Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL
Q: Can we purchase the FocalPoint Compensation System separately?
A: Absolutely. Each component stands on it’s own, with the exception of the Total Reward Statement, which depends on the database established to support the other applications.
Q: Can the applications be hosted in our own environment and servers?
A: Yes. In fact, most customers should not need to purchase any hardware due to the small technology footprint and system requirements. Contact us for licensing and system requirements for internal hosting.
Q: How do we know that our data is secure?
A: We take the security of your data very seriously - every potential point of weakness is scrutinized and steps taken to reduce the risk as closely as possible to zero. Jump to the Security Policy section to find out more. And our Who-to-Whom hierarchy structure insures that valid users of the system can only see what you have authorized them to see – no more spreadsheets to email! Set up proxies for HR Pros or executive assistants to allow de-centralized support without worrying about unauthorized access.
Q: What browsers are supported?
A: The system is supported on Internet Explorer 7.0 and later, Firefox 3.0 and current versions of Chrome and Safari. Jump to Technical Requirements section to find out more.
Q: Laserbeam looks like a smaller company than the large Talent Management vendors. How do we know you will be around for the long haul?
A: We’ve been in business for over 7 years, steadily growing through a deep recession and surviving a catastrophic fire, with no impact to any of our customers. We’ll outlast some of those larger vendors. For our own take on the advantages we have when compared to the big guys, read our white paper on the topic here.
Pricing Options
Q: Your prices are among the lowest we’ve seen anywhere. How can you do this without sacrificing delivery, support and functionality?
A: We’ve been relentlessly focused on increasing value while striving for the lowest possible costs. Over the years, with a singular focus on the compensation process, we’ve learned which bells and whistles are key to a successful delivery of our tools. We’ve avoided over-complicating them with nice-to-have functionality, except by request (there’s lots of bells and whistles in the B & W cabinet). We’re a private company with a solidly mature process, extremely happy customers and great prospects. Our experience with large- scale software delivery with some of the biggest companies in the world has enabled us to develop best-of-breed solutions for insuring targeted, timely and fully engaged support from the preparatory phases to delivery to payroll.
Return on Investment
Q: What’s the typical Return on Investment?
A: We don’t quite buy into the notion that ROI can be completely measured simply by looking at the time saved by putting your compensation process in a web tool. Often, if employees have a time-sensitive task to complete, many people will just add it to their day. Something much less tangible is that just delivering a tool that significantly eases an annual headache will not only improve a manager’s productivity, it will make them feel better about the company they work for. Isn’t it human nature to try just a little harder when you see the company investing in systems that actually make your jobs easier? Can’t measure that though. And did you notice that in most cases, nearly all executives are directly involved in the compensation decisions? They probably hate the current system more than the managers. Can’t measure that either.
But of course, there will be significant time saved, which translates into money saved. Everybody gets a little bit of their lives back, including employees trying to understand how their pay is determined.
But the busiest people in the organization see the biggest jump in productivity:
- Managers can complete the process in less than 20 minutes - or 25, if this is the first time they’ve used the tool and need to review the training video in the help menu.
- Senior company leaders will see a significant improvement in their ability to quickly size up exactly where their organization and down-stream managers stand on budget, equitable distribution and compliance to guidelines through great reporting. And of course the many hours that HR and often IT have to spend compiling, reviewing (many times) and distributing the comp worksheets.
- How about accuracy? Unless you find the mistake, it’s tough to measure accuracy in dollars either.
- Finally, increased security, both in internal exposure from the wrong people seeing the wrong things, and external exposure to information leaking out can never be measured in dollars.
Having said all that, at an average price of less than $4.00 an employee ($7.00 in Year 1) the CFO shouldn’t need a lot of convincing -and chances are he’s not too fond of the current process either. Don’t even try to measure that.
Technology
Q: What are the minimum server specifications if we host your applications?
A: Either a standard or VMware environment running Windows Server and MS SQL Server is necessary in order for the client to host the application themselves. With a small footprint and low system resource requirements, most companies will find that the compensation tools play very nicely in a shared environment, avoiding the expense of more hardware. More details can be found in our Technology Requirements document, available on request.
Q: What are the minimum specifications for clients (PC’s).
A: Internet Explorer 7.0 or later. Firefox 3.0 or later. Chrome and Safari work fine, but are not supported at this time (ask us!)
Q: Is the product supported if run from a virtual operating system (OS)?
A: Yes
Q: Can the product support a global user base with a single server instance or is a different architecture required (i.e.: hub & spoke)?
A: Yes, single server instance only.
Q: What is the size of the application installation?
A: 50 MB. Can install to any drive
Security Controls
Laserbeam uses the most advanced Internet security today to ensure the security of customer information. Whenever a user accesses Laserbeam, a secure HTTPS connection is established leveraging Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. This technology enables us to ensure that customer information is safe, secure, and only available to registered users.
The Laserbeam hosted environment is secured at a Telco-grade hosting facility that includes both electronic and physical security, from firewalls to guards, to prevent access from intruders.
Laserbeam hosted solutions include physical, logical and access controls to insure a secure environment for customer applications.
Physical Security includes the physical security of the colocation facilities, remote system monitoring and automated system failure alerts to mobile devices.
Logical Security includes the use of best of breed firewall/VPN technology, logical segregation of client application and database instances and SSL 256 key encryption (https) Internet access.
Access Controls includes application-level access control over data controlled by the customer. Access to the tool is managed with userids tied to roles defined within the application (Manager, HR Manager, Admin). Managers have access to their direct reports and Manager-over-Managers have access cascading down through the hierarchy to line managers and their direct reports. Access controls can also be utilized to enable dotted-line relationships and proxy access (such as a assistant to an executive). Sensitive customer data can be fully encrypted at the database level to prevent anyone outside of the client from gaining access to internal information. Laserbeam Software support personnel will only have direct access to employee data with the express purpose of providing support, during clearly defined periods (such as an annual Compensation cycle) and with the express permission of the client. The customer (usually 1 or 2 admnistrators) and responsible officers (not more than 2 company officers) of Laserbeam Software will retain and maintain the administrative login credentials necessary to access employee data. Employees (other than senior officers) of Laserbeam Software that provide support and maintenance in the normal course of business only have access to client data for defined periods of time. All employees are required to leave cell phones, personal computer equipment and any other device for communicating or copying data outside our secured offices. Employee workstations have been rendered inaccessible for any form of copy or save except to local hardrives and servers not externally accessible (effectively making workstations into "dumb terminals"). All new employees sign and must strictly adhere to internal policies for Laserbeam's Privacy Protection policies as part of the induction process and must turn over all materials related to their employment upon termination of employment.
Redundancy and Failure System redundancy, failover and system recovery is an integral part of our hosted environment, insuring rapid recovery in the event of a service interruption.
