Press releaseMonday 27 October 2008

Recruiters should review back office systems to mitigate economic uncertainty

• New suite of online tools for recruiters launched by giant

As market conditions start to become tougher, recruiters can mitigate the effects by boosting the efficiency of their back office systems instead, says contractor services provider giant group plc.

Enhancing the technology behind their back office systems, can at once deliver significant cost savings and boost efficiencies and service levels, says giant.

One small example of where the use of new technology can reap dividends is in contract processing. It is estimated that online contract processing alone could save the staffing industry 5-10% of its back office processing costs per contractor.

Matthew Brown, Managing Director, of giant group, comments: “Improving back office systems through technology can help recruiters cut costs and boost productivity as well as improving revenues and service levels. During challenging trading conditions this can produce much better returns and, when improved trading conditions reappear, increased sales can leverage off efficient back office systems delivering much improved net margins.”

He adds: “Back office systems should not be viewed as just a cost. They can be an important differentiator. Technology can really help recruiters deliver better service levels, helping attract both clients and contractors, and underpin existing relationships at a time when many clients will be looking to cut back on recruitment suppliers and rein in spending.”

Having worked with selected recruitment agency clients over the last couple of years, giant has fully launched a suite of online recruitment management tools designed to automate recruiters’ back office systems and deliver significant efficiency and service improvements. The suite of tools, launched as giant precision (www.giantprecision.com), can be used as stand alone modules or fully integrated to provide a complete, secure online back office system. A number of breakfast seminars are being held in November and December.

The giant precision tools are designed to accelerate workflow, enhance security of information, and facilitate the recruitment industry’s adoption of paperless office systems. The integrated suite incorporates timesheet management, billing, payroll, contracts and HR compliance, background checking and BACS disaster recovery. Each tool is accessed through secure, web-based portals, which are agency branded.

One of the newest modules added to the giant precision range is an automated web-based service that provides checks on employees and third parties. The number and complexity of statutory background checks recruiters are required to undertake has mushroomed in recent years, to include areas such as pre-employment, identity checking, right to work, criminal records and money laundering. The penalties for non-compliance can be unlimited fines and even prison sentences.

Note: Established in 1992, giant group specialises in providing services to recruitment agencies, temporary workers, freelancers and contractors. The range of services include agency back office solutions from giant precision – timesheet management, billing, payroll, contract management, pre-employment and background checking, BACS disaster recovery – and giant umbrella payroll services where giant is the professional employer organisation employing and payrolling the temporary workers and contractors.

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