Case Study II - Mortgage Sector

Background

This case study concerns one of the UK’s leading mortgage brokers that source the ‘best deals’ for clients by matching the individual customer’s needs to the right mortgage product from all those on offer from every UK provider. The company was recently sold by a retail bank whose IT systems had supported the business. Once sold, the company had inadequate IT support and was looking for a workable, cost-effective solution.

Challenge

The company needed an application that could manage its HR records database and interface with its outsourced payroll provider. However, the company wanted to go further; it wanted an application that would also facilitate employee-self service, plus run all its HR processes. The directors’ logic was that if a single application could do all this, many HR responsibilities could be devolved to line managers and staff without losing control or risking quality. Equally important, it would remove the need for an administration team within the HR function. The company wanted a tool that was both configurable by the company (not by the software company) and was able to respond as the company grew, ie was scalable.

Response

Worksmart helped the company define exactly how they wanted to manage their HR records, ie the ‘look and feel’ of the software tool, access rights, controls, workflows, etc. Worksmart worked with the company to specify the HR processes needed, eg selection, appraisal, holiday, sickness and absence. Because responsibility for these processes would lie with end users, particular attention was given to the design of the forms and how these forms linked together to offer ‘easy-to-use’ processes. Worksmart was able to specify, build, test and implement the new application in less than three months.

Outcomes

Using the Worksmart application, the company has been able to eliminate almost all paperwork from its HR function. The results have been impressive. Almost all the administration has disappeared from the HR team’s workload, eg chasing forms, keying in data, etc. Consequently, this has enabled them to concentrate on more ‘value-added’ activities. Senior management now have the comfort of knowing that HR processes are far more tightly controlled and are completed faster, eg recruitment authorisations. The end user is now using Worksmart to manage their HR processes, eg holiday entitlement which has saved them time and given them instant management information enabling them to make better organisational decisions, eg holiday cover.

Client Comment

“Worksmart has enabled us to create a fully customised HR tool that saves us time, hassle and money” – Operations Director, Leading UK Mortgage Broker.