Time & Attendance and Access Control
Local technology eases wage payment process at Medupi
Time and attendance solutions supplier Invisinet Technologies, a member of the Metacom Group, has partnered with staffing company Stuff U Need to create a seamless Time, Attendance and Payroll solution for the R80bn Medupi power station construction project.
“Medupi is South Africa’s biggest coal based power station construction project in South Africa to date,” says Murray & Roberts Project Operations Director, Conie Vermark. “Murray & Roberts is employing around 1,000 people on the construction works, with the majority being hourly paid. A reliable time and attendance solution is absolutely essential, especially given the need for our activity based costing which requires accurate payroll information”.
“The lack of available infrastructure such as continuous power supply and even reliable connectivity poses challenges to the inception any electronic based solution” said Invisinets Managing Director, Clint Mason.
Murray and Roberts HR director Tim Hutton describes the Medupi site as “an extremely hostile environment” for any information technology operation. “It’s basically just a big hole in the ground at this point, with lots of dust and no power except from diesel generators. Computers don’t last long.”
Charles Robinson, Invisinet’s Operational Director said “Site Requirements and Factors significantly influenced the design and implementation of the access control turnstile design and installation”.
Despite these constraints, the SUN Invisinet Joint Venture has crafted a complete solution, combining the iLog Managed Solution service with the personnel management and payments expertise of Staff U Need. The solution is based on a network of iLog GPRS communications devices linked to access control points and feeding data directly via the national cellular networks to Invisinet’s servers. Reports can be produced within minutes of a shift ending, and all information is exported directly to the payroll application for processing.
The solution comprises of 4 core components, being hardware, software, Time & Attendance and Payroll, each supported by competent and dedicated staff in both solution administration and operational areas. The self contained nature of the solution ensures minimal management requirement by the client. “It’s the most sophisticated solution of its kind in the country,” says Mason. “The combination of services supplied by the Joint Venture between Staff U Need and Invisinet provides a completely managed solution, from the software, servers, communication and access control infrastructure right to the Payroll preparation and payment management, all supported by dedicated operational staff to manage all aspects and variables.”
“As the client doesn’t have to do any more than sign off daily reports, it’s simple for them to administer,” adds Mason. “The use of reliable mobile devices and GPRS technology, ensures that Invisinet’s Time and Attendance solutions are up and running within days.”
“Queries that used to take two days to answer can now be sorted out within an hour,” says project leader Daniel Dubrowski of Staff U Need. “When people query their pay and we do find an error, we can resolve the issue very quickly via an electronic transfer. It’s completely eliminated the need to keep cash on site.”
Hutton of Murray and Roberts says the project’s most recent payroll run has been successful: “The workforce is happy and I’m happy. Staff U Need and Invisinet have really gone the extra mile to get the solution working under nightmarish circumstances.”
Invisinet Technologies is associated with Metacom, which produces wireless communication devices for the financial and electricity supply industries, among others. Metacom provides a common technical base, while Invisinet’s specialist knowledge of time and attendance-related business processes is supplied by founding directors Charles Robinson and Clint Mason, both of whom have substantial experience in the temporary employment industry.
Staff U Need is a specialist supplier of contract and permanent staff for construction, maintenance and engineering contracting.
Local technology eases wage payment process at Medupi
23 Oct 08
Time and attendance solutions supplier Invisinet Technologies, a member of the Metacom Group, has partnered with staffing company Stuff U Need to create a seamless Time, Attendance and Payroll solution for the R80bn Medupi power station construction project.“Medupi is South Africa’s biggest coal based power station construction project in South Africa to date,” says Murray & Roberts Project Operations Director, Conie Vermark. “Murray & Roberts is employing around 1,000 people on the construction works, with the majority being hourly paid. A reliable time and attendance solution is absolutely essential, especially given the need for our activity based costing which requires accurate payroll information”.
“The lack of available infrastructure such as continuous power supply and even reliable connectivity poses challenges to the inception any electronic based solution” said Invisinets Managing Director, Clint Mason.
Murray and Roberts HR director Tim Hutton describes the Medupi site as “an extremely hostile environment” for any information technology operation. “It’s basically just a big hole in the ground at this point, with lots of dust and no power except from diesel generators. Computers don’t last long.”
Charles Robinson, Invisinet’s Operational Director said “Site Requirements and Factors significantly influenced the design and implementation of the access control turnstile design and installation”.
Despite these constraints, the SUN Invisinet Joint Venture has crafted a complete solution, combining the iLog Managed Solution service with the personnel management and payments expertise of Staff U Need. The solution is based on a network of iLog GPRS communications devices linked to access control points and feeding data directly via the national cellular networks to Invisinet’s servers. Reports can be produced within minutes of a shift ending, and all information is exported directly to the payroll application for processing.
The solution comprises of 4 core components, being hardware, software, Time & Attendance and Payroll, each supported by competent and dedicated staff in both solution administration and operational areas. The self contained nature of the solution ensures minimal management requirement by the client. “It’s the most sophisticated solution of its kind in the country,” says Mason. “The combination of services supplied by the Joint Venture between Staff U Need and Invisinet provides a completely managed solution, from the software, servers, communication and access control infrastructure right to the Payroll preparation and payment management, all supported by dedicated operational staff to manage all aspects and variables.”
“As the client doesn’t have to do any more than sign off daily reports, it’s simple for them to administer,” adds Mason. “The use of reliable mobile devices and GPRS technology, ensures that Invisinet’s Time and Attendance solutions are up and running within days.”
“Queries that used to take two days to answer can now be sorted out within an hour,” says project leader Daniel Dubrowski of Staff U Need. “When people query their pay and we do find an error, we can resolve the issue very quickly via an electronic transfer. It’s completely eliminated the need to keep cash on site.”
Hutton of Murray and Roberts says the project’s most recent payroll run has been successful: “The workforce is happy and I’m happy. Staff U Need and Invisinet have really gone the extra mile to get the solution working under nightmarish circumstances.”
Invisinet Technologies is associated with Metacom, which produces wireless communication devices for the financial and electricity supply industries, among others. Metacom provides a common technical base, while Invisinet’s specialist knowledge of time and attendance-related business processes is supplied by founding directors Charles Robinson and Clint Mason, both of whom have substantial experience in the temporary employment industry.
Staff U Need is a specialist supplier of contract and permanent staff for construction, maintenance and engineering contracting.
