ASR leading HR software supplier demonstrates strong relationship with the British Computer Society

The Chartered Institute for IT professionals, the British Computer Society (BCS) has been using ASR’s HR software solution for over four years and is very happy with its choice of system.

Established in 1957, BCS is the leading body for those working in IT. With a world-wide membership approaching 60,000 members in over 100 countries, BCS is the qualifying body for Chartered IT Professionals (CITP). Based in Swindon, Wiltshire, the BCS has grown by nearly 20% in the last year, employing around 220 employees, supported by an HR function of three.

BCS has been using ASR’s HR software solution for over four years and is very happy with its choice of system.

BCS’s Head of HR, Elaine Huntingdon was the key mover behind the introduction of a new HR software system Elaine has extensive experience of the worlds of business and technology. Elaine joined BCS in 2002, as Head of HR and at the time, with only 120 employees there was no HR software . However, with Elaine’s previous business and IT experience she understood the benefits of introducing an HR software solution.

David Clarke, CEO, joined BCS shortly after Elaine with a clear vision of growing the Society. David was therefore fully supportive of Elaine’s intention to implement HR software to support this goal and gave her the go ahead to identify an HR system which would meet her needs and fit into the organisation’s business plan. One of Elaine’s biggest challenges was to source an HR software system that would provide BCS, a registered charity, value for money.

Elaine comments: “I firmly believe that any software sales demonstration will only tell you so much; the best way to gain a true understanding of the software is to speak to existing users. It also helps to see the software operating in a live environment; you should soon see if the software delivers what it promises.”

“I received good references from ASR’s existing customers which supported my own view that as a solution to our need, ASR stood out from the others. I liked the flexibility in creating new fields and screens without having to go back to the supplier for help. This facility to create bespoke screens ourselves has represented a real cost saving. Four years down the line and I am certainly not disappointed with the decision I made.” BCS chose ASR’s HR Software solution – HR Professional.

Elaine said that: “The HR software solution has been extremely stable and in the past four years we have not experienced any problems. We also took advantage of the additional functionality offered in V3 and the upgrade happened very smoothly. The changes that we had made in previous versions were immediately available in V3, so there was no need for any additional consultancy or associated cost.”

Before rolling out ASR’s HR self-service software, BCS piloted it with one of their divisions in September 2005 before roll out to the whole organisation, division by division, by the end of 2005. As part of the self-service implementation ASR’s Training Manager ran multiple seminars at HQ making all BCS’s line managers aware of the functionality available and how to use it.

Since the roll out of ASR’s e-HR software the BCS’s employees can book holidays, check holiday balances online and change or amend personal details e.g. bank details. Elaine says “It is essential that we pick up all those changes made within any payroll period to ensure that data sent to the Bureau is correct - for obvious reasons!”

Elaine says that the introduction of ASR’s e-HR software, “Has made savings across the organisation e.g. there has been a considerable reduction in the amount of internal post to and from the HR Department – there is no longer the need for Absence Cards to be physically sent to HR for manual input to the system. The post room staff have certainly noticed a difference”

“The time saved in HR has also been considerable with less time now spent on manual input thereby enabling them to become more involved in other key HR projects.”

BCS continues to evolve ASR’s HR software solution with plans to develop their e-HR, whilst also looking at the recruitment and payroll software . Elaine finishes: “The ASR sales representative was extremely patient and took the time to explain things thoroughly. We are perfectly happy with the way things have progressed since implementation and look forward to developing our relationship with ASR further.”

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For further information:
Tony Flanagan
ASR Computers
ASR House
Arden Grove
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
AL5 4SJ
+44 (0)1582 714 800
Email: onlinepr@asr.co.uk