Before you can make your HR tech stack better, you need to know where you're starting from. That's where a current state assessment (sometimes called a tech health check) comes in. It's about getting a clear-eyed view of what's working, what's creaking, and what's quietly holding you back.
Think of it as a reality check, not another piece of paperwork. By auditing your existing systems, processes, and data flows, you can uncover inefficiencies, hidden risks, and opportunities to improve all before you spend a single penny on new tech.
A thorough current state assessment examines three critical dimensions of your HR technology landscape:
Systems: Are they reliable, scalable, and secure? Are you using what you're paying for, or missing features that matter? Many organizations discover they're only utilizing 40-50% of their platform's capabilities, while paying for 100%. Others find critical security gaps or compliance risks lurking in legacy configurations that haven't been reviewed in years.
Processes: Where are the manual workarounds hiding? Are integrations seamless or is data trapped in silos? The real cost of disconnected systems isn't just inefficiency. It's the hidden labor hours spent on duplicate data entry, reconciliation errors, and frustrated employees waiting for simple requests to be processed across multiple platforms.
People: How do employees and managers actually experience your tech? Does it support them or frustrate them? User adoption tells you everything you need to know about whether your systems are truly fit for purpose. If people are finding creative ways to avoid using your carefully selected platforms, that's valuable data, not resistance to be overcome.
This isn't about chasing shiny new platforms for the sake of it. It's about understanding the gap between where you are and where you want to be, so any investment you make is targeted and strategic.
Without a baseline assessment, you're essentially flying blind. You might replace a system that actually works fine, or worse, carry forward broken processes into expensive new technology. We've seen organizations spend six figures on implementations, only to realize months later that their core issues were process-related, not technology-related.
A current state assessment also reveals quick wins. Often, you'll discover underutilized features, misconfigured workflows, or simple integration opportunities that can deliver immediate value without any new investment. These early improvements build momentum and credibility for larger transformation efforts down the line.
And here's where our "no bullsh*t" approach matters. We won't sugarcoat the findings or drown you in vendor jargon. We'll help you see the real picture (warts and all) and make clear recommendations on whether to optimize, integrate, or replace your current tools.
At Udder, our Tech Health Check service is designed to do exactly that: give you the insights you need to make confident, informed decisions about your HR tech. We combine technical expertise with practical business sense, ensuring our recommendations are grounded in what will actually work for your organization, not what looks good in a consultant's slide deck.
Because when you have clarity at the start, everything that follows (from vendor selection to implementation) becomes easier, faster, and far more effective. You'll negotiate better contracts because you know exactly what you need. You'll avoid scope creep because you've defined success upfront. And you'll achieve faster time-to-value because your team understands the why behind the change.
Want to go deeper? Download our comprehensive HRIS Buying Guide. Your step-by-step playbook for smarter HR tech decisions.