Decisions, decisions. Before deciding whether or not it would be wise to purchase an integrated HR solution you need to understand what the other option is. An ASP is a company that provides on-demand-software services and support; including human resource management software. They give you access to the software and to their services via remote servers. You therefore need no new equipment of your own, because the ASP owns everything. They own the HR Technology, including all modules (payroll modules, time management modules, expense modules, training modules, etc.). They also own and operate the servers where the software has been installed and where they will keep your information. You pay them either a per use fee or a set monthly or yearly fee depending on your organizations needs.
Specialized HR solutions are sometimes very expensive and the implementation can also be very complex. Specialized hardware, servers, etc, may also be needed. An ASP can drastically reduce the initial costs of implementing an effective HR Technology by spreading software and hardware costs over a large number of clients. The ASP will also take care of any needed upgrades or software updates for you. Since ASPs use the same software to cater to so many different clients they also gain valuable experience which makes them more qualified when it comes to running and operating the software.
For these reasons, many experts recommend that small to medium size businesses use ASPs instead of in house solutions. Large corporations on the other hand would probably benefit from purchasing an Integrated HR Technology solution but this all depends on the company's particular needs.
One of the fastest growing concerns that HR Managers have to address is employee internet misusage. It is estimated that corporations are losing millions of dollars annually in lost work hours due to employee internet misusage. This includes, employees writing and answering personal emails during work hours, surfing the web for things that are unrelated to the job, playing internet games instead of working, chatting, etc. Fortunately for Human Resource managers, new and sophisticated surveillance software now enables them to track internet usage and misusage.
Software such as NetSpy Pro, Netvizer, Netsweeper, etc., allow human resource staff to monitor employee online behavior. It is now possible to literally get real time snapshots of employee screens, or view logs of chat conversations, view web page histories, monitor email activity, see what applications were being run at any given time, etc.
But the key to a successful internet monitoring campaign is to first establish clear guidelines as to what employees are allowed to do on the web and then make it clear that the corporate network is subject to internal monitoring. You don't have to tell them that you can see snapshots of their screens at any given moment but do advise them that they are subject to monitoring. That way, employees who violate company rules will have no excuses.