Succession planning ensures that key positions in an organization have qualified internal candidates who are ready to step into key roles, reducing the risk of business disruption from talent loss. Succession planning technology automates the process, using tools to define job requirements, collect information about potential candidates, and effectively match potential candidates to jobs for future advancement. But there's a lot more to it than just the technology. Processes must be in place to prepare these candidates, through training and experience, to assume a new position. Human resources (HR) professionals must make sure that the performance, learning, and succession planning applications work together seamlessly.