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"On Technology evaluation centers (TEC) website, you'll find
links to the information and resources you need to make an informed Human Resource Management (HRM)
software selection."
Source: Technology Evaluation Centers
TEC Product Certification Report: SPECTRUM Human Resource Systems Corporation iVantage 5.0
HRS iVantage 5.0 is also known as :
Spectrum Human Resource Systems Corporation,
iVantage HRIS,
iVantage Evaluation,
HRS TEC Certification,
Spectrum Human Resource Information System,
HRS Evaluation,
Spectrum HRIS Products,
HRM,
iVantage 5.0 HR Software,
HRS Functions,
Human Resources Management,
HRS Features,
HRS Functions Features,
TEC Human Resource Management Software Selection,
Spectrum Human Resource Corporation's iVantage 5.0,
TEC HRMS Evaluation Center,
Technology Evaluation Centers HRM Software System,
HRS Criteria,
Standard Payroll Interfaces,
HRS Corporation Market Data Summary,
iVantage Payroll,
HR Payroll,
Human Resources Systems Corp,
HR Software,
HR System,
Human Resources Management System,
TEC Product Certification Report,
HRS Application.
Table of Contents
SPECTRUM iVantage 5.0 has been certified by
Sherry Fox, Manager, TEC's Research Analyst Group
Gabriel Gheorghiu, TEC Research Analyst
Demonstration conducted by
Ryan Bergstrom, SPECTRUM, Director of Product Development
Eric Greenberg, SPECTRUM, Director of Sales
Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) is pleased to announce that SPECTRUM
Human Resource Corporation's iVantage 5.0 is now TEC Certified.
TEC certification ensures that
- Spectrum's request for information (RFI) data has been reviewed analytically
and comparatively by a TEC analyst against known benchmarks;
- Spectrum's human resource information system (HRIS) product's capabilities
are demonstrated to a TEC analyst based on the responses it provided in its
completed TEC RFI.
There are many benefits to evaluating a TEC Certified product.
To potential clients of a software vendor, TEC certification provides the
following:
- Reassurance: You can be assured that the data TEC provides
about its certified products conform to a well-defined standard of accuracy.
When a vendor's product is TEC Certified, it means that a trusted, independent
third party has seen the product up close and verified that it provides the
functionality as specified in our Evaluation Centers.
- Better Communication with Vendors: TEC certification helps
ensure that vendors understand and respond accurately to their clients' RFI
criteria. Certification with TEC analysts provides the opportunity to clarify
any issues with the RFI criteria so the vendor is speaking the same language as
its potential clients—and giving the clients an unambiguous specification of
product functionality to inform their selections.
The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations that rely on
the integrity of TEC's research services for assistance with their software
selection projects. Organizations looking for a solution can be confident that
they're comparing the product on an "apples to apples" basis with other similar
products.
Founded in 1984, privately held company SPECTRUM Human Resource Systems
Corporation (Spectrum) provides software solutions for use in human resources
management (HRM), benefits administration, training management, and applicant
tracking. In addition to developing software, Spectrum provides a range of
in-house support services, including system planning and implementation,
training, system customizations, data conversion and data transfer services,
systems consulting, and hotline support.
Spectrum's HR systems have been licensed to more than 5,000 public- and
private-sector companies throughout the US as well as internationally. Its
clients range from small start-up companies to Global 100 companies. Spectrum is
headquartered in Denver, Colorado (US) and has over 30 offices worldwide, and
more than 130 employees. Health care, professional services, and the financial
industry are just a few of the market segments it serves.
Spectrum's sole focus is on maintaining a "best of breed" position in HR
systems. iVantage is a fully integrated, Web-based HRIS that combines core HR
data with performance and talent management, employee and manager self-service
functionality, benefits administration, and compensation administration, and
also includes a suite of flexible reporting tools.
General
At first glance, iVantage provides a pleasant and user-friendly experience. The
screens are configurable for all types of users (and not just those in HR). The
homepage can be customized to include such items as company links, weather
forecasts, news, or announcements (e.g., "Employee of the Month").
Managers can be alerted to action items for specific tasks upon login to the
system. Date-based alerts allow users to be notified of specific upcoming events
such as performance reviews or employee birthdays.
Product/Implementation
iVantage 5.0 was released in January 2009. It is a three-tiered solution that
was developed using .NET 3.5 and runs on SQL 2008. The application is offered as
both a subscription (license) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) model.
The average implementation time frame is two to six months. A four-day on-site
meeting with the client is provided, during which SPECTRUM works with the
client's users to create a project plan for implementation.
All implementation services are provided by SPECTRUM employees.
Software Training
Training for this application includes two days of simple navigation classes for
end users, and two days of system administrator classes. Four-day training
classes (two two-day classes) are typically provided by SPECTRUM.
Multiple levels of training are available to new clients as well as refresher
courses for existing clients. Classes range from introductory to advanced
learning. SPECTRUM provides advanced customization classes as well as advanced
report writing classes.
All services and support are handled directly by SPECTRUM employees.
Localization and Language
While iVantage supports only US requirements and compliance laws, localization
can be accommodated as a customization (fully supporting Unicode), allowing for
the entire application to be translated into any language.
Employee Self-service
SPECTRUM iVantage 5.0 has an employee self-service feature called iVantage
ConnectTM. It provides open enrollment advantages to employees. Alerts through
the self-service tool are provided to both employees and their supervisors via
e-mail whenever an employee becomes eligible for benefits.
Other information is available to employees through the employee self-service
function, including pay stubs and pay history, time-off request forms, courses
and seminars taken, achievements and accomplishments, and more.
Benefits
Benefits set-up (e.g., plans, options, contribution amounts, and eligibility and
waiting periods) as well as employee enrollments can all be administered through
iVantage. However, employee deduction amounts must be transferred to the payroll
carrier (e.g., ADP) using iVantage LinkTM. By the same token, employee enrollment
changes that the benefit carrier must be aware of must also be transferred via
iVantage Link.
Payroll/Training
iVantage does not offer a payroll module. Some HR fields can be tracked and
communicated through to payroll, but the payroll itself is not processed through
iVantage. iVantage provides standard payroll interfaces with such companies as
ADP, Ceridian, Cort Paycor, and Paychex. An international payroll interface
allows information about employees to be stored and displayed in their local
currency. The system also provides the ability to import/export data to various
benefits carriers.
While enhanced training functionality is a future consideration for iVantage,
employees can currently take advantage of certain features, including the
ability to update their skills and training as well as view their personal
training history. This feature enables users to see which skills and
qualifications are required and which training is necessary for future position
considerations.
Out of the box, iVantage supports the ability for employees to review course
catalogues. The ability to search for courses by specific criteria (e.g.,
scheduling calendars and details) would need to be customized.
Time and Attendance/Tracking
Time and attendance can be handled by NOVAtime, Kronos, and ADP ETime. In 2010,
SPECTRUM will be adding its own time and attendance module—removing the need to
work with third-party support.
Integration Options
Import and export of data (e.g., time and attendance information) is handled
though iVantage Link.
Reporting Options
Employee metrics and the ability to produce reports (such as staff headcount, HR
budgeting, turnover trends analysis, etc.) are fully supported out of the box.
The report scheduling feature allows users to generate reports at a specific
time on a specific day. Reports can also be generated in local currency or in
the default currency.
Future Plans
Over the next two years, modules that are currently available on the 4.x
platform will be enhanced and released on the 5.x platform. 5.x will offer users
enhanced features such as a drag-and-drop task editor, drop-down menu task
launchers, task auto-saving, absence forecasting, a spell checker, and more.
SPECTRUM Tools and Modules
- iVantage Link
- OrgPublisher
- Employee Self-Service powered by iVantage Connect
Ease of Use
- Layout: Single-site sign-on means there is no need to jump
from one module to another. Each module is accessible from the same login
screen.
- Search capabilities: The system has extensive search
capabilities. It also provides a drop-down menu for easier searching (e.g., upon
typing the first few letters of a word, the system recognizes all entries that
start with those letters, and the user can simply choose the appropriate entry).
- Performing tasks: Alerts show users which tasks are
awaiting action. To-do lists can be added manually, and can include follow-ups
which are placed on the user's homepage. Alerts can be "date-based" (e.g.,
performance review and birthdays).
- Employee Self-service: Employees can access information
easily (i.e., employee handbooks, pay information, benefit information, etc.).
News and other items can be displayed directly on the employee's homepage in the
self-service tool.
Workflow Design
- Information retrieval: The "My People" panel on the
homepage allows managers to quickly and easily click on the profile of one of
their employees and find out everything they need to know about that employee
(e.g., contact details, absences, vacation accrued, etc.).
- E-mail notifications: Tasks that are coming—or are
overdue—can be sent via e-mail as an alert. The system also provides the ability
to approve tasks electronically.
- Calendars: Items added to a calendar in the system can be
downloaded to Microsoft Outlook. Time-off requests entered in iVantage go
directly to the inbox of the employee's supervisor.
- Security: Windows authentication can be used instead of a
password.
- Reporting capabilities: iVantage provides over 100 standard
out-of-the-box reports. It also provides users with the ability to build reports
based on anything they need that is available from the database. iVantage uses
the Microsoft reporting services engine Report Builder. Available output formats
are .csv, .xls, .pdf, .doc, .tiff, and .html.
- Loading time: There is a two-to-four second "loading" time
between screens.
- Interface: there are two options for the payroll interface:
- a flat file (using iVantage Link) that is exported from iVantage and
imported into the payroll system (e.g., to ADP)
- Web service integration, where data is passed from one system to another
Ease of Modification
- Setup: iVantage provides customizable setup (per user)
capabilities. Fields such as "my open tasks," "my to-do list," "my favorites,"
and more, can be easily set up by an administrator.
- Flexibility: iVantage comes with a
what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) "tailoring tool" with drag-and-drop
features that enable the user to move tabs around the screen, or to add or
delete them. New fields from the database can also be added as needed (e.g.,
date, time, images, and files).
- Integration capabilities: iVantage can easily integrate
with third-party providers (e.g., benefits, payroll, and time and attendance).
- Localization: iVantage supports only US requirements and
compliance laws, but localization can be accommodated via customization.
Innovation
- New features: An information summary link is provided on
various screens (e.g., employees can click on it to see a summary of their
benefits).
- Spell-check: This feature checks spelling in various
free-form text fields (e.g., a comments field).
- Security: security has been tested from both a user and a
technical perspective, using a technique that involves users literally trying to
"hack into the system".
Payroll service providers like ADP and Ceridian, and tier-one vendors such as
SAP, Oracle, and Lawson, as well as boutique HR vendors like NuView and
PerfectSoftware are some of SPECTRUM's main competitors. Some of iVantage's key
advantages over its competitors, in our opinion, are flexibility and automation.
Using the TEC Advisor decision support engine, we have prepared a few high-level
graphs that identify this product's functional focus.
Explanation of Graphs
The following graphs represent the various modules within TEC's HRMS evaluation
center. In figure 1, these modules are depicted in a baseline contribution
analysis graph. The graph shows the modules that contribute the most or least to
its overall functionality against a benchmark, which assumes that all modules
are of equal relevance.
The second graph is a prioritized contribution analysis graph (figure 2). The
benchmark is prioritized to represent the likely requirements of Spectrum's
target clientele. We increased the priority for areas of high functionality by
removing some of the priority from areas of low functionality. If your needs
tend to match those of the target clientele, this product would merit further
evaluation. The information shown in this graph can be broken down as follows:
- When the blue line (the graph of functionality supported by the product)
overlaps the red line (the importance of each module within the overall
solution), it means that the product provides a mix of functionality appropriate
for a target clientele with similar requirements.
- Where the blue line is higher than the red line, the product provides
functionality that may exceed the requirements.
- Where the blue line is lower than the red line, the product is likely to
provide a less-than-ideal mix of functionality for the client's requirements.
Any organization whose priorities are similar to the benchmark would essentially
do well to consider Spectrum iVantage 5.0.
TEC's RFI: HR Main Modules
- Personnel Management
- Benefits
- Payroll
- Workforce Management
- Training
Baseline Contribution Analysis
If you consider all your priorities as equal, this is how the vendor's product
would meet your requirements. The red benchmark line represents equally weighted
priorities.
Prioritized Contribution Analysis
If you have priorities that are similar to the product's supported capabilities,
your priorities would more likely resemble the red benchmark line below.
Based on TEC's comprehensive model of HR systems, SPECTRUM iVantage 5.0 clearly
designs its product to target a clientele that requires personnel management,
benefits, and training functionality, but puts less emphasis on those requiring
workforce management. As far as payroll is concerned, while SPECTRUM does not
offer a full Payroll module, iVantage is capable of handling the HR data that
gets interfaced to the payroll provider. This is why the above graph indicates a
relatively high score for payroll.
Competitive Analysis
By comparing Spectrum iVantage 5.0 to the average-, lowest-, and highest-rated
competitors in the HR space (see figure 3), we can clearly see where this
product can do well to serve its target customer.
Personnel management and benefits are all closely rated in comparison to the
highest-rated competitor in the HR space. These particular areas are two of
iVantages' strengths.
Some other areas that we consider to be Spectrum's strengths are capabilities
that were not measured in this comparison (based on its RFI responses), but
rather were areas that came to light during the product demonstration. These
include flexibility, customizability, automation, and quick and easy information
retrieval.
Some other areas that we consider to be iVantage's strengths are capabilities
that were not measured in this comparison (based on its RFI responses), but
rather were areas that came to light during the product demonstration. These
include flexibility, customizability, automation, and quick and easy information
retrieval.
iVantage's payroll, training, and time and attendance are all handled through
third-party providers. While SPECTRUM is not a payroll vendor, the iVantage
application does support the HR data that gets transferred to the payroll
provider. Although SPECTRUM has chosen to provide support through third-party
providers for payroll and other areas, companies that prefer an all-in-one
solution may find this approach less than ideal.
Career development, workforce planning and administration, training, as well as
some employee self-service capabilities, are areas that SPECTRUM has identified
for an iVantage future release.
An area for further improvement for iVantage, in our opinion, would be workforce
management. While iVantage scores moderately in workforce management (42.75)
based on the graph below (figure 3), the solution is still be below the
average-rated competitor. While workforce management capabilities are easily
customizable using the link interface utility (iVantage Link), many of the
functionalities covered within our RFI and the graph below (figure 3) are not
offered out of the box.
HR Main Modules
To put SPECTRUM iVantage in perspective, the graph below provides three sets of
competitive data benchmarks.
- The iVantage rating displays the level of support for
functionality and services provided by iVantage.
- The Average competitor rating displays the overall average
level of support for functionality provided by all the certified products within
TEC's model of HR solutions.
- The Competitor with the Lowest Rating is a real product. It
indicates the overall lowest level of support for functionality (based on TEC's
model of HR solutions).
- The Competitor with the Highest Rating is a real product.
It indicates the overall highest level of support for functionality (based on
TEC's model of HR solutions).
Overall, Spectrum iVantage 5.0 is a highly flexible and scalable solution for
the mid-market business. With its robust personnel management and benefits
modules, iVantage is a good solution for businesses that view these elements as
high priorities.
Spectrum takes its customers' opinions very seriously and as such continues to
enhance and develop the iVantage solution with its customers' needs in mind. Its
primary focus is on the "user experience." Eric Greenburg, Spectrum's Director
of Sales, told us during the certification meeting that it's important for
Spectrum to know that the way the system is designed will "make it worthwhile
logging in every day."
The fact that the application is offered in both a subscription (license) and
software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, makes it much more readily available to the
market as a whole.
Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) helps private- and public-sector
organizations choose the best enterprise software solutions for their unique
business needs—quickly, impartially, and cost-effectively. TEC's online
Evaluation Centers, containing IT research and extensive knowledge bases that
catalog vendors' support for thousands of enterprise software features and
functions, are the leading resource for IT decision makers around the world. By
combining that information with a proven methodology, unique Web-based software
selection platforms, and years of software selection expertise, TEC delivers an
unmatched range of online software evaluation and selection services that bridge
the gap between enterprise decision makers and the vendor/value-added reseller
(VAR) community.
Technology Evaluation Centers Inc.
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Montreal, Quebec
Canada, H3C 1L5
Phone: +1 514-954-3665
Toll-free: 1-800-496-1303
Fax: +1 514-954-9739
E-mail:
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