Cognizant Managers Learn New Workforce-Tracking Skills

Cognizant Technology Solutions has initiated a focused training program for a select group of its executives on the utilization of advanced workforce-management and productivity-tracking tools.

The move signals a renewed, granular emphasis on operational efficiency and standardized work-measurement practices across the IT major, coming amid a sector-wide push for improved profit margins and cost control.

The exercise involves rolling out internal training modules to familiarize executives, particularly those in delivery and project management, with how certain software platforms monitor employee activity.

While the identity of the specific tools was not officially confirmed by the company, reports suggest that workforce analytics solutions like ProHance are involved.

Cognizant Micro-Tracking for Workflow Visibility

The training materials shared with the limited group of employees detail how the software captures data by tracking mouse and keyboard interactions.

This micro-tracking capability is central to the system’s ability to measure system time and break durations.

It also measures the time spent on various project-related tasks and resources.

According to internal module outlines accessed by media sources, an employee may be flagged as “idle” if the system detects no mouse or keyboard activity for a short, predetermined period—reportedly five minutes in some contexts.

An employee could be marked “away from system” after a slightly longer duration of inactivity, such as 15 minutes.

Cognizant officials have noted that these time thresholds are subject to change and may vary across different project teams.

However, the core objective remains consistent: bringing standardization to how project-level activity is tracked and measured.

The company has explicitly stated that the immediate use of this data is not for assessing individual performance.

Instead, the data is used for improving workflow visibility, identifying bottlenecks, and streamlining operations.

A Response to Industry Pressure and Efficiency Mandates

This push for intense operational efficiency aligns with the broader industry trend among global IT services firms.

These firms are leveraging data and automation to optimize workforce utilization and counter margin pressure.

For Cognizant, this focus is part of a larger, multi-year mandate to make the business “simpler, leaner, and scrappier.”

The company has a track record of using such software to achieve measurable value.

Previous internal applications of workforce-management software resulted in substantial cost savings, as noted in reports.

These savings were estimated to be around $8 million in a single year.

Cognizant attributed this gain to gains in productivity, reduced process variation, and greater insight. This insight concerned how the workforce was being utilized.

By arming its leaders with proficiency in these tools, Cognizant aims to strengthen project governance.

The company also seeks to ensure better alignment between employee effort and project delivery timelines.

The move also complements the company’s significant investment in AI solutions, such as the adoption of Anthropic’s Claude LLMs.

These solutions are also geared toward boosting overall productivity and accelerating enterprise transformation across its vast, global workforce.

The increasing deployment of these granular tracking systems continues to raise conversations about the balance between efficiency and employee trust.

This discussion is particularly relevant in the post-pandemic era of hybrid and remote work.

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