The New Era Of Outsourcing: Why Web-Based Human Resources Has Come Of Age

Application service providers offer a type ofManagement Systems" by Paul Hamerman, Web
outsourcing that increasingly answershosted HR applications are becoming more popular
requirements to control and secure company databecause the hosting model is simply more
while experiencing, the convenience of minimalcost-effective.Why Go to the Web?
technical overhead.When several companies are using the same
The hosted model allows a company toinfrastructure - provided by the application service
outsource the maintenance and overhead of aprovider (ASP) - economies of scale extend the
technology platform and software, yet maintainpromise of the best and most robust systems at
full control over the sensitive data andthe lowest price point to each individual client
management of the process.company. Hosted applications provide a blended
According to research by Price-Waterhousemodel that captures the best of in-house HR
Coopers, "Total Cost of Ownership: Warning Signsadministration with the best of outsourced HR
of Hidden In House System Costs," companiesadministration. The hosted model allows a
can shave up to 80 percent of the time it takescompany to outsource the maintenance and
to complete payroll simply by automating theoverhead of a technology platform and software,
process.yet maintain full control over the sensitive data
Qutsource or insource? It has never been anand management of the process.Easier to Expand
easy question to answer. HR directors love theFast-growing, Wisconsin-based Paragon, which
security of running their systems in-house, andhelps companies with their IT needs, and SRP
yet the expenses of maintaining theFederal Credit Union, based in South Carolina,
infrastructure, licenses and technical staff arefroze the number of people in their HR
often prohibitive. Yet with traditional outsourcing,departments despite adding 70 and 125
the potential lack of control can be a concern. Inemployees, respectively. That's an annual savings
addition, many more traditional HR practitionersfor each of $45,000 to $65,000 in salary savings
are becoming more of a key element in theby outsourcing several HR functions. Additionally,
business and total rewards strategies. This allowsthese firms are seeing significant return on
little time for getting involved in the day-to-dayinvestment (RO!) from automated time collection.
administrative functions. While outsourcing mayAccording to the 2003 Price Water house-
not be the solution for all companies, this articleCoopers report, "Total Cost of Ownership:
provides information on its potentially cost-savingWarning Signs of Hidden In House System Costs,"
and time-saving benefits.companies can shave up to 80 percent of the
Application service providers offer a type oftime it takes to complete payroll simply by
outsourcing that increasingly answersautomating the process. Those with 500
requirements to control and secure company dataemployees can save $2,600 per pay period by
while experiencing the convenience of minimalmoving to an electronic system, according to
technical overhead. According to the Nov. 4, 2004,figures compiled by iEmployee in the 2005 white
Forrester Research report, "Trends 2005: HRpaper "Online Pay Stubs.