Project SPARK is Haworth's structured initiative to discover, prioritize, and build automation solutions across HR and operational functions. It starts with listening — going department by department to surface the hidden manual work that consumes member time, creates risk, and prevents our best people from doing their best work.
What We're Looking For
SPARK discovery interviews consistently surface the same patterns across functions. These are the six opportunity types that appear most frequently — and deliver the highest return when addressed.
How SPARK Works
SPARK uses a four-step methodology adapted from process improvement best practices. Every step is designed to keep the work grounded in real member experience — not assumptions.
What SPARK Delivers
Project SPARK began in Haworth HR — and these results are from that initial discovery. Every row represents a real process found, prioritized, and addressed. The same methodology is now being applied across all business functions.
| Process / Function | What Was Found | Automation Applied | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velocity Report HR Data Services |
4-hour manual preparation process every cycle — data pulled from multiple systems, reformatted, validated by hand | Alteryx automation — push-button report generation replacing all manual steps | 4 hrs → push button · 48 hrs/yr reclaimed |
| Pension File Preparation Benefits |
Single owner with sole access to vendor portal. Manual file build every cycle with compliance consequences for errors | Automated file assembly and upload process with backup documentation | Single-owner risk eliminated · compliance exposure reduced |
| Step Pay Upload Compensation |
Errors found "almost every cycle" — manual data entry from multiple sources into upload format for ADP submission | Automated data pull, format validation, and upload file generation | Error rate reduced · cycle time cut significantly |
| Roundtable Notes Processing HR Communications |
24+ hours to process, summarize, and distribute notes from leadership roundtables | AI-assisted summarization and structured output generation | 24 hrs → 8 hrs · 66% reduction in processing time |
| Hearing Test Scheduling Occupational Health |
OSHA compliance requirement tracked manually — year-end pressure created compliance risk annually | Automated scheduling triggers and compliance tracking workflow | Compliance risk reduced · manual tracking eliminated |
Get Involved
SPARK works because members are at the center of it. The AI Transformation team provides the methodology and builds the solutions — but the insights come from the people doing the work.
Ready to find your SPARK?
Every department has hidden effort — processes that consume member time, create risk, and could be automated. SPARK is how we find them.