While talent data is obviously a crucial input for strategic workforce planning, we also need to collect and analyse information from other areas of the business to get a more complete understanding of the business and its needs. Operational metrics might signal a change in downstream talent needs, or financial projections that could impact on talent budget. Integrating with other business functions will regularly refresh your data to ensure you are properly aligned and equipped to make the necessary adjustments midstream.

The flexibility of your workforce plan depends on your ability to imagine and plan for a range of possible futures. In the current changing environment, nothing stays the same. Relying on historical data is no longer effective or realistic. Workforce planning is central to the success of your business. Those companies who choose to use innovative technology to help them plan and pivot, now realise how central workforce planning is, and are now ever-more strategic in how they deploy talent.