Leasing HRIT Systems vs. a SaaS Model

Not all monthly payment plans are created equal. For the moment, let’s not address deployment technology (shared vs. dedicated server, hosted vs. on-premises, single tenant vs. multi-tenant, etc.). Let’s just address exactly how you pay for HR systems. At the highest level, you can write big checks up front or you can make monthly payments…

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The Evolution of Enterprise Software Selection

Back in the 80’s, when PC DOS-based (later Windows) Enterprise software sales began to increase, individual departments started to exert some control over the selection of applications. Previously, software decisions were largely left to IT and finance, with some level of input by end users and departmental stake holders. Prior to the advent of the…

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How to Capitalize on Your HR Help Desk Data

You just invested in a shiny new HR Help Desk solution. You integrated it with your HRIS systems. HR and employees embraced the new tool. The new reports are awesome. Management now has a handle on the day-to-day workload. Problem areas are being identified and corrected. Love the new system. Is that all there is?…

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Harnessing Big Data with HR Technology

The prominence of big data’s role in business has been growing steadily over the last few years. Today, it has reached every area of business, creating even a new name for data-driven companies — the “quantified organization.” And HR has been no exception. In fact, the concept of people data has created a huge buzz,…

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To Cloud or Not to Cloud (Your HR Help Desk)

As you are evaluating new HR Help Desk solutions (or really any business software system), one primary consideration is always the software and hardware platform.  SaaS? Hosted? In-house? “Which is better for my business”? The choices are actually more varied than you might expect. Some vendors may offer only one option, while others such as…

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When RFP Questions Cross the Line of Reasonability

In my business, responding to RFIs, RFQs and RFPs are a part of my daily work life. If you want to win the business, you must accept these requests as a mandatory function during the sales cycle. 20 years ago, questionnaires focused almost entirely on the business application up for bid; features, functions, bells, whistles,…

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Sierra-Cedar 2016-17 HR Systems Survey

Is your HR organization performing at peak efficiency levels? Do you understand how your peers are managing their firms; companies with the same issues and challenges you face? They can only expose new and potentially productive ideas. How can you broaden your knowledge of industry trends and cutting edge business tools? The answer is in…

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The Benefits of Custom Software Development

Packaged (off-the-shelf) software vs. a custom software solution — that is the question. Actually it’s not that simple a question anymore. Today there are many hybrid software alternatives, which start with a packaged solution that can be quickly modified to meet the customer’s exacting business requirements. In the “old days” — remember PC DOS and…

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The Risks and Rewards of Utilizing Offshore Technology Services

The availability, skillset, and quality of Information Technology (IT) resources varies greatly from organization to organization. Regardless of company size, IT resources may be readily accessible when needed, or not. And frequently not. Whether HR has a large application development project to manage or merely needs a special one-off data analysis report, more often than…

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The Client / Vendor Business Relationship

Currently I am reading Things That Matter, by conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer. It is a compilation of articles the author has published over the last few decades covering a wide variety of subjects of greatest importance to him, and in his humble opinion, topics that also impact the general public. The topics range from the…

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