It is important for any business to have a learning mindset, says Anja Hartman-Weitz, the HR Director at Softline VIP, part of the Sage Group. “Organisations need to be cognisant of the different levels that their staff members are at in their professional careers and to challenge them to grow, ultimately adding more value to the business.
“The skills that an individual possesses at present may not necessarily be something they will need three or even five years from now. From a business and a strategic point of view, it is important to realise that technology and the way that we do business is changing incredibly fast and it is therefore necessary to keep your human capital investment in tune with developments in your specific business space. Not only will it make the business more marketable, but it will ensure your staff remain challenged,” explains Hartman-Weitz.
Finding a reputable training provider is key. “From a South African perspective, I would look at whether the provider is accredited with a SETA or affiliated with a recognised training provider. It is important to note that you can claim from the skills rebate if your selected training provider is legitimate.”
An organisation has the right to ask for feedback to evaluate the merit of the training. “A very good indicator for me is when the training provider asks questions about your business upfront, in order to understand your business and make the training more relevant. If you are not sure, ask for recommendations from people in the industry who have been through the training. Find out from participants whether the training was what they thought it would be. Was the training presented and executed professionally?” says Hartman-Weitz.
Attitude is, however, critical to the success of any training plan. “If your staff members think of training as a day out of the office, then they are doing it for the wrong reasons,” says Hartman-Weitz. “I always urge trainees to implement at least one thing that they have learned from the training or to share it with their colleagues or work towards it in their work environments. The onus is on the individual to take what they have learnt and to make it their own, which forms the basis of effective and outcome-based training,” concludes Hartman-Weitz.
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Softline VIP
Softline VIP is a leading supplier of payroll and human resource management solutions in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Coupled with an extensive service offering, Softline VIP is the only payroll and HR solution geared to meet the challenges of the modern payroll office. The VIP products are synonymous with ease of use, stability and reliability, with the flexibility to cater to the unique needs of every client. VIP promises long-term sustainability over and above legislative compliance. VIP understands the human resources and payroll environment and offers the client peace of mind by providing a total solution.
Softline VIP achieved an overall fourth place in the top 10 for medium businesses in the Deloitte Best Company to Work For Survey 2009 and a second place in the industry category “business and professional services”. Softline VIP also emerged one of 48 participants out of an overall 98 to score above the standard of excellence threshold of more than 75%.
Softline VIP products include:
VIP Premier - Softline VIP also supplies leading technology to service large and corporate clients. VIP Premier is geared towards increasing the functionality of payroll systems and provides an uncomplicated solution for medium-sized to large organisations. One of the key features of this product is that it is quick to implement in comparison to similar solutions. Meeting the needs of any payroll office and supplying the most suitable solution is important for Softline VIP as it strives to ensure practical solutions for all users. Its products are easy to use and reliable, and the information produced is accurate and complies with all statutory requirements.
VIP Classic - VIP Classic is the perfect solution for clients with bigger operations than the one-man business. VIP Classic provides the same flexibility as larger systems but is aimed at the small to medium enterprise sector. This software offers a total solution to users.
VIP Essentials - VIP Essentials is geared to small businesses and contains the same ease-of-use and stability of all VIP's products. VIP Essentials is an affordable product, making it an ideal solution for the small business paying less than 30 employees.
Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
Softline is a leading provider of business software and related services. Founded in 1988 by Ivan Epstein, Alan Osrin and Steven Cohen, Softline was established during the formative years of the business software industry. While Softline's heritage is in the SME market the group also offers expertise and solutions that meet the needs of specific industries and larger organisations. In 2003, Softline was acquired by the Sage Group, a FTSE 100 company. Softline has a solid track record offering customers local expertise backed by the global Sage brand. The group delivers quality software solutions to make customers' business lives easier.
The Sage Group
The Sage Group is a leading global supplier of business management software and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage has 6.3 million customers and 13 600 employees worldwide. It operates in more than 24 countries covering the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, India and China. For further information, please visit www.sage.com.
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