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Thanks to Microsoft borrowing our “Vista” name we've found it necessary to distinguish our Vista product from their operating system. We've renamed the product Vista HRMS and found it necessary to call the version 4.0 versus introducing the new product and giving it a 3.3 number. The Vista HRMS product name will introduce a new tagline "where people and technology come together" and will feature new brightly colored graphics throughout the system.
Behind the scenes this version will move us to the .NET 2.0 framework versus the current .NET 1.1 used by Vista 3.2. In this version we'll also introduce certification of Oracle 10 and SqlServer 2005 operating in native mode.
A number of user-requested features voiced during our User Conference earlier this year have been incorporated into the release. A sample of some of the features in the new release:
- The Administrator and Monitor components are now available in the browser, replacing the desktop versions.
- Check Calculator tool that you may choose to deploy for self-service. Payroll staff can calculate checks and update the employee or generate a pre-paid transaction that will be processed the next pay cycle.
- “Vista Fresh” that will facilitate automatically applying updates to Vista, thereby keeping the system “current” with PTFs and tax updates.
- Child Support Electronic Funds Transfer (part of the new direct deposit process).
- Improved Recruiting tools and optional add-on integration (Resume scanning and recruiter search and match tools).
- Optional add-on Intellicorp® integration (background checking software)
Migration to the new version should be very easy for those clients already operating in the Vista 3.2 environment since the database changes are primarily additional tables with minimal impact on existing tables and views. Our migration tools will easily port your 3.2 database into the 4.0 environment. We anticipate that clients will be able to install and upgrade to the new version without onsite assistance from PDS, though we are always available for those clients who need a helping hand. Please note that customers with custom web pages will have a bit more work to migrate to the .NET 2.0 framework, as the underlying code has been changed.
A few customers are already signed up for beta testing in February, with the product launch set for May 2008. Meanwhile the Product Development team at PDS is busy troubleshooting and continuing to improve the new release.
Pat Palmer
Senior VP & Product Manager
PDS
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