Time and Attendance Blog, Workforce Management Software

Can Cloud-Based Time And Attendance And Lean Manufacturing, Work Together?

Lean manufacturing is about a set of process that helps the elimination of waste. The fundamental principle of lean is adding value. The “value” is described by Wikepedia in this way “Working from the perspective of the client who consumes a product or service, “value” is any action or process that a customer would be willing to pay for”.

So, what’s the correlation between lean manufacturing and a cloud-based time and attendance? Using a cloud time and attendance solution means; a company does not have to purchase software licenses, or have a Server dedicated on which to host the application. While there are other similarities, it’s clear the adoption of cloud-based solution gives lean manufacturing companies-a distinct advantage over their competitors.

According to IDC Manufacturing Insights, more than 22% of surveyed manufacturers said they are running cloud services in their organizations and another 44% said they are currently implementing or intend to implement cloud computing to enable process optimization and cut cost. The survey also showed that the percentage of companies managing traditional infrastructure spending will fall to about 38% from 54.8%. Although the number of cloud adopters in recent years has increased, a significant portion of manufacturing companies are still missing the benefits of things like; workforce analytics and efficiency improvement that the adoption of cloud software can create.

Today’s lean manufacturing operations are also adopting cloud-based strategies for its 24/7 mobile access and its ability to provide seamless integration to; Talent Management, Payroll, ERP and CRM applications, thus optimizing workforce allocations across local, regional and global manufacturing centres.

Bottom Line:
The goals for implementing lean manufacturing standards and that of a cloud-based time and attendance are the same, value. That’s why many organizations are now adopting a cloud-based solution like ATS TimeWork OnDemand to streamline key areas of their business, and allowing management to focus on growth activities, not just operational tasks.

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Can Cloud Time And Attendance And Lean Manufacturing Work Hand In Hand?

ATS TimeWork OnDemand, Cloud Based Time and Attendance, CRM, ERP, Lean Manufacturing, Payroll, Talent Management

Do You Feel Trapped With Your Time And Attendance System?

Organizations face many challenges, including; retaining a competitive edge, managing employees and keeping them productive and motivated, keeping cost low and increasing customer satisfaction. And, with all this to manage, you are likely not thinking about the negative impact your current time and attendance is having on your business. Here are five ways, your time and attendance system may be having a negative impact on your business:

Your company is losing money
If your current time and attendance is paper-based, there is no doubt you are wasting money by having someone manually calculate employee time, vacations, statutory holidays and host of other things that could easily automated. If you are using some off the shelf or outdated time and attendance solution, you will, at some point, have to pay for new versions, annual maintenance and software bug fixes. Wouldn’t it be nice, if you could have a solution that did not include these ongoing costs?

Limited Choices
You believe that the current version you have works. In other words, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Sometimes, these words tend to be the last ones uttered before the system breaks down, or you come to the realization, that your system is not keeping pace with your business.

Lack of Integration
Let’s say you have a mid-size company with 500 employees, wouldn’t it be awesome to have a time and attendance solution that’s intuitive, and can integrate to your; financials and job costing, payroll, human resources information system (HRIS), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and customer relationship management (CRM)? Moreover, your company cannot take advantage of real-time analytic reporting if you are using an outdated time and attendance solution. A 21^st century cloud-based time and attendance solution connects to mobile devices and is available from anywhere, at anytime propels your business further and provides greater efficiency.

Upgrading will be a piece of cake or, so you think
Upgrading can sometimes cost the same as what you spent a few short years ago on a new time and attendance system. Also upgrading to a new solution will likely require stakeholders to ensure the business requirements are met. After all, your business requirements have likely changed from a few years ago when you first implemented the solution. In short order, that quick upgrade you were going to get, might end up lasting longer than you had planned for.

Customized System
If your current system is customized, it can create problems with upgrading or its ability adhere to bug fixes – more often than not, this can lead organizations to defer upgrades, sometimes indefinitely. Who wants to be stuck with a time and attendance system that is so heavily customized that it prevents a company from taking advantage of newer versions? With an ATS cloud-based time and attendance upgrades are built-in and takes place without interruption to your company’s business operations.

Deploying a best-in-class time and attendance solution based on today’s technology, enables businesses in various industries, to adhere to multi-jurisdictional and legal compliance differences at the local, provincial, federal and state level. ATS TimeWork OnDemand provides real-time visibility, streamlines payroll costs, increase workforce productivity and gives you access to multiple levels of consolidated reporting and enterprise-wide Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), all displayed in real time, on dashboards.

To learn more, go to our website and register for a free webinar, download brochures or a demonstration. You can also join the conversation through LinkedIn, Google+ or Twitter.

Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), GooglePlus, Human Resources Information System (HRIS), Job Costing, LinkedIn, Payroll, Twitter

Feeling Left Behind Because Your Are Using Old Technology?

To suggest human beings do not like change or are fearful of the unknown is an understatement. Can you image a business in 2016 handing out Index Cards to its sales reps, (who all travel to the office daily) to make cold calls instead of using a customer relationship management (CRM) software. Sales reps driving to an office to make cold calls in a world with advanced technology? If this sounds like a movie in the era of the 80s, it probably is. Fortunately, a large percentage of businesses are fully aware that cold calling is quickly becoming a thing of the past, and to that end, have deployed technology to help them increase their sales.

Feeling Left Behind Becuase You Are Using Old Technology?

An article commissioned by IBM and featured on Fast Company, titled “Agility and Security without the risk, states in part; “Across countless industries, the race to the cloud is on. Forrester Research recently predicted that the “hypergrowth” cloud market—including applications, platforms, and business services—will reach $191 billion by 2020, an astonishing 20% increase over Forrester’s previous prediction, just three years before. For companies of virtually any size, the promise of a dynamically scalable environment, the ability to deliver services at lower cost, and the agility to develop new apps in hours rather than weeks makes game-changing business sense.”

Cutting costs, increasing productivity might sound like buzz words to some, but for many businesses and their shareholders, its music to their ears. After all, are companies are constructed to make profits. Think about this; the traditional way of accessing business applications have always been very complicated and expensive. The amount and variety of hardware and software required to run them are daunting. You need a whole team of experts to install, configure, test, run, secure, and update them.

The advancement of cloud computing which also encompasses time and attendance is designed to help today’s companies manage cost, remain lean and increase profits. For example, with a cloud-based time and attendance, you eliminate the headaches of having to manage hardware and software—and leave that responsibility to a team with deep industry expertise at Apex Time Solutions. With ATS cloud-based time and attendance: You only pay for what you need, upgrades are automatic, and scaling up or down is easy and, the best part, is that you won’t be left behind the technology curve.

To learn more, go to our website and register for one of ATS weekly webinars. And, get access to its latest cloud-computing technology solutions, you can download a demonstration.

Feeling Left Behind Becasue You Are Using Old Technology?

Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Cloud Computing, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Forrester Research, IBM

Software And The Internet Of Things, Is At Its Best, When It Embodies Simplicity

Software should be simple to use, are words you hear from some software providers and the purveyors of cutting-edge technology, including those who form part of The Internet of Things (IoT) industry. Some companies have the words, “simple or easy-to-use” splashed across the website, but once it is adopted, it is anything but simple. After all, why would any company deploy workforce management software that’s difficult to navigate? Of course, colourful dashboards that excite users is one thing, but having to navigate through several screens to complete a task, can be mind boggling, not mention frustrating.

A recent article authored Hayley Tsukayama for The Washington Post and titled ‘Why Apple and Google are struggling to design simple software’ laments the struggles that behemoths that Google and Apple are undergoing. “Companies like Apple and Google are expanding the scope of what they offer — they aren’t hawking one kind of hardware or one type of software, but rather a combination of both, often with several cloud services thrown in for good measure. Apple is no longer a focused iPod-and-Mac company. So the current version of iTunes has to offer so much more than just a way to get digital music. Google (or Alphabet) is no longer just a search bar on a Web page, it’s a whole ecosystem of information, software programs and an expanding universe of devices. The simple designs of the past products from these companies were never meant to accommodate the range of offerings that are now demanded by consumers.”

Software and The Internet of Things, is at its best, when it embodies Simplicity

The question remains, with the appetite of consumers and businesses evolving can software providers adjust, and at same time, ensure the applications are easy to use? For example, if you are using the latest toothbrush that embodies the Internet of things (IoT) do you have to glance at your phone while you are brushing to ensure you are keeping on track? These and many other questions remain unanswered.

The article continues; “What started as a simple program for buying, storing and downloading music has morphed into a much larger program for TV shows, movies, podcasts, apps, streaming music and device management. At times, it can feel like a building that’s being repeatedly expanded and renovated in a new architectural style every time.”

In conclusion, the Internet of Things (IoT) is here to stay and the same is true for cloud-based workforce management solutions, payroll, ERP and other related business management software. And, while they may be tweaked to adjust toe business and consumer demands, they shown no signs of abating.

Interested in learning more about ATS Cloud-Based Time and Attendance? You can register for this week’s free webinar by going to our website. You can also download a demonstration and see how easy it is to track and management employees hours.

Apple TV, Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Google, Internet of Things, iPod, iTunes, Payroll, The Washington Post

Your Company’s Policy States It Will Not Deploy A Cloud Solution. Really? But Why?

It easy to become fearful of the unknown or listen to the naysayers when you are not certain-but let’s face it, the cloud is not your average “Johnny-come-lately” solution. In fact, it has been around for quite sometime despite the forecast of its demise by a few. And, much to the chagrin of the few doubters, it has not only endured, but has also won over the hearts and minds of many businesses executives who previously thought it was a fad.

Jo Bennett, contributor for Gartner, (the research and advisory firm) penned an article titled “Why a No-Cloud Policy Will Become Extinct” The article, states in part; “Businesses initially stepped gingerly toward the cloud, experimenting with low-risk applications. Today, applications for office productivity and CRM are tried and tested, and use cases are constantly developing in a wider sphere of mission-critical areas.”

Your Company’s Policy States It Will Not Deploy A Cloud Solution. Really? But Why?

Security has always been the concern for some businesses (understandably so) when weighing, the pros and cons of a cloud-based versus an on-premise solution. And so, on the topic of security the article continued; “Security concerns are most frequently the reason organizations avoid public cloud services. The reality is that cloud service providers typically have the ability to support more effective security systems and platforms than are practical for most individual businesses.”

ATS best-of-breed cloud-based time and attendance has helped thousands of businesses capture employee data in real-time with award-winning employee time clocks, and data integration capabilities to ERP, Payroll and HR applications. With ATS cloud-based time and attendance you get up-to-the-minute business intelligence, operational excellence and increase agility with a single global application that aligns to your business processes.

To learn more about ATS Cloud-Based Solutions or to read testimonials from some of our customers, or to download a free demonstration, go to our website.

Cloud Based Time and Attendance, CRM, Employee Time Clocks, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Gartner, Payroll, Public Cloud

Today’s Manufacturing Companies Want Cloud-Based Solutions

Today’s North American manufacturing companies are faced with; intense competition, pressure to increase profit margins, a competitive talent pool and impatient shareholders. Now just image in that scenario, those same companies are using inadequate systems to track payroll costs, thus inhibiting the ability to forecast overruns, which in turn, can impact overall the profitability of the business. Installing a traditional time and attendance solution, with support by in-house IT or an outside consultant has been the norm for the last 20 plus years. But with many manufacturing companies hoping to stay ahead of their competitors, having an IT department for the sole purpose of managing a Server among other IT related responsibilities, no longer makes sense when a growing body of evidence shows that moving your solution to the cloud saves money.

A recent survey on many of the world’s manufacturing organizations by IDC revealed, in part, that:

“The advantages of cloud computing for manufacturers are significant, as line of business leaders and their IT organizations increasingly rely on cloud to flexibly deliver IT resources at the cost and speed the business requires. Traditional IT spend is clearly on the decline, and manufacturers must update their cloud roadmaps to ensure their investments benefit the business. According to the IDC European Vertical Markets Survey, 2014, almost 50% of European manufacturing respondents noted they have adopted or will adopt ERP in the public cloud. And in Asia/Pacific, 49% of manufacturing respondents are using cloud – public or private – or intend to use cloud, based on the 2014 IDC Manufacturing Insights Asia/Pacific Business and IT Priorities Survey.”

Today’s Manufacturing Companies Want Cloud-Based Solutions

For a few manufacturers, the question remains, if they deployed a cloud-based time and attendance, would their company save money? If you are still unsure, then consider the following:
 Is your company is global in nature with locations across different regions or countries? If so, by moving to a cloud-based time and attendance, it will allow for easier information gathering from those distant facilities and the consolidation of global data and analysis.
 Manufacturing companies with a heavy emphasis of remote users that rely on mobile access – are better off using the power of the cloud to access employee hours and other data.
 Smaller organizations who cannot afford a traditional time and attendance solution-one that requires yearly updates and maintaining an expensive Server on which to house the application-would be wise to adopt a cloud-based time and attendance.

ATS Cloud-Based Time and Attendance for Manufacturing has helped thousands of companies manage their business and increase profits. ATS Cloud-Based Time and Attendance for Manufacturing will enable your organization to improve operational efficiency. And, with increased visibility to what is happening at your local site, whether it’s in Windsor-Ontario, Dorval-Quebec or Colorado-USA, or across the globe, you will be able to meet your customers’ increasing demands, streamline payroll costs, increase workforce productivity and maintain the smile on the faces of your shareholders.

Contact ATS to learn why thousands of manufacturers trust ATS to provide Time and Attendance software designed for their industry. In addition, ATS Time and Attendance for Manufacturing is uniquely positioned for companies in cross-functional industries. The ATS team has deep expertise to meet and adhere to the guidelines of many industries including; Retail, Government/Public Sector, Automotive, Engineering & Construction, Industrial Machinery, Transportation & Logistics, Hospitality, and Aerospace and Defense.

To download a demonstration, go to our website. And, to speak to account representative call; 866.294.2467.

Today’s Manufacturing Companies Want Cloud-Based Solutions

Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Engineering & Construction, Hospitality, Industrial Machinery, Manufacturing, Public Sector, Quebec, Retail, Transportation & Logistics, USA

Pandora’s Box: To Replace Or Not Replace Your Current System?

Sometimes getting companies to open up about the current system they are using can prove difficult. And, that’s because senior managers know what they are using is not working, but fear that discussing it at length, might open up the proverbial “Pandora’s Box”. In other words, discussing their current challenges means they will have to devote some time and resources to the implementation a new solution, thus, creating a reason to stick with what’s not working. But just imagine the actual pain of using a time and attendance solution that is not meeting your needs? We understand that replacing your current system can feel like a chore, but if implemented correctly, you will feel a whole lot better.

If you decide it’s time to replace your current time and attendance solution, here are five tips that will your company transition to a new time and attendance solution:

Assign a Steering Committee or Project Leader
Depending on the size of your organization, an individual or a steering committee (with three to five stakeholders) should be named Project Leader and put in charge of the business requirements and selection process. And, because the people most familiar with pay and work rule compliance are typically from the HR or payroll department, you should assign one or both to the project.

Flush-Out the Challenges
Identify the nagging problems and bottlenecks that your current system posses and solicit feedback from people who use it on a daily basis. For example; are employees having issues with the time clock when attempting to punch in/out? Does your CFO have access to the right analytics to complete month-end? In short, get feedback from all levels of personnel that interact with the time and attendance solution, or generate reports based on employee data. This type of feedback should include all stakeholders, and will lead to cooperation, buy-in, and inevitably, to a successful implementation.

Vendor
Does your current vendor have or can provide a time and attendance solution with the agility that supports your vision of business today, and in the future? Do they understand the unique demands of your business? Can they explain and demonstrate technology in a manner your employees will understand? And above all, is the solution easy-to-use? If the answer is no to all of these questions, find a company that can meet your needs.

Technology
There is no denying that cloud-based time and attendance have now become the preferred option for many small, mid and large organizations. Why? Because it’s easy to deploy, provides a rapid return on investment, and you don’t need to own an expensive Server on which to host the application. And, while some companies may opt for an on-premise workforce management solution because they have the resources and IT infrastructure to manage it, the cloud provides benefits that are second to none.

Growth
Where do you envision your company in the next 5-10 years? Understandably, the shaking economy over the last several years have given c-level executives pause. However, if you are going to invest in a solution with the intent to increase productivity and streamline payroll costs, its important to deploy a solution that will evolve with your company’s needs.

In conclusion, some companies continue to use outdated time tracking solutions that automate only part of their business operations, rather than an entire interconnected business processes, and as a result, demand extra resources intensive workarounds. So, don’t be afraid to open up your company’s current time and attendance, “Pandora’s box”. You might be pleasantly surprised to find out that you can actually save valuable resources, increase productivity and streamline the cost of payroll.

To download the white paper on ‘To Replace Or Not Replace Your Current Time and Attendance System’ go to our website. To attend a live webcast or to download a demonstration, go to our resource page or call one of our account executives at 866.294.2467.

Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Payroll, White Paper

Manufacturing Can Improve The Bottom-Line By Embracing The Cloud

Cloud-Based time and attendance, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and host of other workforce management and human capital management software applications have made significant strides in manufacturing operations over the last several years. And, that’s due in part to many executives in the manufacturing industry embracing the many benefits that a cloud-based application brings with it. It is also worthy to note that the manufacturing sector have also had to adapt to global competition in the economic slowdown of recent years. In short, when your competitor is consistently outpacing you by using new and technology, thus, increasing their profits, wouldn’t you want to find out why and how?

Manufacturing Operations Will Improve Their Bottom-Line By Embracing The Cloud

Global market research and intelligence firm IDC released its 2016 prediction aptly titled “Top 10 Manufacturing Predictions For 2016: The Cloud Enables Greater Customer Centricity”. In no particular order, we have listed the following 3 predictions:

“In 2016, 20% of Manufacturers Will Begin to Break Down Organizational Silos, Reshape IT Portfolios, and Import New IT Talent in the Plant for Digitally Executed Manufacturing. IDC predicts that rigid, centralized factory control systems will start to give way to decentralized intelligence as machine-to-machine communications start to hit the factory floor. To support this transformation, IDC says that a new generation of technology-savvy and technology-empowered workers, with information available at their fingertips, will be needed.

By the End of 2016, 65% of Manufacturers Will Have Metrics in Place to Evaluate and Drive Pervasive Changes in the Workplace with Their New Technology Investments. IDC predicts metrics associated with 3D printing productivity and security will become more pervasive in 2016. In addition to these, advanced analytics that can recommend which customized product configurations, service bundles, and pricing options are optimal for a given sales cycle will emerge, supporting by cloud-based platforms capable of providing analytics reporting on any device, anytime. Tableau will continue to see adoption accelerate in manufacturing as a result of the myriad of new metrics being created today and in 2016.

By the End of 2017, 50% of Manufacturers Will Exploit the Synergy of Cloud, Mobility, and Advanced Analytics to Facilitate Innovative, Integrated Ways of Working on the Shop Floor. IDC believes that companies will realize the short-term opportunity of using the cloud as the fabric to establish a companywide platform to analyzing data coming from the shop floor and converting it into actionable information for enterprise decision makers. Acumatica, Microsoft AX on Azure, NetSuite, and Plex Systems are cloud-based ERP providers who have experience scaling manufacturing operations starting at the shop floor. A few including Plex have analytics that support shop floor to top floor reporting.”

These predictions are clear indications that all things cloud have changed rapidly and are being embraced by small and large organizations alike. ATS TimeWork OnDemand Manufacturing Time and Attendance solution was designed for industry-leading plant floor to top floor functionality. ATS TimeWork OnDemand delivers unprecedented customer success through a relentless pursuit of time tracking, analytics and data extrapolation through continuous innovation.

To learn about ATS cloud-based time and attendance solution, or to view a demonstration go to our website. And, to speak to a sales consultant call us at: (866) 294-2467.

Manufacturing Operations Will Improve Their Bottom-Line By Embracing The Cloud

Analytics, Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Capital Management, IDC, Microsoft

Want A Better Return On Your Labour Investment? Deploy A Cloud-Based Solution

Controlling labour costs is a major concern for every organization, regardless of industry or size. And, using outdated, time tracking software to control labour cost, can hamper productivity and put your company at risk, for failing to meet proper workplace compliance requirements.

ATS TimeWork OnDemand is a cloud-based workforce management solution that adapts to the ever-changing business landscape. ATS TimeWork OnDemand takes the complexity out of tracking employee attendance. It simplifies every part of your business operation, leaving you lean and ready for whatever comes next, wherever you are in the world.

The unique capability of ATS TimeWork OnDemand includes:

Workforce Planning
ATS Workforce Planning allows employees to submit availability, request time-off and view their working hours from anywhere, on any device that’s connected to the Internet. ATS Workforce Planning uses predictive analytics to generate that forecast-demand scheduling, based on history, availability and seniority. With the click of a mouse, managers can predict the number and type of employee necessary to meet anticipated business demand.

Absence Management
ATS Absence Management helps organizations meet the complex challenges of employee attendance and, adheres to payroll best-practices – thus, increasing payroll cost visibility and control, while improving workforce compliance. With ATS Absence Management you reduce the administrative headaches and compliance risk associated with leave management laws – not to mention sick time, late arrivals, early departures, and extended breaks – all in one place.

Real-Time Analytics
You can empower your operational executives and department managers, with role-based data that is easy to use and understand. Intuitive dashboards makes it simple examine attendance trends and patterns. And with such up-to-the-minute data at your fingertips, it makes you can easily drill down into data to uncover root causes and take appropriate action.

Employee Data Collectors
ATS data collectors enable you to track, manage, and control employee time and attendance. These employee time clocks are blue-tooth enabled and equipped with biometric capability with fast processing power.

Leave Management
ATS leave management is a powerful, cloud-based multi-level approval tool that can be used by all managers and HR personnel. The solution sends out instant email alerts for pending leave applications. The solution is highly configurable and can also be easily integrated with other ATS solutions including, such as payroll and employee recruitment.

Want to learn how other companies use ATS Workforce Management Solution to get a better return on their labor investment? Tune in this Friday, October 23rd at 1:00pm for a live and interface webinar.

To get your personalized demonstration, call us at 866.294.2467 or go to our website.

Absence Management, Attendance OnDemand, Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Employee Recruitment, Leave Management, Workforce Management Solution, Workforce Planning

Webinar: How Cloud-Based Time and Attendance Have Disrupted the Status Quo

It was not too long ago that in order to install time and attendance software, mid and large organizations, needed an expensive Server on which, in turn, was managed by the IT department. In addition, that Server would require updates, patches and licenses every year to remain operational, at proper processing speed and power. Fast-forward to present day and the need to purchase a Server unless, absolutely necessary, on which to host a software application is a thing of yesteryear.

On Friday, October 23rd a couple of our software experts will discuss the transition of an on-premise application to the present-day cloud-based time and attendance. ATS Time and Attendance has helped numerous mid and large organizations (including fortune 500 companies) increase worker productivity, streamline payroll costs, and minimize compliance risks across various industries throughout North America.

In the one hour session, ATS software engineers provide you with answers to:
 The benefits of a unified and integrated; Time and Attendance, Talent management, Human Resources Information System (HRIS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and payroll solution in the cloud?
 How ATS Workforce Management Software drives adoption and engagement and our value proposition
 The difference between ATS Time and Attendance and “run of the mill” time tracking systems
 How ATS TimeWork will improve productivity, reduce costs, and minimize compliance risks
 How you can optimize your business with ATS Time and Attendance from punch to paycheque.

Webinar Details:

Date: Friday, October 23, 2015
Time: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00a.m.-11:00 a.m. Pacific)

To register for this webinar go to our website. You can also join the conversation on LinkedIn, Twitter or Pinterest.

Webinar: How Cloud-Based Time and Attendance Have Disrupted the Status Quo

Cloud Based Time and Attendance, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Resources Information System (HRIS), North America, Payroll, Talent Management, Workforce Management

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