ERP human capital management guide

By Catherine LaCroix, Contributor 29 Oct 2009 | SearchManufacturingERP.com

News and tips for using manufacturing ERP software Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

More on human capital management (HCM) modules Learn how HCM helps companies lower total cost of ownership Find tips in the SAP HR and HCM tutorial Read a book chapter excerpt on understanding SAP ERP HCM

ERP HCM software functions as the core employee record, which details personnel actions, benefits administration and payroll, position management and compliance with government regulations.

"A company needs to know on a cost level how many employees they have and what it's costing them, along with turnover rates and analytics to help them make decisions and understand the essential talent that makes the organization successful," said Paul Hamerman, vice president of enterprise applications at Forrester Research.

Core components of ERP human capital management include modules for three employment management processes:

Transactional:

• Workforce management, including time capture, forecasting and absence management
• Human capital management, including employee records, benefits administration, payroll, position management and HR compliance

Talent management:

• Performance and compensation, including succession planning and career development
• Learning management, including training administration and content management
• Staffing and recruiting, including workforce planning, requisitions, applicant tracking and new hires

Extended management:

• Employee and manager processes
• Management reporting and analysis

Key ERP HCM functions

"Personnel management around the employee lifecycle, from hiring to promotions, transfers, and terminations, is the basic employee transaction that any system should be able to manage," Hamerman said.

Other key functional areas include compensation, bonuses and long-term executive compensation functions like stock plans, organizational and position structures, and compliance to government regulations around diversity.

Some ERP HCM modules will also handle nonemployees, such as contractors, as part of a personnel management component.

Beyond standard compensation structures, including salary grades and benefits programs, ERP HCM applications can also be set up to manage eligibility determinations for flexible spending accounts and time off programs.

"It's important to develop people in a way that is aligned with the objectives of the business," said Hamerman. "That's the strategic aspect of it, which is of critical importance. Companies that get that tend to be more successful."

What other resources would you like to see on human capital management? Email us at editor@searchmanufacturingerp.com.

About the author: Catherine LaCroix is a freelance writer based in Portland, Ore. She covers technology used in business, education and healthcare.

Tags: Manufacturing ERP modules,  VIEW ALL TAGS

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Manufacturing ERP modules Introduction to ERP in manufacturing Enterprise resource planning (ERP) modules guide ERP warehouse management guide ERP order management guide ERP asset management guide ERP inventory management guide ERP product lifecycle management guide Benefits of ERP differ for SMBs, large enterprises ERP financial management guide ERP supply chain management guide

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary SaaS ERP  (SearchManufacturingERP.com)

RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary