Key Products

Although there are literally thousands of HR systems, a few big names tend to dominate conversation. Here's the latest news about some of the major players.

IBM has joined the HR market with HR Access , a thin-client product that offers a repository-based customization environment. Access allows the creation of unique HR business processes, data management, functions, and reports, and users can use features provided in the system to c ustomize them to their own requirements. Access is designed for global HR transactions and integration within a corporate business environment.

Oracle's Human Resources offers a suite of Web-enabled products and kiosks designed specifically for either employees or managers. Managers have access to hiring, relocation, and assessment information, while employees have access to their own files. Oracle's software has standard interfaces but is designed for maximum customization. The current release, 10.7, offers 35 applications across HR and financial-departmental needs, many Web-enabled.

Also, Oracle markets HR-specific APIs to validate information that users enter, making data secure and valid -- two concerns with newer, distributed-access HR terminals. The APIs and the interfaces that call them have multiple layers that protect them from changes to the database schema. The APIs' layers offer validation and prevent redundancy for data needed in international transactions.

Peoplesoft is the industry leader in HR. The latest version of its flagship product, HRMS 6 , is des igned for enhanced functionality and greater global coordination than previous versions. It has several new applications and allows for intranet access through Web browsers. New programs for benefits and pension administration, as well as applications for benefits billing, Family Medical Leave Act administration, and retroactive benefits calculations, make this version a more comprehensive package.

Peoplesoft has formed partnerships with several developers. Together with Universal Algorithms, Peoplesoft has expanded the work-flow capabilities of its product; with OneWave and Spider Technologies, the company has made Web interfaces possible.

SAP is an HR powerhouse because it offers solutions designed for multinational corporations. Its R/3 version 3.1 is a business application for Internet commerce as well as a comprehensive HR product. HR, accounting, logistics, work-flow management, and ALE programs are augmented with its Internet-ready applications. R/3 is designed for multilingual, mult icurrency transactions. It includes built-in provisions for international legal requirements and comes in country-specific versions. All R/3 data is shared centrally, eliminating redundancy and ensuring integrity.

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Smile and Say 'Oracle'

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Oracle's suite of HR tools has the capability to store employee photos with other information.