Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/758493
42 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2016 Brand new cloud-base solution for HR from DataByte AS DataByte celebrates its 30th anniversary, the IT solutions pro- vider launched its latest product - WORKFORCE™ - a fully inte- grated suite of HR software sys- tems built on a robust cloud infra- structure. Co-Founder and Managing Di- rector Frederick Micallef explains how over 30 years of experience servicing clients from various private and public sectors both lo- cally and abroad are now helping DataByte take full advantage of Cloud Technology. "In the more recent years of cloud technology, DataByte invested in research and development and today, the company's business ex- perience and exposure, combined with R&D, technology awareness and HR makes DataByte the ideal and most experienced software supplier," says Mr Micallef. "Shifting one's technology base does not come easy but our fo- cused strategy is aimed in this direction. Earlier this year, Da- taByte launched its own robust cloud-based Internet platform FUSION through which it started delivering its first cloud-based HR management. Eventually, a fully- integrated solution where the wide range of DataByte's HR solu- tions and modules could integrate seamlessly without any interfac- ing or middleware, became a very strong market requirement. This led to our latest product WORK- FORCE™." WORKFORCE™ will build up to include Leave Management, Visi- tors Registration, Payroll, Time and Attendance, Rostering and Scheduling, Time Sheet Manage- ment, Extended HR Database and Performance Appraisal. The product will eventually support more modules which can be built and added to the suite to meet the company's clients' needs. "In fact, we are taking in a num- ber of very valid client recom- mendations for system add-ons to WORKFORCE. This reflects the success that our product is already registering and encourages us to commit further to this project," added Mr Micallef. The advantages of WORK- FORCE™ lie in the fact that besides having full and seamless integra- tion, the HR modules made avail- able to our clients are on a pick and choose basis from the full suite. One company may opt only to have the Leave Management Sys- tem while another may integrate Leave Management, Payroll, Time and Attendance and the Rostering and Scheduling function accord- ing to its needs. Besides the mod- ules themselves, advantages are also drawn by the fact that there is simply no need for any capital ex- penditure by our clients. We sup- port the system infrastructure as well, so there are no costs for any support teams and backups. Being a cloud-based product also means that infrastructure costs are kept to an absolute minimum since no servers, operating sys- tems; backups and disaster recov- ery infrastructures are required. From a security perspective, as per all cloud-based products, WORK- FORCE™ is built to offer a secure and robust service. The confi- dence of the environment offered by DataByte is based on infor- mation security, availability and world class system integrity. The solution is purely Software as a Service (SaaS) based and is charged through an annual soft- ware license for as long as the company decides to use the mod- ule or modules required. Email DataByte on info@databyte.com. mt for more information. HSBC offers customers free Wi-Fi in branches TO continue improving the in- branch experience for its cus- tomers, HSBC Bank Malta has rolled out free Wi-Fi across all of its 26 branches. Now, customers with any Wi-Fi enabled device can access the internet while in branch. Daniel Robinson, Head of Re- tail Banking and Wealth Man- agement (RBWM) at HSBC Malta, said: "This change em- phasises our commitment to two things we really care about. The first is making our cus- tomers in-branch experience as good as it can be. The second is improving the digital services we offer as we know this is be- coming more even more impor- tant. We know customers are busy, so having internet access while they are with us allows them to get those quick things done on the go." He added: "We can assist our customers in getting their de- vices set up for our mobile bank- ing app using our free in-branch Wi-Fi service. Since its launch, that app has proved really popu- lar and customers can now con- nect their device from within our branches and our trained colleagues can walk them through the required steps to download the app and get signed up for free. Our employees will always be around to help when needed but we believe our digi- tal services can really help cus- tomers get things done at a time that is convenient for them." HSBC launched its mobile banking app in July 2014 and usage has increased rapidly to be one of the most downloaded financial service apps in Malta. In fact, digital transactions are well into the millions per year as HSBC Malta customers make full use of the convenience and security of digital banking, at no charge. The app is available to down- load from the Apple Store for iP- hone® and iPad® and Google Play for Android smartphones. Customers will now be able to test out the HSBC app before they download it themselves and will be guided through the features by staff GO is the official partner of Malta's EU Presidency GO plc will be the official part- ner of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU starting on 1 January 2017. GO will be pro- viding communication services to delegates and journalists at- tending meetings and events in Malta including fibre internet, Wi-Fi and 4G, as well as televi- sion and telephony services. GO is also installing a state-of-the-art video conferencing solution at the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta and at 'Dar Malta' in Brussels. Kurt Camilleri, Chief Commer- cial Officer at GO, said, "The com- munications requirements of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU are incredibly complex. For six months, starting 1 January 2017, some 20,000 delegates and journalists will be travelling to and from Malta. They will all need seamless, robust and secure com- munications and data services. As Malta's national communications provider, and thanks to both our technical and human resource teams, GO is uniquely placed to be able to meet these needs." More information on the Mal- tese Presidency of the Council of the EU can be found at http:// www.eu2017.mt/ APS Bank looking at social lending products in 2017 APS Bank proposed a number of social lending initiatives during a conference on local housing issues organised by the Anti-Poverty Fo- rum on the 25th of November in Valletta. The seminar, which was addressed by Family & Social Soli- darity Minister Michael Farrugia, Social Policy Shadow Minister Paula Mifsud Bonnici, Forum Treasurer Joe Bartolo and APS Bank Manager Sinclair Cassar, discussed propos- als about how low income earners can be better assisted in order to become home owners. Other issues such as house rent and sustainable support were also discussed. In his intervention Mr Cassar spoke about the initiatives which the Bank is taking aimed at as- sisting low income earners. These would allow applicants to obtain 100% home loan financing at low interest rates, extendable also to contents, furnishings and appli- ances. The Bank is also studying the possibility of facilities to assist with monthly home rental commit- ments. These social-oriented lend- ing initiatives will also be largely exempt from the Bank's standard tariff of fees. Prospective applicants would be subject to due diligence and tests in order to establish their eligibility. "We already give substantial sup- port to social projects and we are very interested in discussing these proposals with local entities and voluntary organisations to establish a sustainable mechanism for such schemes", Mr Cassar went on to say. The Bank's proposals were favour- ably received by Minister Farrugia who expressed satisfaction that APS Bank was taking such a step to address this issue on a national level.