Last month we announced 'Project Big Cloud', and briefly mentioned the exciting new features we are bringing to Quick-Recruit.
We can now give you a sneak preview slideshow video giving a taster of some of the new screens and functions that are coming soon. Note: When playing the video it's best played in full screen.
We'll be following up over the next month or so wth some videos of the new software in action. But if you have any questions before then, just let us know.
Showing posts with label Recruitment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recruitment. Show all posts
Monday, 25 July 2011
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Project Big Cloud
It's been a while since my last post, so much is going on that I've had to take a break from blogging to focus on some exciting and major business & product developments for i-Business Resources. I'll be bringing you more news on all of these soon, but for now here's a quick update on new software developments - codenamed 'Project Big Cloud'.
Currently due for release in September, our current development project (known as ‘Big Cloud’) is set to deliver to the UK recruitment market an up-dated system interface for Quick-Recruit (the Cloud based Recruitment Enterprise Management solution), as well as a new module, functions and features.
Project ‘Big-Cloud’ builds on the existing web-based technology behind i-BR's Quick-Recruit software, and the already integrated front to back-office solution. Quick-Recruit will provide improved designs for an enhanced user experience, integrated Compliance management functions (including Working Time Regulations compliance), and much more.
New modules will also provide the ability for Agency’s to give their client's web-based access to their system for a range of services. These will include Vacancy/Application management, Timesheet approval, and on-line Invoices. This delivers software that leverages the power of the Internet Cloud to bring parties in the recruitment process together into one big software solution.
As part of Project Big Cloud we'll also be extending support of Quick-Recruit to browsers running on Tablets and other mobile devices. No need for special Apps, you will get the full system available to you through your devices web browser.
As part of Project Big Cloud we'll also be extending support of Quick-Recruit to browsers running on Tablets and other mobile devices. No need for special Apps, you will get the full system available to you through your devices web browser.
We are all very excited at i-BR about project Big Cloud. We'll be announcing the full content of the new upgrade soon, and also providing a sneak preview at the new software for any Agency looking at moving to a modern cloud-based solution.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Tablet Technology (and why this is important for the recruitment industry)
The Consumer Electronics Show kicked off this week in Las Vegas, this key diary event for the technology industry gives us a pointer as to what technology providers feel will be the big news and trends in 2011. Tablets it seems are this years hot news with launches by manufacturers such as Vizio, Toshiba (see video below showing their new Tablet), Motorola, LG, Dell, and Microsoft.
In addition to these new launches, we already have the publicised launch of the Blackberry Playbook and Apple is expected to be launching a new version of the iPad during 2011. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is already launched and in the build up to Christmas we have seen price cutting making this an affordable device. This will probably help ensure the early high prices for Tablets will fall and make these affordable and much more attractive devices for users during 2011.
However, perhaps even more important is the new software launches that are going hand-hand with the hardware developments. Google for instance have announced the launch of their new Android 3.0 operating system (Honeycomb).
Developed specifically with Tablets and their larger screens in mind, the developments are pulling operating systems from their Smartphone routes to become alternatives to PC operating systems such as Microsoft Windows. At the same time, Microsoft launched Windows Phone 7 in 2010. This is now running on Tablets as an alternative (or complimentary to, depending on your view point) to laptop use running Windows 7.
If this focus by manufacturers and software developers is anything to go by, Tablets and the continued growth of mobile technology are indeed the big news for 2011.
So aren't Tablets just big Smartphones?
Tablet technology has grown from the developments in hardware, software, and mobile broadband technology that already exists for Smartphones. But, Tablets represent more than only an up-sizing of existing Smartphones. What we see now are two things.
Firstly, a convergence of Laptop and Smartphone technology is happening. This convergence gives us extremely portable, but extremely useable, devices that will make mobile technology use even more widespread. Already over 50% of people (and growing) now have Smartphones, and the adoption of Tablets will see more people using mobile technology but in richer and wider ways.
Secondly, the rise of viable alternative operating systems to Windows signals an end to the PC/ Microsoft Windows dominance in how we use technology. This is not to say PC use and Windows are dead, more that we will now see a more fragmented market with different people preferring to use different types of devices and operating systems for both business and personal use.
Why is this important to the Recruitment Industry?
We've already seen a migration of recruitment activity to the Internet environment as recruiters seek out Candidates through Social Media channels. These strategies are set to continue, but perhaps in slightly different ways, as more and more users interact with information and other people through the Internet as mobile communications become easier and more convenient.
However, as Candidates become more used to mobile interaction with information this will inevitably also lead to increased demands for access to information such as Interview and Assignment details, Online Timesheets, and Payslips etc. It won't only be online recruitment strategies therefore that are required, online service strategies will also become important for Agencies and recruiters.
In the same way as Candidates will be seeking mobile services, Employers and Recruitment Agency personnel will also be wishing to access mobile services to interact with each other. This again requires agencies to develop Internet cloud strategies for how these will be delivered and to address the needs for office based access, mobile, and home working.
With these changes in user behaviour and expectations we should not overlook the IT strategies and policies of a business. In the past it was simple, your company supplied the PC and defined the software to run and use. With the fragmentation of the software market this will not be either a practical solution or desirable.
Users will develop different preferences and even emotional attachments to different devices running different operating systems. The hardware/software strategies and IT policies for a recruitment business therefore will need to reflect these changes and, at the same time, encompass end users outside of your own company who will be accessing your systems and services as well.
The mobile future:
Tablets are the hot news amongst the IT industry for 2011. The convergence of hardware, software, and broadband access for mobile communications is delivering to us devices that expand and enrich mobile communications and information access for all of us.
It is important to not underestimate the speed and potential social changes that come hand-in-hand with technology developments. We all need to be ready for them and address strategies to help us both exploit potential and also meet customer demands. There are solutions for this, but the first step is to recognise the potential changes and start planning for them.
Tablets are a significant development, however don't expect this to be the end point for how our mobile communications develop. Below is a video from Microsoft showing a future view of how our communications use might develop.
This is of course only one view, but whichever direction we go one thing is for certain - mobile working and communications is set to grow, and this will happen quicker and in perhaps different ways than many of us at present can visualise.
In addition to these new launches, we already have the publicised launch of the Blackberry Playbook and Apple is expected to be launching a new version of the iPad during 2011. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is already launched and in the build up to Christmas we have seen price cutting making this an affordable device. This will probably help ensure the early high prices for Tablets will fall and make these affordable and much more attractive devices for users during 2011.
However, perhaps even more important is the new software launches that are going hand-hand with the hardware developments. Google for instance have announced the launch of their new Android 3.0 operating system (Honeycomb).
Developed specifically with Tablets and their larger screens in mind, the developments are pulling operating systems from their Smartphone routes to become alternatives to PC operating systems such as Microsoft Windows. At the same time, Microsoft launched Windows Phone 7 in 2010. This is now running on Tablets as an alternative (or complimentary to, depending on your view point) to laptop use running Windows 7.
If this focus by manufacturers and software developers is anything to go by, Tablets and the continued growth of mobile technology are indeed the big news for 2011.
So aren't Tablets just big Smartphones?
Tablet technology has grown from the developments in hardware, software, and mobile broadband technology that already exists for Smartphones. But, Tablets represent more than only an up-sizing of existing Smartphones. What we see now are two things.
Firstly, a convergence of Laptop and Smartphone technology is happening. This convergence gives us extremely portable, but extremely useable, devices that will make mobile technology use even more widespread. Already over 50% of people (and growing) now have Smartphones, and the adoption of Tablets will see more people using mobile technology but in richer and wider ways.
Secondly, the rise of viable alternative operating systems to Windows signals an end to the PC/ Microsoft Windows dominance in how we use technology. This is not to say PC use and Windows are dead, more that we will now see a more fragmented market with different people preferring to use different types of devices and operating systems for both business and personal use.
Why is this important to the Recruitment Industry?
We've already seen a migration of recruitment activity to the Internet environment as recruiters seek out Candidates through Social Media channels. These strategies are set to continue, but perhaps in slightly different ways, as more and more users interact with information and other people through the Internet as mobile communications become easier and more convenient.
However, as Candidates become more used to mobile interaction with information this will inevitably also lead to increased demands for access to information such as Interview and Assignment details, Online Timesheets, and Payslips etc. It won't only be online recruitment strategies therefore that are required, online service strategies will also become important for Agencies and recruiters.
In the same way as Candidates will be seeking mobile services, Employers and Recruitment Agency personnel will also be wishing to access mobile services to interact with each other. This again requires agencies to develop Internet cloud strategies for how these will be delivered and to address the needs for office based access, mobile, and home working.
With these changes in user behaviour and expectations we should not overlook the IT strategies and policies of a business. In the past it was simple, your company supplied the PC and defined the software to run and use. With the fragmentation of the software market this will not be either a practical solution or desirable.
Users will develop different preferences and even emotional attachments to different devices running different operating systems. The hardware/software strategies and IT policies for a recruitment business therefore will need to reflect these changes and, at the same time, encompass end users outside of your own company who will be accessing your systems and services as well.
The mobile future:
Tablets are the hot news amongst the IT industry for 2011. The convergence of hardware, software, and broadband access for mobile communications is delivering to us devices that expand and enrich mobile communications and information access for all of us.
It is important to not underestimate the speed and potential social changes that come hand-in-hand with technology developments. We all need to be ready for them and address strategies to help us both exploit potential and also meet customer demands. There are solutions for this, but the first step is to recognise the potential changes and start planning for them.
Tablets are a significant development, however don't expect this to be the end point for how our mobile communications develop. Below is a video from Microsoft showing a future view of how our communications use might develop.
This is of course only one view, but whichever direction we go one thing is for certain - mobile working and communications is set to grow, and this will happen quicker and in perhaps different ways than many of us at present can visualise.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
UK Recruitment Market confidence and technology views survey 2010
Introductioni-Business Resources (i-BR), in conjunction with UK Recruiter, conducted an online survey of UK recruitment professionals during October 2010. The survey covered attitudes on the current state of the recruitment market, the main challenges faced today by recruiters, and the views on the importance of IT solutions in facing these challenges.
Some comments on the survey results are provided below. The full copy of the 2010 Recruitment Market Survey report is available free to download.
Agency market recovery and buoyancy
It looks like the recruitment market has started a recovery, all be it a tentative one. 53% of Agency recruiters feel the UK recruitment market is more buoyant than this time last year. However, there are marked differences in regions and also sectors in terms of market confidence. London and the Midlands reported less of a recovery than other areas, and within sectors Education is looking the least bouyant, and IT the most. Also of note is that Perm business is doing better than Temp business in terms of recovery.
In the short term 78% of recruiters felt the market would remain the same or improve, and this seems realistic when looking at the recruitment plans of employers where the majority reported there recruitment levels would increase or stay the same in the next 6 months. These increased recruitment plans is also something that is reported in HR Magazine when looking at recruitment on a global scale.
In the longer term recruiters felt a full recovery seems to still be a long way off, and some believe it will never return to the levels we saw pre-Credit Crunch.
Technology views from Agencies:
In terms of technology, this is becoming increasingly important to agencies, and is seen by many as a pre-requisite for success to face the key challenges they face. Social Media, for instance, is increasing in importance for recruiters, but there are also fears that this could mean employers increase their own direct employment. This though will not necessarily be the case based on the views employers gave in the survey for using Agencies.
The basic system set-up that recruiters feel is important for them is having a good front-office recruitment system, accessible in and out of the office, which is simple to support. In addition, Job-Board advertising and a good back-office system complete the suite of tools that are the most important IT for recruiters to have in place. Points to note were:
- Three quarters of recruiters rate access to systems out of the office as important or extremely important. This perhaps illustrates the growing importance of mobile working and more desire for work flexibility in working from home.
- Despite the buzz that Social Media has received, and the predicted demise of Job Boards, Job Board advertising is still seen by 75% of recruiters as one of the most important aspects of their IT toolkit, and more important than Social Media.
- 1 in 5 recruiters believe they need to improve their basic IT set-up in some respect as it is not fully adequate for their needs.
Cost saving technology:
The next IT solutions in terms of importance were areas that can assist in delivering Agencies aims of achieving cost savings, namely:
a) Integrated front and back-office systems
b) Low-cost flexible telephone systems
These were seen overall as important or extremely important by approximately 60% of recruiters, with approximately 20% wishing to improve in these areas.
Internet services:
Use of Internet services (Social Media, Email Marketing, and system access for Clients and Candidates) were seen as the least important aspect of technology for recruiters. However, these services still received an average rating of between ‘Helpful’ and ‘Important, and were the areas that the highest percentage of recruiters thought they needed to improve in.
- Social Media – 29% of people felt that their use of Social Media was already good or excellent, and 33% wish to improve their use of Social Media. This illustrates a growing adoption of Social Media as a useful recruitment tool.
- Email Marketing – This area has grown considerably in terms of importance to recruiters in the last 12 months. 41% of recruiters now recognise a need to improve in their strategic use of email marketing. This perhaps shows a growing recognition that email marketing can be a useful part of an agencies overall marketing strategy to attract clients and candidates and build brand.
- Internet services for Clients and Candidates – Although seen overall as the least important area of IT usage (rated on average as ‘Helpful’), 42% of recruiters rated this area as Important or extremely important. This is an increase of 18% on last year’s i-BR’s survey and is the biggest increase in importance on any of the areas we asked to be rated. In addition, 32% of recruiters believe they must improve in this area.
This seems to suggest a growing recognition with agencies that both Clients and Candidates are now expecting Internet Access to services. It may also signify a growing appreciation by Agencies how these services can also help reduce Agency costs and improve efficiency.
Areas of IT rated by level of satisfaction by Agency Recruiters:
For more information on the survey results, and to download a free copy of the full survey report from the i-Business Resources website.
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