Report from Leading Industry Analyst Shows How Swank Audio Visuals Turns Up the Volume on Talent Management with Halogen Software

OTTAWA, ON — August 18, 2010 — A report by leading industry analyst firm IDC reveals how Swank Audio Visuals delivered efficiency and cost savings, while achieving greater insight into its talent, using fully integrated talent management systems. Swank leveraged Halogen Software’s award-winning performance management, succession planning and learning management solutions to implement critical talent management processes across the organization’s North American locations. The result has been a renewed focus on high performance and development for the company’s team members.

The IDC report, titled “Swank Audio: Turning Up the Volume on Performance Management,” includes an in depth case study on how Swank Audio Visuals, a premier event technology provider, automated its talent management processes with best practices-based systems to:
• gain better insight into team member performance, competency strengths and weaknesses;
• develop a national training program that promotes team member excellence; and
• begin talent pool based succession planning, by identifying high-potential employees, as well as areas of retention risk.

“Employee performance and talent management systems have the potential to transform organizations,” says Krista Napier, Senior Analyst, Canadian Emerging Technology, IDC. “Swank Audio Visuals is a good example of how these systems can effectively automate and streamline appraisals, introduce consistency, support recruitment, training, and retention efforts, as well as deliver deeper insights into employee competencies.”

In using a fully integrated solution that links performance and learning, Swank has also been able to quickly and proactively respond to customer feedback. Michael Schott, Vice President Human Resources at Swank Audio Visuals, explains the benefit: “We take customer experiences with specific pieces of equipment, service standards, etc… and are able to create best practices throughout our company. This can prevent challenges and we can quickly develop appropriate training to respond more efficiently. With better integration between employee development and performance management, we can ensure team members have the skills and tools necessary to provide flawless events, while avoiding unnecessary costs.”

Using Halogen eAppraisal™, Halogen eSuccession™, and Halogen eLearning Manager™, Swank has improved the efficiency of its talent management processes so that managers are better able to spend their time on providing effective, in-depth employee appraisals and strategically approaching talent management needs rather than being bogged down in administrative work.

With Halogen in place, Swank has been able to go well beyond process improvements, and deliver business value with deep insights into the organization’s talent. The solution provides relevant information that helps it advance team member performance; for example by using team member competencies to match job openings, and help identify those best suited for potential succession opportunities or those who are in need of further development.

About Halogen Software
Halogen Software is recognized as a market leader by industry analysts and is strongly endorsed by the thousands of HR professionals who use their Talent Management solutions. The company offers a complete suite of web-based products that automate, simplify and integrate performance appraisals, 360 degree feedback, compensation management, succession planning and learning management. Halogen’s offering makes HR best-practices accessible to companies of all sizes and its healthcare, education, manufacturing, public sector, financial services and professional services specific suites meet the unique needs of these industries. Halogen is consistently recognized by the industry and its customers for its exceptional implementation and support services, and has won multiple awards for its corporate leadership and product innovation, including HR Technology Product of the Year. For more information, visit www.halogensoftware.com.

Media contacts:
Maggie Patterson
PR Consultant, Halogen Software
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