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The Cloud Is Here To Stay: Is Your Company Ready To Embrace It?

November 29th, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Cloud Based Time Management Solution | Hosted Time and Attendance System | Payroll | Talent Management | Time and Attendance On-Demand | Workforce Management Software - (0 Comments)

Cloud computing services have become ubiquitous in recent years, yet there is nothing new about cloud computing. Some businesses have been slow to adopt it, in part because it was new to them and there were concerns regarding data security. These are both valid concerns; but as companies began to understand the advantages of a cloud based solution it has slowly gained traction in the business community.

 A 2011 study by AMD revealed that “Cloud computing is maturing rapidly, with 70 percent of respondents indicating they are either using or currently investigating cloud computing for remotely hosted applications or to store data.”  

When you consider the power of an ATS cloud based workforce management software in terms of its quick deployment, it is no wonder this model is fast becoming a staple for small and large organizations alike. IBM also found out in its own study that “More than 3,000 global CIOs of organizations are ready to embrace cloud computing over the next five years as a means of growing their businesses and achieving competitive advantage. The figure nearly doubles the number of CIOs who said they would utilize cloud in IBM’s 2009 CIO study, and is one of dozens of new insights and trends learned from CIOs worldwide in businesses of all sizes.”

ATS Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) time and attendance is a subscription based solution that changes the way you acquire and use business automation solutions. Our intuitive product provides your company with the flexibility to innovate your business while paying for only what you need. The ATS workforce management software suite, is designed for rapid installation so you can adapt to changing business needs as they evolve. Our solution streamlines the payroll process and provides an ROI in a matter of weeks with this SaaS integrated workforce management suite.

If you are still on the fence about using a cloud based time and attendance here is what you should know. The ATS SaaS time and attendance is cost-effective and easy to deploy. Our integrated solutions can grow with your business and seamlessly integrate with: Payroll Software Solutions, ERP, HRIS, Talent Management, CRM and other business applications. In addition, our application can be used with all smart phones and PC tablets.

To learn more, go to our website or contact one of our software representatives.

 

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The List: Some of Strangest Reasons Employees Give for Being Late

November 28th, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Absence Management | Employee Time Attendance | Overtime | Payroll | Web-Based Time and Attendance Software - (0 Comments)

We have all shown up late for work at some point in our lives. Whether it was because the car broke down or the pet bird died, the excuses are limitless. So, it was no surprise to see a survey, conducted earlier this year by CareerBuilder, listing some of the reasons citied by employees for being late.

In our experience working with numerous organizations, we too have heard of the excuses given to companies by some of their employees. The top three include:

1)       Employee found out halfway on her way to work that she was in her pajamas and returned home to change in work clothes

2)       Employee showed up an hour after his start time because he was watching the hockey game which kept him up all night

3)       Employee’s car broke down for the 3rd time in a week

While a time and attendance system cannot stop employees from being late, it does capture patterns of attendance. These attendance patterns highlight the number of times an employee was absent and the reason. With one click of the ATS time and attendance system, you can generate real-time metrics and employee data analytics. This information allows companies to visualize and track the optimal key performance indicators that drive its business.

The integrated solution provides quick data access to payroll and other application interfaces. The business analytics module, gives companies a comprehensive view of key labour metrics, reduces compliance risks and gives managers up-to-the minute information on sick time and vacation time all based the criteria of an organization.

If your company is still using paper timesheets, go to our website and download a comprehensive report on the benefits of a time and attendance solution.

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Is Eating Healthy Really More Expensive?

November 27th, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Cloud Based Time Management Solution | Employee Time and Attendance | Hosted Time and Attendance Software | Time and Attendance Blog, Workforce Management Software | Workforce Management Software - (0 Comments)

A recent study by the USDA brought to light a subject that has been discussed and dissected over the years. In its most recent study, complete with a chart to bolster its case, the USDA states that:

“Most Americans consume diets that do not meet Federal dietary recommendations. A common explanation is that healthier foods are more expensive than less healthy foods. To investigate this assumption, the authors compare prices of healthy and less healthy foods using three different price metrics: the price of food energy ($/calorie), the price of edible weight ($/100 edible grams), and the price of an average portion ($/average portion). They also calculate the cost of meeting the recommendations for each food group. For all metrics except the price of food energy, the authors find that healthy foods cost less than less healthy foods (defined for this study as foods that are high in saturated fat, added sugar, and/or sodium, or that contribute little to meeting dietary recommendations).”

Proponents for healthier foods argue that there is a high price to pay for eating fast foods which, in turn, leads to obesity and a drain on a country’s medical system. In the context of a stagnant economy others lament that people who either make minimum wage or have lost their jobs simply cannot afford the high price of healthily foods.

While this subject matter deals with the costs of healthy eating, the correlation between the price and perceived value of a product can relate to many things. For example, in the Toronto Star, one ofCanada’s largest newspapers it featured an article titled “Frugal of Cheap: Which one are you”? 

In waxing exponentially about the subject at hand, the author, Krystal Yee cited the following example: “My boyfriend kept buying sneakers that cost $20 to $30, but they never kept his feet dry in the rainyVancouverweather. So, every three months he bought a new pair. Finally he decided to splurge on a pair of higher quality shoes for $90. Three months later they are in excellent condition.”

ATS time and attendance solutions are designed for organizations that want a system built to last. Our solution gives you the power to design and scale your infrastructure and applications as your needs change, in a highly secure, robust and flexible environment. ATS employee time tracking solutions are designed to meet the most demanding business requirements with a cloud based technology that is supported by highly trained specialists to help you create effective workforce management software strategies.

Want to learn more? These related blog posts may be of interest.  Be sure to sign up and join the conversation on our LinkedIn group or through our Twitter updates.

 

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5 Ways to Change your Current Business Process with Workforce Management Software

November 22nd, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Hosted Time and Attendance System | HRIS | Talent Management | Time Management Solutions | Workforce Management Software - (0 Comments)

In a recent conversation that one of our software representatives had with a potential customer, he revealed his disappointment with the way his company was keeping track of employee time. It turns out that they have been using paper timesheets since the inception of the company some 30 years ago, despite having in excess of 300 employees. Naturally our representative asked why his company had not automated the tracking of employee time and attendance before. The customer’s response, “Our corporate culture has been that we do not want to be seen as untrustworthy of our employees.”

The use of workforce management software is increasing as organizations seek to get an accurate handle on payroll costs while simultaneously improving productivity. Studies by industry giant Canadian Payroll Association have shown that companies who automate their business process with workforce management software have historically decreased the time it takes to prepare payroll by about 80% and have saved companies 3-5% on their net payroll costs.

Maximizing cost-effectiveness and productivity is the goal of a workforce management software, and ATS time attendance solutions provides businesses the tools to measure and monitor employee activities. Our application provides a range of real-time reporting and analysis. HR, payroll professionals and supervisors can perform data discovery by drilling down through the integrated dashboard and reports, which represent attendance-related analytics.

In summary, the ATS Workforce Management Software provides you with access to:

1)       An employee self-service portal for vacation and benefit accruals

2)       Visibility of multiple locations in real-time

3)       Seamless transfer of employee data to payroll, HRIS, Talent Management, ERP and other applications

4)       The ability to access the software from anywhere, anytime in the world

5)       A variety of employee data collectors

To learn more about our time and attendance solutions/workforce management software and how they can benefit your company, go to our website and join the conversation with an ATS Software representative.

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Overtime Hours: To Track or not to Track is the Great Debate

November 21st, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Labour cost | Overtime | Payroll | Time and Attendance Solution | Web-Based Time and Attendance - (0 Comments)

Managing, tracking and paying overtime is a challenge for some companies. That’s in part, because these companies do not have the right tools to help them with this issue. Overtime has presented itself as a “hot potato” when not applied accurately. Case in point, litigation in recent years has made many companies take note of the rules governing overtime payments.

Canada’s labour code on hours of work and pay states, in part:
“The standard hours of work are eight hours in a day and 40 hours in a week. The maximum number of hours of work for a week is 48 hours. Certain provisions permit flexibility in applying these standards. As well, special regulations cover certain classes of workers in specific industries such as city and highway transport drivers. However, the Code makes no distinction between full-time, part-time or casual workers.”The quote goes on to say:

“The maximum time a worker may work each week can be exceeded for exceptional circumstances such as emergency work or averaging of hours. However, hours of work provisions in the Code do not apply to those who have management functions, or to members of specific groups such as the engineering and medical professions.”

The above guideline by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is a good measuring stick that can be used by payroll professionals when determining overtime pay for employees. In addition to this guideline, organizations need to factor in collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), industry type and labour codes unique to the jurisdiction/s in which they operate.

For organizations with several locations in different provinces and/or states, attempting to calculate overtime through an antiquated system can present a herculean challenge. ATS time attendance, and labour management solutions help you increase the speed and accuracy of payroll preparation, improve wage compliance, and optimize a rapid return on your investment.

The ATS time and labour solution shows hours worked in real-time and helps determine when an employee is approaching overtime so you can ensure your company has the right amount of coverage, helping you reduce the costs associated with overstaffing.

3 ways to streamline labour costs and take control of overtime:

Reduce Labour Costs: Control overtime hours while improving efficiencies with employee time capture to reduce manual errors.

Eliminate Technology Costs: With an ATS (SaaS) software-as-a-service time and attendance solution, customers can access the software 24/7 365 days a year through any web browser. Hassles of upgrading software become a thing of the past.

Notifications: The ATS time and attendance solution triggers notifications (including e-mail notifications) in real- time to alert managers of issues requiring immediate attention.

To learn more about our time and attendance solutions including automated overtime tracking methodologies, go to our website.

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SaaS has become a Game-Changer in the World of Time & Attendance

November 20th, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Cloud Based Time Management Solution | Employee Time Attendance | Hosted Time and Attendance | Time and Attendance Software | Web-Based Time and Attendance - (0 Comments)

Cloud computing has become ubiquitous with many things ranging from music, books and just about any other application that can be accessed through the web. In fact, cloud computing has become so prevalent that some people are not aware they have subscribed to it. Of course moving to the cloud can be challenging. ATS Cloud Time and Attendance solution stands out because of our deep expertise and superior accountability when it comes to protecting the integrity of our customer data.

Choosing the right time and attendance vendor is fundamental to achieving the full advantages of an on-demand solution. Here are key considerations to take into account in choosing a provider:

 Security
Some providers claim they have “web-based” or “web-native” software which requires an expensive server which may not part of your budget. That’s not true cloud. Of course, some companies have IT departments and prefer to host the application, but the whole point of true cloud computing is to ease the burden on the customer. Reduce your risk by making sure you ask your vendor the tough questions and understand their proven performance with other companies.

 Savings
Some companies start off thinking about the cloud by comparing service provider rates. Without a doubt, one of the advantages of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is that upfront fees are less than what you would expect to pay when purchasing an on-premise solution.

 Deployment
True SaaS should be deployed in a few weeks not many months. Of course, some companies have complex requirements but since the software is not installed on your company’s server and desktops, the process should be quick and seamless.

 Fancy Features
Yes, we have them as well, but prefer to focus on the fundamentals. The goal should be on the configurability of the software as it relates to your company’s requirements. Once that’s established, everything else should follow.

 Pay for What you Use
One of the advantages of a subscription based application like ATS Cloud Time and Attendance is that you only pay for what you use. For customers interested in additional models that means a product with scalability. 

Still not sure if cloud time and attendance is the right solution for you? Contact an ATS account executive. You will be pleasantly surprised at the savings, speed and flexibility available to you.

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A Fresh Approach to Workforce Management Software

November 15th, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Biometric Time Clocks | Employee Time Clock | Overtime | Payroll | Premium pay - (0 Comments)

Companies in industries of all sizes are under tremendous pressure to do more with less- from streamlining of resources to adopting business practices that provide optimum value for their customers and shareholders. Many of today’s business executives want real-time information that will help them understand the importance of data integration as it relates to workforce management. Our business software allows managers to validate work and pay, and provides a comprehensive financial view of business operations.

The ATS time and attendance solution provide customers with lower administrative and operating costs, it improves customer satisfaction, and enhances the focus on core business activities. Our integrated software suite combines deep industry expertise and a flawless implementation methodology.

Here are few ways Workforce Management Software will improve your company’s business operations:

Attendance Management: 
Our workforce management software calculates overtime, premium pay and host of other pay calculations based on a company’s specific requirements.  Employee time clocking options include; barcode, swipe and biometric time clocks. Real-time information is sent to payroll and HR systems, providing instant reporting capabilities.

 Human Resources Management:
ATS human resources module includes: employee self-self, vacation planning calendar and benefits administration. Our solution is both flexible and scalable and is offered as a cloud application or an on-premises employee time management solution.

Business Intelligence
ATS Business Intelligence provides companies with the information necessary to streamline payroll and improve data accuracy. With an intuitive dashboard your managers can create schedules and navigate the visual workflow to route work tasks for exceptions and instant approvals.

 An ATS software solution enables you to align with your workforce and business strategies. Learn more about ATS Workforce Management Software on our website.

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