Rewired HR - The HR ecosystem - LACE Partners

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Rewired HR
HR must do more with less, becoming the driver of responsiveness, agility, and value.

Time to rewire HR

HR leaders face mounting pressure to simplify, cut costs, and deliver value faster. The expectation is clear: do more with less.

The Ulrich Model falls short in today’s world. Traditional HR models were built for stability, not for the pace of change we see today.

It’s time to fundamentally rewire HR, making it the engine of agility, responsiveness, and measurable business value.

Introducing the future HR ecosystem, so called because the world isn’t static – and the HR operating model can’t be either. Our model is adaptive and designed to continuously evolve with your business. Explore the details below, as well as the challenges and disruptors that make now the time to act.

challenges HR rewire The macro challenges facing HR

Why is now the right time to change your operating model? Market research and lived experiences all point to current models no longer being fit for purpose.

Businesses globally are facing unprecedented levels of change – from rapid AI acceleration and shifting workforce expectations to cost pressure, market volatility, and a constant demand for agility.

Geopolitical and economic uncertainty

62%

of executives cite instability as a top risk to growth.

Rising expectations
and cost control

68%

of global companies say labour costs are outpacing productivity and revenue.

Harnessing emerging technology

62%

of CEOs believe AI will define the next business era.

Constant
motion

42%

of CEOs say their company won’t survive the next decade without change.

disruptors HR rewired The four strategic disruptors

Rather than bolting new capabilities onto outdated structures, our ecosystem rewires HR end‑to‑end to harness these key disruptors, adapting in real time as these challenges intensify and develop.

1. AI

Revolutionising HR with predictive intelligence, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

2. Agility

Enabling flexible teams and rapid pivots in response to uncertainty.

3. Data and Analytics

Transforming HR into a proactive, strategic partner through real-time insights.

4. Human touch

Amplifying emotional intelligence, creativity, and empathy to drive performance and engagement.

Rewiring HR for business impact

Our new operating model is an adaptive, AI-enabled ecosystem that connects intelligence, experience, and execution to deliver measurable business value.​

It’s rewired with reusable AI “skills” that act safely and efficiently, embeds human-in-the-loop oversight for ethics and evolution, and treats AI as a true teammate, with clear roles, measurable impact, and continuous development.​

Rather than traditional, rigid models this ecosystem is designed to spark new ways of thinking rather than provide a universal blueprint.

People Value Orchestration​
Business value-led decision making​

Commercial relationship management​
Connective tissue between business and HR​

Workforce transformation​
Flexible muscle to deliver transformation

Value delivery​
Champions of the full employee experience

Intelligence and insights​
The strategic brain and nervous system

rewire HR - ecosystem diagram - LACE Partners

Exploring the ecosystem

 

Learn about the model using the slider below to discover the key characteristics of each part of the new HR ecosystem – and see how they connect to deliver value in practice. Stay tuned as we release deep-dive content at the bottom of this page.

How rewired HR delivers commercial value

These shifts to new ways of working are designed for intelligence, not just service. They create an HR function that is faster, more coherent, and more valuable, whichever your business driver:​

Agility

Constantly evolving through restructures, acquisitions, and market disruption​

Rewired HR flexes dynamically to meet transformation peaks, resourcing change with a blend of fixed and flexible capacity. Agile planning, prioritisation, and deployment enable HR to respond at speed to evolving business and market demands.​

Customer intimacy​

Focusing HR efforts on creating a strong connection between employees and customers​

By designing experiences around moments that matter and enabling leaders to own people outcomes, HR strengthens engagement and customer connection, creating a workforce that reflects and serves the customer base with empathy and insight.​

Rapid growth

Expanding fast across markets, sectors, and channels​

Cross-functional capability continuously tests, learns, and scales what works. Automation and digital enablement deliver consistency and speed, ensuring HR can expand support as the business grows without compromising quality.​

Productivity

Operating in high-volume, low-margin environments​

AI and analytics drive self-resolution and smarter, data-informed decisions that optimise performance and efficiency. Automation and simplification remove friction, so HR and leaders can focus on high-value, human-led impact.​

Ready to lead the change?

Join the Rewired HR movement and get exclusive insights, resources, and event updates designed to help you lead the future of HR transformation. Be first to know when we release new content by subscribing to our newsletter using the form opposite.

Have questions or want to explore more?
Connect with us through the form below to start a conversation about how we can help you rewire your HR ecosystem.