Window Manufacturers Open Windows
of Opportunity with People-Trak™
Seeing the light is what the window manufacturing
business is all about, and Empire Pacific Industries (EPI) has
clearly seen the light when it comes to managing their human
resources.
EPI produces a broad scope of window products-from
horizontal sliders to patio doors, from ovals and octagons to
bay and bow windows. With three facilities employing 300 people
in Oregon and California, the need for effective people management
is significant. Although Randy Hill, Corporate Human Resources
Director, was using a database to track personnel information,
he felt that he needed something more. Says Hill, "I saw
an ad for People-Trak in a trade magazine. The price was appealing,
so I decided to download the free demo software. Once I saw what
it could do, I was sold. The combination of capabilities and
affordability was too good to pass up."
Indeed, Hill is impressed by People-Trak’s flexibility.
"Every conceivable piece of information I need on an employee
is right at my fingertips," comments Hill. "I can track
insurance benefits, COBRA information, vacations-even send an
employee a birthday card if I want to-because People-Trak affords
such a comprehensive database."
What’s more, Hill found the installation of the
People-Trak system to be easier than he expected. "The entire
process was simple from the start," he asserts. "As
if that weren’t enough, the availability and effectiveness of
technical support is second to none." He recalls past experiences
with customer support departments. "It’s always the same
old thing. You call an 800 number, maneuver through a series
of voice prompts, wait forever, and finally get a warm body on
the line. You explain your problem, they offer a single solution
to try, fire off a case number, and hang up. If their suggestion
doesn’t work, you have no choice but to repeat the process. And,
of course, the next time you call you get a completely different
tech. It’s tedious and unproductive-not to mention irritating
and frustrating.
"With People-Trak, the process is completely
different. When I call for assistance, I’m offered an immediate
solution, then told to try it while the technician remains on
the line. If it doesn’t work, I’m offered another option to try.
The tech stays with me every step of the way, hanging in until
the problem is solved. To me, that makes a world of difference."
It’s no wonder that efficiency appeals to Hill.
Empire Pacific Industries is a member of the Energy Star Program,
a program firmly focused on energy efficiency. One of the first
manufacturers to sign an agreement with the Department of Energy,
EPI is ranked among a select group throughout the country listed
on the program. Their window products reduce heating and cooling
bills by 15 percent, and boast 40 percent more efficiency than
windows required under the many common national building codes.
What’s more, EPI helps reduce air pollution, smog, and global
warming by creating products that reduce the amount of energy
needed to heat homes, thus limiting the burning of fossil fuels.
Concludes Hill, "I feel that EPI and People-Trak
have the same priorities. Both companies are committed to providing
a full spectrum of service by not losing sight of the big picture.
It takes more than good products to make a real mark in today’s
corporate world. People-Trak sees the light, and that’s why I
like doing business with them."
Technical Difference, creators of People-Trak,
is a software development company that specializes in providing
programs geared to the management needs of Human Resource Departments.
Reprinted from Shelter, March, 2000.
