Media

HRworkbench Covers the Globe

Media Release 7 July 2004


"Australian innovation meets the world" as HRworkbench expands its operations into two new international offices.

The online Human Resources business commenced the appointment of HRworkbench Inc and HRworkbench (Europe) in January this year and became fully operational from permanent offices located in South Dakota, US and Reading, UK as of 1 July 2004.

The role of the two new subsidiary organisations is to focus on market development, distribution network expansion and productivity, and importantly, to help create a 24-hour real-time customer support infrastructure.

As one of the only organisations to provide its products on an online multi-lingual platform, a real global presence was an important step for HRworkbench in improving the quality of their customer interface with clients in 22 countries, accessing the platform in 14 different languages.

The office locations were chosen strategically to cover the three global eight-hour time zones to ensure that instant and professional support was available to any client, anywhere, at any time of the day.

However, the benefits of an international presence move beyond local proximity.

Executive Vice President Europe, Middle East and Africa, Scott Chambers said, "Clearly, being in the same time zones helps. But it is more than that.

"Each international office will have an appreciation of the day-to-day realities of doing business in that territory. We will be well placed to respond to and even pre-empt some of the local issues and concerns."

Executive Vice President Americas, Linda Stimac agrees, "As an organisation, we can be small in size but great in productivity when we capitalise on the regional nuances - differences in marketplaces and opportunities. right down to the business styles of the people who will discover the power of 'the Bench' and run with it."

The opportunity for "the Bench" to develop their worldwide marketing and customer interface capability has been strongly encouraged by the ATS.

"The ATS have been pivotal in our ability to set up our offices and expand our global reach," said HRworkbench CEO Alan Rands.

"During the process, the ATS has provided us with marketing and financial support, as well as being pro-active in locating and providing resources and board room premises while we have been abroad."

"The ATS have the foresight to see that Australian technology can be at the fore of the international market."

"We are proud that they have recognised our unique contribution to the Human Resource industry and Internet technology, and have been continually impressed by their support as we expand," said Mr Rands.