Wasting Time? Time is wasted when:- A group of people must wait for one person.- A Team cannot readily access the same document or data.- A Task must be redone due to insufficient supervision.
'Horizontal' Software may be called a Suite - or a Platform. - It is very flexible & made to Create new information.- Can be used to create Vertical (specific) Applications.- An example would be 'Adobe Creative Suite'or MS Office.Vertical Software is developed for a specific set of Tasks.
The Platform is Broad & flexible by Design.- WYSIWYG Design tools for Novices autogenerates code.- Powerful Editors allow Experts to further customize.- Includes an underlying and thoroughly integrated database.- Robust, multiuser access without onerous fees.
Wasting Talent? Talent is wasted when:- An Expert is assigned a task that is suitable for a Novice.- A Novice is assigned a Task that way over his/her head.- A Novice that is eager to learn new skills is denied access.- Team members are pigeonholed. Latent talent, undeveloped.
There is another 'Great Divide' and that is the one between the Haves and the Have Nots. Younicycle is affordably priced for any business, not just the 'Fortunate 500'. Available as a SaaS (online) or as a Server package.
'Vertical' Software is often called an 'Application'. - It is typically developed for a specific set of tasks.- Is 'powered by' the underlying Horizontal Platform.- An example would be 'Recruiting' or 'Benefit Enrollment'.
Wasting Money? Money is wasted when:- Multiple software packages must be purchased.- Multiple licenses or 'seats' must be purchased for each.- Multiple user interfaces must be learned (extra training).
The Great Divide is Knowledge. If you have the required depth of Knowledge, you can accomplish difficult tasks but without it, you will either 'give up', assign or pay an Expert or purchase yet another limited use software application.
Cost? 1) Server package for $400. No limit on number of users.2) Online vsn (SaaS) = $480 per year (3 users).3) Custom programming from $25 to $75 per hour.
Many spokes. Younicycle's framework will allow you to create many types of Vertical Applications, defined only by your imagination. An Actuary - or a Recruiter, a Benefit Consutant or Insurance Carrier can create compelling, plug-in Solutions.
Need an Edge? Many possibilities:1) Create Customer Solutions & give to them for Productivity.2) Create and sell as a suppemental source of revenue.3) Create, give it away - but charge for added customization.4) Become a Partner. Sell Younicycle + your Solutions.
One wheel. We've designed the IT Vehicle so that:1) Experts can work side-by-side with Novices.2) WYSIWYG Tools auto generate complex code.3) Each 'mini-app' you create can be shared (or sold).
Getting there is the hard part ... but we've made the trip much easier. We have spent many years 'blazing a trail' and building the IT vehicle that can get you there, safely & affordably. Yes, it is easier - but Easy is a relative term.
Start here. Get there. It's a given that you want to provide superior service for your customers and always keep a responsible. technological edge. But how? Younicycle can give you that edge - & be white-labeled for your identity.
It's coming. Like it or not, your competitors are standing outside your customers' front door and can be invited in with a few clicks of a mouse. We have the high tech and you, the relationships. Let's talk while the sun is still out.
Personalizing your Employee Communications is critical whenever personal Knowledege is required. Use Retirement as an example. Why would an employee care about John or Jane Doe's retirement security? Meaningless, inaccurate information is not only irrelevant, it's dangerous. Do it right.
The 3 Steps for effective Employee Communications:1) Inform: Let them know it exists. Where? When?2) Educate Employees: What is it? How does it work?3) Personalize the content. John Doe is not real.
Employers: Collaborate internally, with us or other Vendors 1) We (or other Vendors) can provide Full service2) Do it yourself (DIY). You can always ask for help.3) Initial full service -> then DIY in the future.
Your Employee Benefits may be very Cool - but will be ineffective if they remain Hidden. Employee Benefit Statements help your Group understand & appreciate their Personal, Big Picture. We have more than 20 years of experience and know all the possible pitfalls.
Poor Henry. Overcome by events beyond his control.Approximately 3 minutes.
DIY Tutorial 5: Getting Started Employee Benefit Statements (consistent presentation)
Variable employee benefit statement text & corresponding data are what transform your document from "just another piece of paper" into a powerful, employee communication tool. Although your entire Employee group may be referred to as a Team while at work, when they go home their focus will change. Their 'Team' becomes their family - and their own personal life. Money & benefits are deeply personal issues. Personalization is a critical component of effective employee communications.
A very simple example of personalization is reminding an employee of their enrollment status for a specific benefit:
"You are enrolled in the BCBS Point of Service Plan with Employee Only coverage."
Notice the example uses present tense. A small but important point. 'You are' implies real time data, so unless true, you may choose to restate as:
"As of 12/31/2008, you were enrolled in the BCBS Point of Service Plan with Employee Only coverage."
Rethink again. You may have 15 different benefits & will likely desire consistent text. Is it necessary to say: "As of 12/31/2007" 15 different times? It may seem trivial, but this would be a redundant 'space eater'.
Instead, try a global header statement: "Personal Enrollment Information is as of 12/31/2008."
A very simple example of personalization is reminding an employee of their enrollment status for a specific benefit:
"You are enrolled in the BCBS Point of Service Plan with Employee Only coverage."
Notice the example uses present tense. A small but important point. 'You are' implies real time data, so unless true, you may choose to restate as:
"As of 12/31/2008, you were enrolled in the BCBS Point of Service Plan with Employee Only coverage."
Rethink again. You may have 15 different benefits & will likely desire consistent text. Is it necessary to say: "As of 12/31/2007" 15 different times? It may seem trivial, but this would be a redundant 'space eater'.
Instead, try a global header statement: "Personal Enrollment Information is as of 12/31/2008."
This may be better, but before you walk too far down that path, ask your HRIS person (a critical Team member for an employee benefit statement project): "Do we have enrollment data as of 12/31/200X?"
If that data has not been archived, then ask for a more current & valid data date. Data, like bread, is best when fresh. More about that later, but for now continue to annotate those 'spots' where you would like personal content and also the data type of the personalized content (text, number, chart, date, image).
As you do, you'll find that your space requirements have expanded considerably. An 8.5" x 11" duplexed statement may have 'been big enough' when there was only static text, but now it may be cramped, unreadable and very difficult to manipulate.
Any carpenter will tell you that it is easier to trim a piece of wood than it is to use glue, bolts, screws, joins & nails. Start big. The excess paper can be trimmed later.
Continue until you have identified every desired personalized item on the entire document. Indicate a personalized item by adding brackets around one example of the to-be-personalized text (preferably, the 'longest' string. Example:
If that data has not been archived, then ask for a more current & valid data date. Data, like bread, is best when fresh. More about that later, but for now continue to annotate those 'spots' where you would like personal content and also the data type of the personalized content (text, number, chart, date, image).
As you do, you'll find that your space requirements have expanded considerably. An 8.5" x 11" duplexed statement may have 'been big enough' when there was only static text, but now it may be cramped, unreadable and very difficult to manipulate.
Any carpenter will tell you that it is easier to trim a piece of wood than it is to use glue, bolts, screws, joins & nails. Start big. The excess paper can be trimmed later.
Continue until you have identified every desired personalized item on the entire document. Indicate a personalized item by adding brackets around one example of the to-be-personalized text (preferably, the 'longest' string. Example:
8 1/2" x 11" for 1 side in Printer lingo is 'an impression' and the simplest of employee benefit statements.If your benefits are minimal, this may be an option.
Usually, you'll need at least 8.5" x 11". duplex (2-sided).If not, your employee benefit statements will be dense and a difficult read.
Use the back of employee benefit statements for ++ employee content, a quick summary of contents - or a list of vendor websites, contact phone #'s, etc
Layout for printing your employee benefit statements can be portrait or landscape. Different folds can be used to handle a variety of window envelopes. Avoid using labels. Labels must be matched to each employee; an error eagerly waiting to happen. The classic 'disaster' error.
11" x 17" is your most flexible format. Each sheet of 11" x 17" - when center folded, will be an impression and can give your employee benefit statement a 'magazine look'. Since there is more space, there is lmore room for images and additional content. A 2-sided document of this size is a more serious offerering and allows thorough coverage of your benefits.
If you have a highly educated group of employees, you may wish to consider 2 -- 11" x 17", duplexed documents (8 impressions). This would be center folded & stitched - like a magazine. This syle of employee benefit statements may be appropriate for salaried or Executives with 457 plans, Executive LTD, Executive Whole life, Options, Grants & 'deep' retirement.
There are also 'in-between' sizes, such as 9" x 16". Not quite as large as an 11" x 17", but offers the advantage of fitting into a #10 window envelope. Also, you likely know that postage rates are pegged to the weight - AND the size of the envelope. The bigger the envelope, the greater the metering expense. This size gives 'more space' without increasing your metering costs.
After you have completed the above exercise, you should be ready to select your preliminary paper size & the number of impressions. Remember - whitespace is important.
ABCD Corporation is strongly committed to providing fellow Team members with quality Health care coverage .... (more)... [[You were enrolled in Blue Cross Blue Shield Point of Service Plan with Employee + Spouse coverage]].
