Tech to optimise HR

Although many companies worry about the transition costs or service interruption of implementing new technology to manage HR processes, a new study says technology may help increase efficiency of HR management, states Nebs.

Whether managing payroll and employee performance internally or outsourcing some processes, a study by global consultancy Watson Wyatt shows that a number of businesses are looking to update systems and improve upon vendor contracts.

Watson Wyatt's 2009 HR Technology Trends Survey showed that 61% of employers are looking to optimise their current mix of HR technologies, call centres and vendors. One-third of those surveyed are reviewing existing vendor contracts and just 27% are not taking any action.

Salary.com, a provider of on-demand compensation, payroll and talent management solutions, has expanded its set of functional job-competency models, says Ajax World.

Functional job-competency models are a complete role-based set of skills, behaviours, proficiencies and learning references that help employers and HR professionals meet the rising need for insight into critical skills.

Salary.com's off-the-shelf content provides critical data quickly, helping clients execute key business initiatives, drive their talent management software and extract the full value from investments in HR technology.

IBM has been awarded a new services contract by consumer goods company Unilever, reports Trading Markets.

Under the contract, IBM will transform and operate Unilever's HR processes across 19 Latin American countries.

IBM said the agreement provides related services to over 27 000 Unilever employees from the IBM services centres located in Hortolandia, Sao Paulo, Brazil and San Jose, Costa Rica. It also extends IBM's current operation of managed payroll and benefit management services for Unilever employees in Brazil, Mexico and Chile.