A Better Way to Buy HR Technology Consulting
Expertise shouldn’t be measured in hours.
Traditional consulting bills for time. IRD offers fixed-fee projects, ongoing platform stewardship, and shared-upside arrangements, scoped around the work you need.
How We Structure Engagements
Every engagement starts with the work to be done. We agree on scope, responsibilities, and commercial terms together. An engagement may use one structure or combine elements of several.
Fixed-fee projects
A defined scope, deliverables, and fee agreed before work begins.
Commercial terms: A fixed fee based on scope, complexity, and the responsibility we take on.
See what this can include: fixed-fee projects
Examples may include:
- Readiness assessments
- Vendor selection
- Integration and data audits
- Reporting improvements
- Platform optimization
- Implementation rescue and recovery
Ongoing platform stewardship
Continuing expertise and support as systems and business needs evolve.
Commercial terms: Pricing may be monthly or annual, based on the platforms supported, environment complexity, and level of service.
See what this can include: ongoing platform stewardship
Depending on your needs, stewardship may include:
- Ongoing platform health reviews
- Administration and optimization support
- Access to specialized expertise
- Proactive recommendations
- Institutional knowledge and continuity
- Strategic technology guidance
Shared-upside arrangements
For qualifying projects, an agreed base fee plus additional compensation tied to outcomes defined together.
Commercial terms: The agreement establishes the baseline, measurement method, responsibilities, and how results will be shared.
See what this can include: shared-upside arrangements
Outcomes might include:
- Verified cost savings
- Negotiated efficiencies
- Other mutually agreed business outcomes
How We Determine Pricing
Fair pricing reflects the work, not just the clock.
Fees vary because environments do, from a single recruiting platform to dozens of systems across a global enterprise. We consider five factors:
The result is a proposal with clear expectations and transparent commercial terms.
| Factor | What we consider |
|---|---|
| Scope | What needs to be accomplished |
| Complexity | Integrations, data, processes, and stakeholders |
| Technology investment | The scale of your HR technology environment |
| Business impact | The importance and potential consequences of the work |
| Service requirements | The expertise, availability, and continuity you need |
Why We Work This Way
Better incentives make for better consulting.
More hours don’t necessarily mean better results. We believe consulting should reward expertise, efficiency, and accountability: when we can solve a problem faster, you should benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still offer hourly consulting?
Yes, in some circumstances. When requirements are still evolving or the scope can’t reasonably be defined in advance, time and materials can be the better fit. We recommend the structure that best fits the work.
How do fixed-fee projects work?
We learn your objectives, environment, and requirements, then agree on the deliverables, assumptions, responsibilities, and fee before work begins. If the scope changes, we agree on any adjustment before proceeding.
Can platform stewardship cover more than one system?
Yes. Stewardship can cover a single platform or your broader HR technology environment.
Does a shared-upside arrangement mean we only pay if the project succeeds?
A shared-upside arrangement combines an agreed base fee with additional compensation tied to outcomes defined together.
Are your recommendations independent of technology vendors?
Yes. We recommend what fits your needs, not what maximizes software purchases or vendor commissions. We disclose any relevant commercial relationships.
Tell us what you’re trying to accomplish.
You don’t need to know which structure is right for you.
Tell us about your HR technology environment, the challenge you’re facing, and what success would look like.
We’ll help determine the most appropriate way to work together.