working?

The answer: Trust them.

Remote work thrives on autonomy. Micromanagement kills motivation and productivity, whereas giving employees ownership over their work fosters accountability. At VirtualResource, we focus on results rather than hours logged. Employees know their responsibilities and have the freedom to structure their day in a way that works best for them.

🔹 Tip: Shift your focus from tracking hours to tracking outcomes. Define clear objectives and measure success based on results, not screen time.

 

2. Flexible Leave: A Radical Approach That Works

Many businesses fear that too much flexibility will lead to employees taking advantage of the system. Our experience suggests the opposite.

At VirtualResource, we have an uncapped annual leave policy. Employees take time off whenever they need, as long as their work is completed and deadlines are met. This level of trust increases job satisfaction and helps prevent burnout.

🔹 Tip: Consider introducing a more flexible leave policy. If unlimited leave feels too radical, start by encouraging employees to take their full entitlement and ensure there’s a culture where time off is truly respected.

 

3. Keeping Culture Alive in a Remote World

One of the biggest fears for companies shifting to remote work is the loss of company culture. Without an office, it’s easy for employees to feel disconnected. The key is to create opportunities for interaction and engagement.

Here’s what has worked for us:

✅ Monthly all-hands meetings – We hold regular company-wide meetings where we discuss projects, successes, challenges and company updates. We also celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries  and significant tenure milestones. This keeps everyone in the loop and fosters a sense of unity and belonging.
✅ Book clubs and social events – Virtual clubs and interest groups help employees connect over shared hobbies.
✅ In-person meetups – While we are fully remote, we arrange social gatherings in various cities around the world, so employees can occasionally meet face-to-face.

✅ Legendary year-end celebrations – Our much-anticipated annual year-end parties in different regions give employees the chance to come together, celebrate their achievements, and let loose in a night of fun, music, and camaraderie—often lasting well into the early hours!

🔹 Tip: Schedule regular virtual events that aren’t just about work. Give employees a space to interact beyond meetings and emails.

 

4. Well-being First: Supporting Employees Beyond Work

Remote work comes with its own challenges—social isolation, lack of movement, and blurred boundaries between work and personal life. Employers need to actively promote well-being.

At VirtualResource, we encourage healthy habits with:

✔ In-house health & fitness campaigns – We actively promote employee well-being through dedicated resources and challenges designed to keep everyone moving. Our very own VR Fitness app, seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Teams, provides friendly reminders and guided exercises to encourage regular movement, stretching, and fitness throughout the day.

✔ Mental health support – Whether through wellness initiatives or simply fostering an open culture, acknowledging mental health is crucial.
✔ Encouraging work-life balance – Employees are empowered to take breaks and step away from their screens when needed.

🔹 Tip: Support employee well-being by introducing wellness initiatives and reinforcing a culture where breaks are encouraged, not frowned upon.

 

5. Communication: The Key to Remote Collaboration

When teams work remotely, communication must be intentional. Unlike in an office setting, employees don’t have spontaneous desk-side conversations, so businesses must create structures to ensure everyone stays aligned.

At VirtualResource, we use a combination of asynchronous and synchronous communication:

📌 Instant messaging for quick updates (in our case – Microsoft Teams)
📌 Project management tools to keep work transparent
📌 Regular check-ins to keep collaboration smooth
📌 Encouraging written communication – Clear documentation reduces the need for excessive meetings

🔹 Tip: Balance communication methods. Too many meetings can be exhausting, so ensure employees have time to focus without constant interruptions.

 

6. Celebrating Achievements and Building Recognition

A common pitfall of remote work is that employees’ efforts can go unnoticed. It’s easy for hard work to get lost when there’s no physical presence in an office.

We make sure achievements are recognised by:

🏆 Shouting out wins in company-wide meetings
🎁 Sending gifts and recognition hampers for outstanding contributions
💬 Encouraging peer-to-peer recognition

🔹 Tip: Implement a system of recognition—whether it’s a simple shoutout in a team meeting or a structured reward system.

 

7. The Future of Remote Work: A Continuous Learning Process

Remote work is constantly evolving. What works today might need adjusting tomorrow. The key is to stay flexible, listen to employees, and adapt as needed.

Final Thoughts

If your company is struggling to get remote working right, the good news is that it can work incredibly well with the right approach. Focus on trust, flexibility, well-being, and communication, and you’ll find that remote teams can be just as—if not more—productive and engaged than in-office teams.

At VirtualResource, we’re happy to share what we’ve learned. If you’re looking for advice on building a strong remote culture, feel free to reach out—because we truly believe that remote work isn’t just the future; it’s the present, 🚀

💡 But this is just the beginning of the conversation. In our next post in this series, we’ll explore the hidden advantages of being fully remote—from how we attract top global talent without geographical restrictions to how working parents at VirtualResource balance career and family life seamlessly. Stay tuned!

#RemoteWork #WorkLifeBalance #EmployeeWellbeing #VirtualResource #ThrivingRemotely #HealthyWorkplace

 

 

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]]> https://virtualresource.org/knowledge-papers/getting-remote-working-right/feed/ 0 Workday Job Requisition Extend App with AI https://virtualresource.org/apps/wd-job-req-app/ Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:06:05 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=12785 Improve your hiring process with an intelligent job requisition tool. Our app automates job creation, suggests best-fit candidates, and integrates seamlessly into Workday Recruiting—helping recruiters make better decisions, faster.

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Improve your hiring process with an intelligent job requisition tool. Our app automates job creation, suggests best-fit candidates, and integrates seamlessly into Workday Recruiting—helping recruiters make better decisions, faster.

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]]> Tech Competencies App https://virtualresource.org/apps/tech-competencies-app/ Sun, 24 Nov 2024 09:51:54 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=12701 Track and manage critical technical skills across your workforce. Whether you're upskilling employees or mapping competencies for specific roles, this app provides a Workday-native way to assess, track, and improve tech capabilities.

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Track and manage critical technical skills across your workforce. Whether you're upskilling employees or mapping competencies for specific roles, this app provides a Workday-native way to assess, track, and improve tech capabilities.

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]]> Workday & MS Teams Integration https://virtualresource.org/apps/workday-teams-integration/ Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:49:27 +0000 https://virtualresource.org/?p=12669 This innovative solution enables any Workday Security group member to approve or deny any Workday business process step, directly within Microsoft Teams, without the need to log into Workday. Whether you're a manager, an HR business partner, or hold any other role within Workday's security groups, you can seamlessly handle approvals right from Teams.

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This innovative solution enables any Workday Security group member to approve or deny any Workday business process step, directly within Microsoft Teams, without the need to log into Workday. Whether you're a manager, an HR business partner, or hold any other role within Workday's security groups, you can seamlessly handle approvals right from Teams.

Watch the demo here:

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