Pioneer Investments
Currie and Brown Case Study - HR Software Systems
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e-HR Software aids
Business Planning at Currie and Brown
Construction consultants Currie and Brown have been able to streamline HR processes and improve the quality of their management information thanks to a flexible and evolving e-HR software system provided by ASR.
Currie and Brown is a long-established professional services firm which advises clients on the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings around the globe. It operates in over 50 countries and has clients ranging from corporate giants and governments to banks and insurance companies.
Its team of quantity surveyors and project managers have advised on everything from the redevelopment of the BBC's Broadcasting House in London to the construction of a new international airport in Peru.
A £42 million turnover business, it has 15 offices around the UK and employs 480 people, supported by an HR function which is based in Harpenden.
Currie & Brown Case Study - HR Software Systems
HR Director Ted Runciman was the prime mover behind the introduction of an e-HR software system six years ago.
"When I joined the company it was working with a paper-based system, but with a growing team of employees who were constantly moving around the world, it was quite horrendous trying to keep track," he explained. "We needed to find a system that was fast, with good functionality in the HR and training fields, and which would give us solid management information to work with."
An Extensive Review of the HR Software Market
After an extensive review of the market, Currie and Brown opted for a specialist HR software solution provided by ASR. They were particularly attracted to the product because of its highly flexible nature, and the ability to connect with their existing databases.
Called ‘HR Professional', the system is split into modules covering the complete spectrum of HR functions, including personnel, absence, training, recruitment, succession planning, payroll and self-service e-HR.
Modules can be used separately or combined to provide a fully integrated solution. There is also scope for users to adapt the system to meet their specialist requirements - and to continue to do this as their business processes and needs evolve.
A Flexible HR Software Solution
Currie and Brown worked closely with the ASR team to develop an individually tailored system which would meet its personnel management, recruitment and training needs.
One of the key features of the program is its ability to manage the entire recruitment process, from initial application through to job offer. At the click of a mouse, the HR team is able to track whether an applicant has been interviewed, if a job offer has been made, or if they are waiting for a candidate to accept a position.
Information gleaned at the recruitment stage is then automatically transferred into the personnel records database when a new candidate joins the company.
Managing Appraisals
The system also allows the HR team to track employee appraisals. It alerts line managers when an appraisal is due, initiates the necessary forms and logs the resulting information. Details about any development needs that may be identified during an appraisal are then seamlessly transferred into the company's training database, which provides an on-going picture of training needs across the business.
Powerful Management Reporting
Ted Runciman says the ability to obtain up-to-date information about employee capabilities quickly has been one of the key benefits of the system.
"We sell people's expertise - so when we are tendering for a project and need to provide information about employee experience, we can go into the system and immediately see what technical capability people have, which industry sectors they have worked in and where they are currently located," he says.
The business has also found the ability to pull management information down in a variety of formats has informed its strategic decision-making. The system is capable, for example, of producing absence management reports for either the whole company or by department or strategic business unit. Data on compensation and benefits is also updated on a continuous basis, so that financial information is readily available when the business needs it.
HR System - Easy to Use
Runciman adds that on a practical level, the system is extremely user-friendly and back-up from ASR is excellent. As well as a UK-based help desk offering telephone and e-mail support, there are regular user group meetings where clients can learn about product updates and exchange experiences with other users.
e-HR Case Study - Human Resources Software
The system is continuing to evolve - with plans to add a ‘self-service' element which will allow employees to update their records and access information about issues such as pension or holiday entitlement.
The business is also working closely with ASR to integrate the HR system with a new operational database it is developing.
"There was some scepticism within the business when an e-HR system was first proposed, but it has improved the productivity of the HR function enormously and the investment has certainly proved worthwhile," says Ted Runciman. "It provides us with good quality, robust management information, which is helping us deal with the complexities of managing our business worldwide."
HR Software
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