Transforming Workforce Dynamics in the Fourth Industrial Era with Total Rewards Management: Atunis Consulting

In the dynamic field of Human Resources, a paradigm shift is underway, characterized by innovative approaches and forward-thinking strategies. Atunis Consulting stands at the forefront of this evolution, offering cutting-edge solutions in Human Capital, Business Administration, and Total Reward Management. Their dedication to transparent, law-compliant Total Reward Management, coupled with the use of technology to personalize Fringe Benefits, reflects their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Guided by principles of continuous development and social responsibility, Atunis Consulting aspires to be a beacon of inspiration through transformative initiatives. Their mission is clear: to elevate the employee experience, implement effective Total Reward Management practices, adapt to evolving market dynamics, and deliver exceptional outcomes. For organizations seeking external support to navigate HR challenges, Atunis Consulting stands ready to provide expert assistance.

Can Suntay, Managing Director of Atunis Consulting, spoke exclusively to The Silicon Review about how his company is empowering professionals with advanced technical skills to succeed in the dynamic environment of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Interview Highlights

Please tell us about the circumstances or events that led to the founding of Atunis Consulting.

Atunis has positioned itself as an alternative service provider in the Turkish market, aiming to align HR and Management Consulting practices with the evolving business landscape. Here, Atunis will assist in modernizing and optimizing management processes to adapt to the shifting dynamics of the workforce. It will advocate for not only the individualization of Compensation and Benefits (Comp&Ben) management but also for streamlining administrative tasks and highlighting the importance of tax and social security premium benefits and economies of scale. Atunis aims to educate the market on effective methods of managing and customizing Comp&Ben, guiding clients away from outdated practices towards a more personalized and impactful approach. Moreover, Atunis intends to introduce the concept of Total Rewards Management to the local market, while also aiding clients in modernizing administrative forms and processes.

Q. What strategies does Atunis implement to exceed client expectations?

Atunis will not only focus on the local market but also on international markets to assist Turkish companies in easing and streamlining the remuneration process for their international businesses. Currently, Atunis is representing a government-supported Personal Inventory system that major private schools and companies have started to use. This inventory is the world’s first smart algorithm personal inventory system that utilizes the proenneagram methodology. With the help of this personal inventory system, we assist companies in their recruitment processes and promotion planning, as well as in their retention and attraction strategies. Harmonizing different departments and creating SWOT analyses of the company (with regards to personality types) is also possible with this inventory.

Q. As a leading HR management and consulting firm, what are Atunis’ key focus areas?

Our unique strategy involves empowering employees to determine how they allocate their Comp&Ben merits. While companies currently focus heavily on specific benefits to address inflation, employees often prefer benefits that better meet their immediate needs. We aim to establish a broad supplier network covering the US, UK, Europe, and Asia, offering individuals privileges such as discounts, pre-use opportunities for certain technology products, and conveniences like purchasing property abroad or participating in educational programs overseas for themselves or their children. Additionally, we intend to facilitate private local or international trips through selected travel agencies. Our program also emphasizes dealer rewards, promoting and rewarding consistent performance through our Flexible Benefits Program.

Through the personal inventory system, we seek to assist families in instilling a global citizenship perspective in their children, fostering an understanding of the world, different cultures, languages, and relationships. This process begins with the parents, as individualized Comp&Ben policies and a global perspective are crucial for raising successful citizens of the future.

Q. Can you provide us with one or two success stories, detailing specific client challenges and how Atunis’ solutions contributed to their success?

Atunis recently assisted a local insurance brokerage company that was acquired by a US-based company, providing support in performance measurement for all employees, setting smart goals, and action planning. We are currently awaiting approval for the implementation of this project.

Furthermore, during my tenure at Mercer Turkey, I served as a thought leader in the Flexible Benefits concept, helping over 100 international companies incorporate the Flex concept into their benefits program management. These implementations were pioneering efforts regionally or globally, providing comprehensive services including Feasibility, Design, Implementation, and Communication. The concept was introduced directly through Mercer for over 15 years. With the establishment of Atunis, our goal is to introduce a new concept to the market and elevate the standards of effective Total Rewards management.

Q. Tell us about the Atunis team. What value do they bring to the company?

Atunis is a collective of individuals with expertise in various HR fields. As we introduce solutions to the market and expand, our goal is to nurture talent and support individuals in launching their careers in business world. Our value lies in the diverse expertise we bring from different industries.

Additionally, Atunis represents innovation beyond the scope of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, assisting companies in navigating new technologies such as AI and Generative AI. We will primarily focus on understanding the impact of these technologies on the workforce, emphasizing attraction, retention, motivation, and employee development.

Q. What new endeavors is Atunis currently undertaking? 

Atunis Consulting operates in accordance with the International Labor Organization’s agreement with Turkey, particularly focusing on the Wage Protection Convention. This convention mandates that employers cannot restrict employees’ freedom to utilize their wages as they see fit. If wages are provided partially in kind, these benefits must be personally beneficial to both the worker and their family, adhering to principles of fairness and reasonableness.

Additionally, Atunis is committed to developing open, flexible, and comprehensive systems for general, technical, and vocational education, aligning with the Convention on the Development of Human Resources. This includes initiatives aimed at providing educational and vocational guidance and training, both within and outside the formal education system. Atunis also conducts studies on various aspects of working life, such as career advancement opportunities, working conditions, safety and hygiene, and economic, social, and cultural activities across different sectors and levels of responsibility.

In light of these principles, Atunis seeks to raise global awareness about the importance of individual autonomy in wage usage. This initiative begins at the local level but aims to garner attention through global publications, highlighting this issue as a critical area for improvement in the global workforce.

Moreover, Atunis is addressing the challenges posed by the increasing cost of living in major cities. In urban centers, employees often struggle to make ends meet due to rising inflation rates. The substantial increase in private school fees further compounds financial burdens, making it difficult for families to maintain stability and save for the future.

Q. Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up?

Our message to the readers of The Silicon Review is that Atunis Consulting operates in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on the following key areas:

• Continuing the increase in per capita income in accordance with national conditions

• Supporting development-oriented policies that promote production activities, create decent employment opportunities, foster entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through access to financial services

• Protection of employees’ rights

We promise to our clients and business world that we’ll always position ourselves and concentrate on these development goals of the UN. In this manner, we ask our clients to work better for the Greater Good and help connect the world while raising our children in a good manner, create a positive interlinked cultures globally.

About | Can Suntay

Can Suntay, the Managing Director of Atunis Consulting, graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Bilkent University and obtained an MBA from Istanbul Bilgi University with specializations in Marketing and Finance. With more than twenty years of experience, he introduced Flexible Benefits Programs in Turkey, receiving accolades from the TR Undersecretariat of Treasury and the Turkish Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Association.

“At Atunis Consulting, we prioritize alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our focus includes boosting per capita income, supporting development-oriented policies, and safeguarding employees’ rights.”