HP and Lawson partner for always-on, seamless, personalised e-service solutions

Hewlett-Packard Company and Lawson Software have announced a strategic alliance to offer seamless, personalised e-service solutions for the enterprise end-user. Lawson`s ijob e-recruitment solution, with its HP Infrastructure-on-Tap computing backbone, will provide enterprises with an "always-on," wireless-enabled e-service that improves candidate and recruiter relationships, automates information delivery and speeds the time taken to hire. "Enterprises want more options to use the Internet with the assurance of their in-house mission-critical IT and the convenience of the pay-as-you-go Internet utility service model," said industry analyst, Bruce Caldwell, GartnerGroup. "These options are becoming increasingly available as software vendors and IT utility service providers team up to provide Internet access to software functionality supported by IT infrastructures with high reliability, availability and scalability."

"By bringing together Lawson`s software solutions with HP`s Infrastructure-on-Tap and open software platform, e-speak, the alliance can provide access to always-on e-services critical to the success of Lawson`s enterprise customers," said Frank Barker, general manager of HP`s Computing Utility Services Division.

Due to the increasing recognition of the strategic importance of hiring and retaining valuable knowledge workers in an extremely tight labour market, Lawson Software believes that the market for e-recruiting is poised for tremendous growth. With ijob, a candidate can register at any time for a difficult-to-fill position on a company`s ijob Web site. When qualified candidates apply, a wireless device such as a pager, wireless phone or handheld computer can notify the recruiter immediately.

"With Lawson`s ijob service, the AMA is accomplishing two vital things - reaching a wider pool of qualified candidates and effectively tracking our interactions with each candidate," said Joe LeBeau, human resources manager, the American Medical Association. "ijob keeps us on the leading edge of recruitment technology and gives us the versatility to process candidates for all positions within the organisation, from the lowest level to the highest."

"HP`s Infrastructure-on-Tap allows us to expand our ijob business rapidly without a corresponding need to invest capital to grow the infrastructure," said Cliff van Tonder, country manager, Lawson Software Africa. "Companies that realise the value of e-services to their business will be able to use the combination of Lawson`s out-of-the-box Self-Evident Applications and e-business expertise with HP`s breadth of e-services leadership in technology, products, services and support."