Replacing Mitrefinch TMS: A Practical Guide for UK Employers

As workforce management requirements continue to evolve, many organisations are reviewing whether their existing Time & Attendance solution remains aligned with their operational, payroll, compliance, and workforce management objectives.

If your organisation currently uses Mitrefinch TMS and is considering its future options, this guide provides a practical framework for assessing whether your current solution continues to meet your needs and, if not, what should be considered when evaluating alternative platforms.

This article is intended as an impartial guide to help employers make informed decisions based on their own business requirements.

Why Organisations Review Their Time & Attendance System

Time & Attendance systems are a critical component of workforce management. As organisations grow, diversify, or modernise their operations, requirements often change.

Common reasons for reviewing an existing solution include:

Increasing payroll administration and manual intervention.
Expansion across multiple sites or locations.
Greater use of remote, mobile, or field-based employees.
A requirement to integrate Time & Attendance with HR, Payroll, ERP, Access Control, or Visitor Management systems.
The need for improved management visibility and reporting.
Changes in working practices, legislation, or compliance requirements.
Hardware refresh programmes or software renewal cycles.
Business acquisitions, mergers, or organisational restructuring.

A system review does not necessarily mean a replacement is required. However, it provides an opportunity to assess whether the current solution continues to deliver the functionality, efficiency, and return on investment expected by the business.

What a Modern Workforce Management Solution Should Deliver

A Time & Attendance solution should do more than simply record employee attendance. It should provide accurate workforce data that supports operational decision-making, payroll accuracy, compliance, and employee engagement.

When evaluating any solution, organisations should expect:

Accurate Workforce Data

Real-time attendance monitoring.
Automated calculation of working hours.
Accurate overtime and absence management.
Reduction in manual payroll adjustments.

Improved Management Visibility

Real-time workforce dashboards.
Exception reporting.
Attendance trend analysis.
Labour cost visibility.

Streamlined Payroll Processing

Automated payroll preparation.
Clear audit trails.
Reduced payroll queries.
Reliable integration with payroll systems.

Workforce Compliance

Working Time Regulations monitoring.
Absence tracking.
Audit and reporting capabilities.
Accurate records for compliance purposes.

Enhanced Employee and Manager Self-Service

Electronic holiday requests.
Manager approvals.
Employee access to attendance records.
Mobile workforce capabilities where required.

Key Questions to Ask During a System Review

Whether reviewing your current supplier or considering alternative providers, consistency is essential. Every supplier should be evaluated against the same criteria.

Payroll Management

How are exceptions and anomalies identified and managed?
How are audit trails maintained?
How does the system reduce payroll administration?

Business Rules

Can the solution accommodate existing working rules and agreements?
How flexible is the configuration?
Can future changes be implemented without development work?

Hardware and Data Collection

What clocking methods are available?
Can existing hardware be retained?
What options exist for mobile or remote workers?

Integration

What integrations are available with Payroll, HR, ERP, Access Control, and Visitor Management systems?
Are integrations proven and supported?

Security and Hosting (for cloud based systems)

Where is data hosted?
What security standards are maintained?
What service levels and support arrangements are provided?

Implementation

What does the migration process involve?
How is data transferred and validated?
What support is available during and after implementation?

Commercial Considerations

What are the initial implementation costs?
What ongoing support and maintenance costs apply?
Are there any additional licensing or usage-based charges?

The Importance of a Structured Migration Process

For most organisations, the greatest risk during a replacement project is not the installation of new software. The primary challenge is ensuring that existing workforce rules, pay calculations, attendance policies, and operational processes are accurately replicated or improved.

A successful migration project should include:

Detailed Scope of Works.
Documentation of existing rules and processes.
Configuration review and approval.
Data migration planning – if available.
Payroll validation and parallel testing.
User and manager training.
Post-implementation support.

Organisations should seek clear documentation outlining how each stage of the migration will be managed.

Evaluating Long-Term Value

While software functionality remains important, organisations should also consider the broader value delivered by a workforce management solution.

Areas worth evaluating include:

Reduction in payroll administration.
Removal of manual calculations.
Improved labour cost control.
Enhanced workforce visibility.
Reduced manual processes.
Improved compliance reporting.
Increased management efficiency.
Scalability for future growth.

A workforce management platform should support operational objectives not only today, but also as the organisation evolves over the coming years.

Making an Informed Decision

Every organisation’s requirements are unique. The most effective procurement decisions are based on clearly documented business objectives, operational requirements, implementation considerations, support arrangements, and long-term value (ROI).

A structured review process allows organisations to assess whether their existing solution remains the best fit or whether alternative platforms may offer additional benefits more aligned with future business goals.

By taking a measured and evidence-based approach, organisations can ensure that any investment in workforce management technology delivers meaningful improvements in productivity, efficiency, accuracy, and visibility.

About Ceequel®

Ceequel® is a UK-developed workforce management platform designed to help organisations manage attendance, absence, labour costs, employee self-service, manager approvals, access control, visitor management, and workforce reporting through a single integrated solution.

Supporting organisations across manufacturing, logistics, food production, distribution, healthcare, engineering, and other sectors, Ceequel® provides flexible deployment options and configurable workforce management capabilities designed to meet the operational requirements of modern UK employers.

For organisations reviewing their current Time & Attendance solution, a structured demonstration and discovery process can help determine whether Ceequel® is aligned with their operational and workforce management objectives.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not make any representations regarding the performance, functionality, support, commercial arrangements, or future direction of any third-party software product or supplier. Organisations should undertake their own evaluation based on their individual business requirements and procurement processes.

Replacing Legacy Kronos Systems: A Practical Guide for UK Employers

Many organisations have relied on Kronos workforce management solutions for years, benefiting from robust time recording, scheduling, and workforce management capabilities. However, as technology, workforce expectations, and business requirements evolve, many employers are taking the opportunity to review whether their existing system continues to meet their operational needs and future objectives.

If your organisation is currently using a legacy Kronos solution and is considering its long-term strategy, this guide outlines the key factors that should be considered when evaluating your existing platform and assessing potential alternatives.

This article is intended as an educational resource to support informed decision-making and procurement best practice.

Why Organisations Review Legacy Workforce Management Systems

Workforce management systems often remain in place for many years. During that time, businesses can undergo significant changes that place new demands on technology and operational processes.

Common reasons organisations review their existing workforce management platform include:

Changes to payroll processes and compliance requirements.
Business growth, acquisitions, or multi-site expansion.
Increasing use of mobile, remote, or hybrid working.
A desire to improve management visibility and workforce analytics.
The need for greater automation and reduced administration.
Wider digital transformation programmes.
ERP, HR, or payroll system replacement projects.
Hardware refresh cycles or infrastructure modernisation initiatives.
Evolving employee expectations around self-service and accessibility.

A system review provides an opportunity to assess whether the existing platform remains aligned with current business objectives and future workforce management requirements.

What Modern Workforce Management Should Deliver

Today’s workforce management systems are expected to do far more than simply record attendance.

A modern solution should support strategic decision-making while improving operational efficiency across the organisation.

Accurate Time Recording

Organisations should expect:

Real-time attendance visibility.
Automated working time calculations.
Accurate overtime management.
Comprehensive absence monitoring.
Clear audit trails for payroll processing.

Improved Operational Visibility

Managers should have access to:

Live workforce dashboards.
Attendance exception reporting.
Labour utilisation data.
Departmental and site-level analytics.
Real-time workforce status information.

Payroll Efficiency

Effective workforce management should help organisations:

Reduce manual payroll administration.
Minimise payroll queries and adjustments.
Improve payroll accuracy.
Streamline payroll preparation processes.
Provide clear reporting and audit capabilities.

Employee and Manager Self-Service

Modern solutions increasingly support:

Holiday and absence requests.
Electronic approvals.
Mobile workforce access.
Employee attendance visibility.
Manager workflow automation.

Workforce Compliance

Employers should be able to monitor and report on:

Working Time Regulations.
Attendance policies.
Absence management.
Audit requirements.
Workforce governance procedures.

Key Areas to Assess During a System Review

When reviewing any workforce management platform, organisations should evaluate suppliers using consistent criteria.

Workforce Management Functionality

Consider whether the solution supports:

Complex shift patterns.
Overtime rules.
Attendance management.
Absence management.
Flexible working arrangements.
Multi-site operations.

Payroll Integration

Questions to consider include:

How is payroll data prepared and transferred?
What validation processes exist?
How are exceptions managed?
What audit capabilities are available?

Data Collection Methods

Review the available options for:

Biometric clocking.
Facial recognition.
Proximity cards and fobs.
Mobile workforce applications.
Web-based attendance recording.

Integration Capabilities

Organisations should understand how the platform shares data with:

Payroll systems.
HR software.
ERP platforms.
Access Control systems.
Visitor Management solutions.
Business intelligence and reporting tools.

Security and Infrastructure

Areas to evaluate include:

Data hosting arrangements.
Security standards and certifications.
Business continuity provisions.
Support and service level agreements.
Disaster recovery procedures.

Scalability

A workforce management platform should support:

Organisational growth.
Additional sites.
New departments.
Future technology requirements.
Evolving workforce practices.

Planning a Successful Migration

Any workforce management replacement project should be approached as a business transformation initiative rather than simply a software installation.

Successful projects typically include:

Discovery and Analysis

Review of existing workforce rules.
Documentation of attendance policies.
Identification of payroll requirements.
Review of reporting needs.

Configuration and Validation

Comprehensive Scope of Works.
Operational validation.
Payroll validation.
Rule verification.

Data Migration

Historical data requirements.
Employee information transfer.
Validation procedures.

Training and Adoption

Manager training.
Employee communication.
User documentation.
Ongoing support arrangements.

Go-Live and Post-Implementation Support

Controlled deployment.
Parallel payroll testing where appropriate.
Dedicated support during transition.
Performance monitoring.

Looking Beyond Features

When reviewing any workforce management solution, organisations should consider the wider business outcomes it can deliver.

These may include:

Reduced labour administration.
Improved payroll accuracy – no payroll leakage.
Greater workforce visibility.
Better labour cost control.
Improved operational efficiency.
Enhanced compliance reporting.
Increased employee engagement.
Better management decision-making.

The objective should be to identify a solution that supports both immediate operational needs and long-term organisational goals.

Future-Proofing Workforce Management

As workforce management technology continues to evolve, organisations increasingly seek platforms that can support a wider range of operational requirements from a single environment.

Areas commonly considered during strategic reviews include:

Bringing these functions together can help reduce administration, improve data accuracy, and provide a more unified view of the workforce.

About Ceequel®

Used across manufacturing, food production, logistics, engineering, healthcare, distribution, and other sectors, Ceequel® provides organisations with configurable workforce management capabilities that can be tailored to specific operational requirements.

For organisations reviewing legacy workforce management platforms, a structured discovery and demonstration process can help determine whether Ceequel® aligns with their current and future workforce management objectives.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not make any representations regarding the performance, functionality, support arrangements, commercial terms, product lifecycle, or future direction of any third-party software product or supplier. Organisations should undertake their own independent evaluation based on their specific operational requirements, procurement processes, and business objectives.

Why a Dedicated Time & Attendance Platform with Integrated HR Functionality Often Delivers Better Workforce Management Than an HR System with Embedded Time & Attendance

In recent years, many organisations have sought to consolidate software platforms wherever possible. As a result, numerous HR systems now include embedded Time & Attendance functionality as part of a broader Human Resources offering.

While the concept of managing everything from a single platform may appear attractive, organisations whose workforce management requirements extend beyond basic absence recording often discover that there is a significant difference between a system that was designed around workforce management and later enhanced with HR capabilities, and a system that was designed around HR administration and later expanded to include Time & Attendance features.

The distinction is important because the priorities, complexity, and operational demands of workforce management are fundamentally different from those of HR administration.

Time & Attendance Is an Operational System

At its core, Time & Attendance is not simply about recording when someone arrives at work.

A modern Time & Attendance platform is responsible for:

Capturing attendance data in real time.
Calculating working hours.
Applying overtime rules.
Managing shift patterns.
Monitoring absence.
Supporting payroll preparation.
Providing labour cost visibility – including shop floor data.
Managing workforce compliance.
Delivering real-time operational intelligence.

For many organisations, particularly those operating in manufacturing, logistics, food production, engineering, healthcare, retail, and distribution, workforce management is an operational function that directly impacts productivity, labour costs, and profitability every single day.

An error in attendance processing can affect payroll immediately.

An error allocating labour to the wrong job can affect productivity immediately.

An error in workforce visibility can affect operational decision-making immediately.

HR Systems Are Primarily Employee Administration Platforms

Human Resources systems are typically designed to manage employee information and HR processes.

Common areas of focus include:

Employee records.
Recruitment.
Onboarding.
Performance management.
Learning and development.
Disciplinary procedures.
Employee documentation.
Policy management.
Succession planning.

These are critical business functions, but they are generally administrative rather than operational.

Most HR systems are designed to answer questions such as:

Who works for us?
What qualifications do they hold?
What training have they completed?
What policies apply to them?

Time & Attendance systems, by contrast, answer questions such as:

Who is currently on site?
Who is absent?
Who is working overtime?
What are today’s labour costs?
What exceptions require attention before payroll is processed?

While both disciplines involve employees, they serve very different purposes.

Workforce Management Is Often More Complex Than HR

Many organisations underestimate the complexity involved in accurately managing attendance and payroll-related calculations.

Examples include:

Multiple shift patterns.
Continental shifts.
Rotating rosters.
Overtime premiums.
Call-out payments.
Bank holiday rules.
Flexitime arrangements.
Annualised Hours.
TOIL (Banked Hours)
Attendance bonuses.
Break deductions.
Union agreements.
Site-specific working practices.

A dedicated Time & Attendance platform is typically designed from the outset to accommodate these operational requirements, effortlessly.

In contrast, organisations should carefully assess whether an embedded Time & Attendance module can fully support the complexity of their workforce rules both now and in the future.

Payroll Accuracy Depends on Workforce Accuracy

For many organisations, payroll represents one of the largest costs within the business.

The quality of payroll output is heavily dependent on the quality of attendance data entering the process.

A dedicated Time & Attendance platform is often built around:

Automated Rules Management.
Exception management.
Payroll validation.
Audit trails.
Labour cost reporting.

These functions help ensure that attendance data is accurate before it reaches payroll.

This is why many organisations view Time & Attendance as a critical operational control rather than simply an extension of HR administration.

Real-Time Visibility Matters

Operational managers often need access to information throughout the day, not simply at payroll processing time.

Examples include:

Who has not arrived for work?
Which departments are understaffed?
Who is currently on site and in the fire register?
Who is approaching overtime thresholds?
Which agency workers are present today – and their cost?

Dedicated workforce management platforms are typically designed to provide this information in real time.

This operational visibility can support:

Resource planning.
Production management.
Shift management.
Health and safety procedures.
Labour cost control.

Workforce Management Extends Beyond HR

Modern Time & Attendance platforms increasingly support a broader workforce ecosystem.

This may include:

Employee Self-Service.
Manager Self-Service.
Access Control.
Visitor Management.
Contractor Management.
Fire Registers.
Labour Analytics.
Workforce Reporting – Shop Floor Data Capture

These functions often sit closer to operations, facilities, production, and payroll than they do to traditional HR administration.

As a result, many organisations prefer a workforce management platform that can integrate HR functionality rather than relying solely on an HR platform to manage operational workforce processes.

Flexibility for Operational Change

Businesses rarely remain static.

New sites open.

Departments expand.

Shift patterns change.

Acquisitions occur.

Working practices evolve.

A workforce management platform should be capable of adapting to operational change without requiring extensive redevelopment or manual workarounds.

When evaluating any solution, organisations should consider how easily workforce rules, attendance policies, and operational processes can be modified as business requirements evolve.

The Ideal Approach: Integrated, Not Compromised

The discussion should not be viewed as HR versus Time & Attendance.

Both are essential.

The real question is where the organisation’s primary operational requirements sit.

For many employers, the most effective approach is a dedicated workforce management platform that incorporates HR functionality while maintaining the specialist attendance, payroll, labour management, and operational capabilities required to manage the workforce effectively.

This allows organisations to benefit from:

Comprehensive workforce management.
Integrated HR processes.
Accurate payroll preparation.
Real-time operational visibility.
Reduced administration.
Improved workforce intelligence.

Conclusion

Every organisation has different requirements, and there is no single solution that is right for every business.

However, where workforce management, payroll accuracy, labour cost control, operational visibility, continuous improvement, and complex attendance rules are business-critical, organisations should carefully evaluate whether an embedded Time & Attendance module can provide the same depth of functionality as a platform designed specifically for workforce management.

The most successful workforce management projects are typically those that place operational requirements, payroll accuracy, and workforce visibility at the centre of the decision-making process, while ensuring that HR functionality remains fully integrated and readily accessible across the organisation.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It does not make claims regarding the capabilities, performance, or suitability of any specific software product. Organisations should assess all solutions against their own operational, payroll, HR, compliance, and workforce management requirements before making a procurement decision.

More Guidance For Preventing The Spread of COVID-19

To support your home working employees, there are a couple of options that we have to assist you in maintaining productivity.

There’s an app for that!

If wish to preserve time-sheets and attendance reporting data, whilst you have staff working from home, ELF Productivity Ltd has a clocking app that allows employees to clock in and out using an Android or IOS device.

The app provides the user with a simple clock in, clock out function that will push the clocking data through to TA2 (and ultimately) your payroll software in the same manner as clocking in via your normal clocking terminals.

The clocking app will also supply a Geotag of the location of the device when the employee clocks in. The Geotag will give a link through to a grid reference in Google maps showing the location of the device (for audit purposes).

Employee Self Service

Has the functionality to support home or external workers. Again it provides companies with the ability to ask employees to clock in/out of their working day and there is additional (optional) functionality within Employee Self Service that will allow home workers to register time against a project, client account, job or task.

This can be operated in real-time or after the event.

Please note, the Employee Self Service web portal will not Geotag the clocking location.

Working from Home / Isolation codes

As a business you may want to differentiate between absences for COVID-19 and other sickness absences for your end of year reporting and to assist in the repayment of SSP.

As a reminder you can create new absence codes within the system and set parameters of how they interact with Absence, Bradford Factor, TOIL, FLEXI, Holiday balances, Reports and exception flags. You can also use the code to differentiate home working, i.e. not absent, not in the fire register yet still paid (similar to how a business pass out would function).

If you have a current Time and Attendance user manual, please refer to page 41 on how to create new codes. Please do remember that great care must be taken when creating and using new codes as Ceequel® is highly configurable. It is imperative that the new code and it’s selected options, adequately reflects the pay, notification and reporting rules that you wish to apply.

If you require further information on Facial Recognition Terminals, Key Fobs, Proximity Cards, Clocking Apps, Employee Tracking or require a copy of the latest TAUser Manual, then please feel free to contact us on 01257 256000.

Guidance For Preventing The Spread Of COVID-19

You are all now fully aware of the UK Government guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

It is both our duty and social responsibility to ensure that we continue supporting our clients as much as humanly possible during this challenging time, to ensure that companies can continue to pay their staff, efficiently and effectively.

Because of this ELF Productivity Ltd has taken the following measures: –

• We will continue to have a fully-manned Technical Support Desk which has had social distancing protocols applied.
• Those who are able to work remotely from home are doing so.
• We are performing system configuration and training remotely via Skype and Team Viewer.
• Our hardware engineers are continuing to attend client sites where appropriate and have fully comprehensive hygiene procedures to follow.

We have put together a FAQ list, in which ELF Productivity can assist your organisation in maintaining business continuity with the first highlighting the correct way to keep your devices clean.

General advice on frequently touched objects.

Public Health England (PHE) recommends that cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces will help prevent people from catching and spreading COVID-19.

Clocking machines are interacted with by all staff daily, therefore we recommend that you sanitise your devices regularly throughout the day to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, however please be aware of the following points: –

Avoid the use of very high concentration bleaches as they may discolour the clocking / access control units.

Ensure that cleaning staff do not use abrasive cleaning products on transparent fingerprint scanners or units as they will cloud and could become non-functional.

Depending upon the terminals that you have, you may want to consider the following measures;

1. Facial Recognition – If you already use facial recognition terminals then you will be familiar with clocking without any physical contact. If any staff are using the additional fingerprint reader, we strongly recommend you direct them to use only facial recognition. If any staff report that they are unable to use facial recognition because their biometric template is no longer recognised (e.g their appearance has altered since enrolment, such as the addition of glasses or thick beards) simply re-enrol the staff member. The unit will automatically overwrite their old template with their new one.

2. Fingerprint Recognition – If you have fingerprint terminals and wish to keep using biometric technology, now may be a time to look at changing these for facial recognition units.

3. Proximity Recognition – If you have card / fob terminals then we recommend that you remind staff that the readers will operate without physical contact, no need to “tap” in and out, a wave will suffice.

Many of our clients already use wall mounted sanitisers and ensure frequent cleaning of their readers for general hygiene, please be aware of the points above.

If you have any concerns regarding Ceequel® software or any of your Time & Attendance devices, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01257 256000.

How Can I Love You More?

L.O.V.E that little ‘Four Letter Word’ that is out in force around the middle of Feb and thanks to clever advertisers, very much in your face!

Now we know that being the romantic lot that you are, you wouldn’t have forgotten but just in case you have, here’s a gentle reminder; Valentine’s Day is just around the corner……

The most amorous time of the year brings out the romantic in many of us, especially the ‘Starry-Eyed’ personnel on the shop floor.

It must be said that the build up to February 14th can for some, be a distracting time on the production line. Amused anticipation is on open display, as your very own ‘Tim and Dawn’ are observed blushing their way around ‘The Office’.

But with all the ‘Endless Love’ flowing, what of the ‘bemused’ boss that not only has to manage his or her ‘Hopelessly Devoted’ team members but plan and schedule their last-minute ‘Love Rendezvous’?

It’s widely accepted that the most popular place to meet your ‘significant other’ is in the workplace. You spend more time there than anywhere else, so it makes ‘Perfect’ sense that ‘Love Is All Around’ doesn’t it?

Whilst opportunities present themselves more easily on the shop floor and when the time is right, ‘L.O.V.E’ is not always a surprise but after the first flush of romance, what happens when ‘Tim and Dawn’ request the inevitable time off together?

Planning staff holidays for any manager can be a headache, if not a vast military exercise; nothing works, nothing gels, nothing fits! Throw in an eleventh hour mini-break request from ‘John’ in sales and ‘Kayleigh’ in accounts and you get the idea. Two employees who not only work on the same team but the same project.

Here at ELF, we understand the situation completely when ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ with your current processes but be assured, with the right software in place, not only will Ceequel® become ‘the one that you want’ this Valentine’s Day but it will render everything ‘Perfect’ for both you AND your team.

Staff planning a last-minute get-away? Forget Booking.com as nothing books or confirms a holiday request faster than Ceequel® Employee Self Service.

Deployed on a kiosk or via an employee’s PC, smart phone or tablet, Employee Self Service completely removes the paper trail and gives total administration control to employees. Staff can immediately establish who on their team has already been granted a leave of absence.

So, with that in mind and apart from ‘The One’ make Ceequel® software the additional ‘significant other’ that you #Love this Valentine’s Day.

If you are interested in a Biometric Time and Attendance system to work with your Human Resources department, contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a free no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Alternatively, our brochure catalogue can be downloaded here.

Are You Ready To Take On 2020?

Happy New Year and welcome to the 20’s!

2020 heralds not just a new year but a new decade. What is 2020 already saying to you and the future of your business? The culture-trends for the coming year and indeed the decade have already been mapped out.

So, the question is, are you ready to take on 2020?

Brexit

You genuinely didn’t think the ‘B’ word wouldn’t come into play, did you? On the 31st January the word we have all come to know so intimately will be consigned to Room 101 forever. A word that symbolises everything that is amiss encompassing an institution known as the European Union.

The time, ladies and gents, has FINALLY arrived.

Boris’s current default-setting is “Let’s get on and get Brexit done”. Once ‘done’ Brexit in its current state will no longer be part of the British vocab……unless it resurfaces as a breakfast cereal.

“BREXIT, a new way to start your morning”.

Avoid, unless you are looking for something that is VERY slow-releasing and takes some considerable time to digest!

Our departure from the EU and our somewhat ‘touchy’ European cousins will herald a new beginning for the UK. More freedom and greater opportunities.

Will 2020 be the year that the ‘Great’ is at last put back into Britain’s manufacturing?

Tech Life

“I get up when I want to except on Wednesdays’ when I get rudely awakened by the dustmen”. No, not ‘90’s Parklife but ‘20’s Tech Life!

Just to clarify robots are NOT taking over the planet, humans are NOT about to join Brexit in Room 101 but in the upcoming decade there WILL be an immense drive towards further AI and Automation implementation.

Autonomous driving is just one area where a change is expected to manifest in 2020. Tesla mogul Elon Musk has already declared that he expects his company to create a ‘fully complete’ autonomous vehicle by this year.

Ambitious, yes but practical and safe? You decide, as the jury is still out.

Well-Being

When you think of well-being, you instantly think of a ‘zen-like’ image. Not so much for 2020. Whilst ‘mental well-being’ and ‘heads together’ have been the buzzwords for 2019, 2020 will be the year where greater importance is placed on ‘financial well-being’.

The coming year has already been earmarked to introduce monetary education into the workplace.

Many causes of workplace stress and absenteeism can usually be placed at the feet of ‘The Management’ but all ribbing aside, financial worries are no joke and over time they DO impact workplace productivity. Fears that can be addressed by managers taking the time to educate and support their staff.

As always, a happy and contented workforce = better and greater productivity.

So, looking ahead, could 2020 be the year that we not only see Made in Great Britain back in business but the year that YOU see a British solution transform YOUR business?

Ceequel® a real-time Biometric Time and Attendance Management system that incorporates Human Resources, Employee Self Service and Access Control as standard options.

Contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software suite.

Or, alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.

Make 2020 the year that you invest in your future with Ceequel® software suite.

Holiday, Celebrate!

“If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate”

Thinking of taking some well-deserved time off? Of course, you are! Sun, sea, sand and sangria, what’s not to look forward to?

But, whilst lazing on your lounger soaking up the sun, the question is…. who’s on your shop floor?

Ah, the typical summer scenario, several staff members all requesting the same holiday time, the epitome of an archetypal working business. Nothing new there.

However, does it really need to be that demanding or that much of a nuisance to organise?

Artificial Intelligence

The arrival of AI is ruffling a few feathers within HR and if truth be told, on the shop floor. Reported recently by a leading HR magazine, that despite the pessimism surrounding AI, there has never been a better time or opportunity to up-skill your entire workforce.

But, whilst pondering this soundbite, have you stopped to think about Time and Attendance?

With the UK’s delayed Brexit departure and with job vacancies to fill, there’s a greater need for stability and for a Time Management solution that will deliver the whole ‘enchilada’ for UK business workforce management. Continue reading “Holiday, Celebrate!”

Send Her Victorious, Happy and Glorious

As anniversaries go, two hundred is quite remarkable.

This week the United Kingdom marks a very special day; the 200th Anniversary of the birth of one of its greatest monarchs, HM Queen Victoria.

Alexandrina Victoria was born at Kensington Palace on the 24th May 1819.

After what can only be described as an unconventional and solitary childhood, Victoria ascended to the throne upon the death of her paternal uncle, King William IV.

Victoria was just 18 years of age.

The new teenage Queen wasted no time in heading to her new ‘office’ and after dispatching her mother to the remotest wing she could possibly find, took up residence at the unfinished Buckingham Palace.

Following her Coronation and ensuing marriage to Prince Albert and with the fortitude that would eventually see her clock up 63 years on the throne, Victoria established her reign.

The ‘Grandmother of Europe’ the ‘Empress of India’ as she would eventually become known as, had arrived.

That’s not to say Victoria wasn’t without her testing times or critics. With cholera, death and assassination attempts, Victoria would emerge ‘victorious’ from the numerous challenges that arose during her time on the throne.

The Victorian era is perhaps attributed to be one of the greatest times for the United Kingdom and much of today’s successes and traditions were birthed during Victoria and Albert’s reign.

In 1829, George Stephenson’s steam locomotive, ‘Rocket’ was unveiled. This feat of engineering became the blueprint for modern design for the next 150 years.

Ada Lovelace, the remarkable mathematician who Prince Albert admired greatly, emerged during Victoria’s early reign due to her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.

Ada is considered perhaps to be, the first female computer programmer.

But what do we know about her Prince Charming, Albert?

Albert, a serious, dependable, logical thinker was at the forefront when it came to public health. Working alongside the Royal Society, Albert improved the hygiene and sanitation conditions for not only Buckingham Palace but the City of London as a whole. The Palace became one of the first ‘shop floors’ to provide ‘facilities’ for their staff.

With forward thinking, Albert achieved an even greater height with his vision of a ‘grand exhibition’.

The Grand Exhibition of Works and Industry in 1851 became a huge success and was showcased in a vast, flexible, glass construction that was essentially a conservatory.

Albert named the building Crystal Palace.

Victoria and Albert were at the forefront of change and modernisation, the effects of which the United Kingdom can still feel today.

So, all that remains for us to say is ‘Happy Birthday’ your Majesty!

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® not only Made in the UK but like V&A, progressive, dependable and reliable.

If you are interested in Biometric Time and Attendance software for your business, contact us today for a free, no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Explore ELF Productivity Ltd’s Time and Attendance software suite in more detail by downloading the brochure catalogue here.

Human Resources, Shop Floor Data Capture, Employee Self Service, Ceequel® Apps and E-Manager all fall under the Ceequel® umbrella.

Holding Out For A Hero

Here’s a question, which superhero do you identify with?

A bit random I know but with the release of Marvel’s Avengers Endgame the ‘super’ just got put back into hero.

Let’s be honest here, in your head you ARE Thor, you ARE Wonder Woman but in a real-life situation would others see you similarly?

Do you have an alter-ego, one perhaps that you aren’t even aware of? Are you Thor at play but Loki on the shop floor?

So, the question again, which superhero would you best associate yourself with?

First into the arena we have Steve Rogers AKA Captain America.

For some, Captain America IS the ultimate superhero. He’s honest, humble and loyal but more importantly dependable. He’s prepared to go that extra mile, no matter what it costs him. All in all, a great guy and a true leader.

Next up we have partners-in-crime, Black Widow Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, AKA Hawkeye. Both highly skilled individuals but with no actual superpowers, they are limited to what they can achieve, hence their need for a notable ally. A solid correlation that produces great teamwork.

Next, we have the genius that is Bruce Banner better known by his alter ego The Hulk. Quiet, kind, but complex. As with most super intelligent personnel he can be solitary. He’s an asset to HR but comes with a slight emission caution.

Strutting into the arena with his trusty side-kick Pepper, we have Tony Stark. Iron Man is a self-made, flashy, playboy philanthropist. Tony and Pepper are an exceptional couple but Tony’s constant need for showy attention and air of narcissism highlights him more as the prima-donna of the team rather than a real leader.

S.H.I.E.L.D. We couldn’t sign off without mentioning the head honcho that is Nick Fury. Nick is for some, an honest, positive role model, the kingpin that keeps his team together. But is he all that he appears to be? Despite his authoritative role, can he truly be trusted?

Ceequel® not only a reliable and dependable Biometric Time and Attendance leader but the ONLY superhero you will ever need for your workforce Time Management requirements.

ELF Productivity Ltd and Ceequel® software suite; discover the ‘real’ Avengers on your shop floor.

If you are interested in a Human Resource Time Management software solution for your business, contact ELF Productivity Ltd today for a free, no obligation quotation and demonstration of Ceequel® software.

Alternatively, please feel free to download our brochure catalogue here.