A R240 million ($30m) investment in research and development by automated labour management software giant Kronos has allowed the Web-enablement of modern timekeeping systems and full integration into networked back office systems, a world first in the field.
"The investment made by the US-based Kronos in R&D alone is more than all of its rivals put together," says Carl Blake, a director of CS Systems Integration, a division of JSE-listed CS Holdings. CS Holdings is the sole distributor of Kronos frontline labour management products in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Web-enabled features of Kronos` time management system means it is now possible to collect data through any number of input sources, no matter if they are geographically disparate.
"This is a quantum leap in labour attendance data collection channels, as the information may be collected through the Web, desktop, telephone, or traditional badge-reading terminals, all being combined into the same database in a seamless transaction," Blake says.
"The ability to remotely monitor off-site workers, or even in companies with national offices, reduces the administration tasks considerably, as logon and logoff times can be automatically recorded, and are instantly available to the administrator and pay office, all located at one centralised point," Blake says.
With over 20 years in the industry leadership, Kronos holds more than 50% of the American market share for automated labour management solutions. "This has led to a compatibility with virtually every operating system, making a plug into existing systems a simple procedure," Blake continues.
Additionally, Kronos has developed an industry-specific version of its software, as well as being able to customise its offering. The adaptability to market demand is a direct consequence of the fact that one out of five of Kronos` staff are devoted to R&D.
There are three keys to the successful execution of a labour management solution, Blake says. "Firstly, the information must be collected from the entire workforce, no matter where they are or how they log in. Secondly, there must be a timely, daily labour management system which delivers the data to the people on the front line who can directly effect labour productivity.
"Thirdly, this data must be integrated with key back office systems, such as leave, pay, general human resources issues, productivity calculations and so on. By dropping in on top of existing systems without causing a disruption, Kronos is the only e-integrated time management solution which meets all these criteria," Blake concludes.
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