Press Releases - Time & Access Systems

Sheraton Brisbane controls labour costs using GenesisPro

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Sheraton Brisbane, one of the largest city hotel and event facilities, is proactively controlling its labour costs while improving customer service with a Time & Access installed labour management system, GenesisPro.Sheraton Brisbane, like most other large hotels, has an enormous focus on productivity with the goal of managing these costs to within an inch of their necessary levels. Genesis Pro, together with suitable data collection devices has empowered Sheraton Brisbane with the capability to monitor and drive their staff productivity to new levels. Sheraton Brisbane implemented Genesis Pro in late 2003 with the aim of improving productivity control and enabling the organisation to respond today to the productivity statistics from yesterday.

The Problem

The Sheraton's ability to push productivity forward was severely hampered by their systems, as all productivity information was drawn from their manual, fortnightly timesheet based payroll system. The finance department recognised that in order to drive productivity harder, they needed to have access to actual staff hours worked, the day after they were worked, rather than a fortnight later when the information was old. This would enable management to modify hours in following days and target departmental budgets with much more precision than previously achieved.

The Solution

Genesis Pro offers Sheraton Brisbane the ability to implement a cost-effective solution for right now, that:

Enables Sheraton to make savings through reducing distortion of timesheets. Biometric terminals ensure all staff times are actual and are recorded by that employee. This can eliminate buddy punching, and even minor rounding distortions. Innaccuracies of 10 to 15 minutes per employee per day across 400 staff, represents savings of between $350,000 and $600,000 per year.
Manages the rostering process and allows it to drive hard into the productivity management process.
Automates the timesheeting process and will interface with most popular payroll systems. This has saved Sheraton Brisbane in the outsourcing of their timesheet data entry which is no longer necessary; and greatly reduces time taken for payroll preparation each fortnight.
Allows Managers to break down costs of all processes and compare them against revenue on a daily basis. For Instance, the Banquets division can track their set crew; wait staff and bar staff separately and monitor against daily and function revenue to ensure effective processes.
Enables Sheraton Financial Management to draw out custom reports to measure their productivity on a daily basis. They can now respond today to spikes or slumps felt yesterday in the productivity matrix and can bring their period in on budget with a lot more precision.
Manages the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and Award issues that are fundamental to the hospitality industry in an intuitive manner.
Shifts responsibility for productivity control from the payroll clerks to the departmental supervisors/managers through the establishment of simple, systems based review procedures.
Allows departments to cost individual processes and justify capital expenditure based on labour cost savings. One of the Sheraton restaurants monitored the cost of cutlery polishing over a two month period and was able to establish the business case for the purchase of a $20,000 cutlery polishing machine through their ability to accurately quantify labour cost savings.

Sheraton Brisbane are Extremely satisfied with their decision to roll out Genesis Pro

"We took a risk, put it in, and it paid off!"
Rick Nothard, Financial Controller, Sheraton Brisbane

"Not only do we get more accurate timesheets, but we can now compare costs vs revenue on any particular function, bar or process on the very next day."
Banquet Manager, Sheraton Brisbane

"We could have sat back and waited for a management company or owner to introduce a large system worth millions in ten years, or we can do as we have done, and get on with it, making a small outlay and seeing large savings, right now."
Rick Nothard, Financial Controller, Sheraton Brisbane

For more information please contact us

Do you really know when your employees are working?

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -1000

Are you a victim of Buddy Punching? Are your staff there when you think they are? Biometric time collection devices can change the way you rely on your employees.

Scenario

It's 9:00 AM and you are a Supervisor who needs to speak with an employee on your team. According to the status board, this employee clocked in at 8:00 AM but, when you arrive at the employee's work area, you discover that no one is there. After some investigation, you discover that this employee and another co-worker have been clocking in and out for each other for the past 6 months. You're the victim of Buddy Punching.

Take Action

If your company's current data collection solution allows employees to clock in and out for each other, the losses in time and dollars can be serious. One of the most proven methods for avoiding the pitfalls of Buddy Punching is to implement a Biometric Hand Punch system. Instead of relying on badges which can be lost, stolen or given to a co-worker, Biometric Hand Punch units use the unique geometry of each employee's hand to validate identity and enable clocking in and out.

Return on Investment

Whether you are implementing an automated time and labour management solution for the first time or upgrading from an existing system, your company's investments can be maximized by incorporating a Biometric unit into your time and attendance strategy. While the upfront investment for a Hand Punch unit is more than a traditional data collection terminal, the return on investment is significantly enhanced because biometric devices do not require costly badges and perform a variety of functions more effectively. In addition to recording employee times, Biometric Hand Punch Units can control access to restricted areas and monitor productivity in a multitude of industries including manufacturing/distribution, finance, health care services, hospitality, retail and many others.

The bottom line

Accurate tracking of employee time is essential to determining productivity, and Biometry provides an effective means of collecting this type of data. If your company is at risk of Buddy Punching, a Biometric Hand Punch Unit, could be the solution that can save your company time, money and resources that would be otherwise lost.

Updating your Time and Attendance System: Building a Business Case

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -1000

Embarking on the task of updating your labour management system can be a daunting project, but it doesn't have to be. The following tips may help you to make this process a win-win for all parties involved.

Select a project champion

Assign a project champion to spearhead the project and facilitate information gathering. This should be someone who has thorough knowledge of your labour management processes and organisational structure so that he or she can effectively interact with other key people and departments.

Gain Management Support

Meet with all departments and executive staff who are directly or indirectly affected by the project. Gather their feedback on which labour management processes they want to improve and what features and functions they want in a new time and labour management system.

Evaluate Procedures vs. Practices

What is said or put on paper is not always done. Assess what best practices your organisation should implement and what procedures need to be re-addressed to make this happen. Here are some additional things to consider:

What processes should be automated to reduce time-consuming manual processes?
How can you improve accuracy and consistency of time and data tracking?
How do you define employee and manager satisfaction from a system?

Think long term

Take into account things that your workforce and operations need from a labour management system on a yearly basis. For example:

Do you need reporting for year-end assessment and new year planning?
What types of longer-term time and data should the system be able to handle? (For example: leave-time, scheduling, activities/projects, etc.)
Define the qualitative and quantitative ROI objectives you want to achieve.

A labour management system doesn't affect just your workforce. It impacts your company's operations, productivity and ultimately - the bottom line. When proactive thinking and planning is done, updating an outdated or supported time and labour management system is one of the most beneficial things a company can do for itself. Most importantly, upgrading your labour management system can help your company to focus on the most important part of all: your core business.

Brisbane company strikes major distribution agreement with Time America

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -1000

Brisbane based technology solution provider, Time & Access Systems (www.timeandaccess.com.au) announced that they have been awarded major distributor status by Time America Inc. (www.timeamerica.com), to sell and service their leading time and attendance software and hardware systems.

Time & Access Systems will lead the charge into the east- and west-coast marketplaces in and around Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

“The suite of innovative time and labour management solutions produced by Time America help companies solve a wide range of time and attendance, HR and payroll issues related to workforce scheduling, job costing, labour distribution and benefits management. These products offer businesses of all sizes the ability reduce labour costs by up to 10% through accurate attendance recording, improved rostering and real time job costing,” said Managing Director of Time & Access Systems, Harry Simpson.

Proving themselves as a major distributor through sustained sales volumes, Time & Access Systems now has direct access to Time America’s superior support and technical expertise, previously unavailable through other international suppliers.

“This is a major milestone for Time & Access Systems. We’re expanding our operations to accommodate the continued growth we are experiencing in all areas of our business,” said Harry Simpson.

“We are very pleased to announce our major distributor status as it ensures better support for our sales and technical teams as well as better prices and cutting edge technology for our customers,” said Harry.

Time & Access Systems
Time & Access Systems have been operating since 2001. They have grown from a small base in Brisbane, to the current nation-wide base employing additional teams in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Their comprehensive time and attendance systems are used by a wide range of high profile clients, including RSPCA, Sheraton Hotels, Gabba Stadium, AUR Supermarkets, Poolrite and Dicey Rileys. Time & Access Systems are in the process of expanding their business operations in Qld, NSW,Vic and WA. www.timeandaccess.com.au

Time America
Time America, Inc. (TMAM.OB) has been providing innovative time and labour management solutions since 1988. By leveraging innovative technology, their family of software and hardware solutions helps organisations track and transform basic labour data into strategic information that improves workforce productivity and the utilisation of labour resources. Time America solutions are used by more than 20,000 companies worldwide including ARAMARK Corporation, the University of Southern California, Thrifty Rental Car, the Texas Legislative Council and the Mesa Air Group. www.timeamerica.com