August 11, 2010

Written by Stephen Mihalik, VP Enterprise Solutions

The operating system (or foundation) of a background company's data should not be focused on the report that is delivered to the customer. The foundation is the INFORMATION that is found in the report. If the information (data) is properly stored and organized in a way that can be easily delivered (through a report or applicant tracking system) then we can deliver exactly what employers needs today….fast, accurate, time saving and less expensive.

Have you ever built an addition on your home? If so, the first question you need answered “Do you have a good foundation?”. Does your background screening program have the foundation to withstand the changes it will experience? Has your screening program felt the strain of change?

“Fast and accurate” are not the only needs a customer has. With the down-turn in the economy, we've seen changes companies need to do more work with fewer employees and less money. Is this possible? Can any background screening company effectively offer services that are fast, accurate, cheaper and save time? The answer is “Not without the proper foundation”.

What will the needs of the client be next year, or the year after that? We assume it will change. What we know is that a system built with the proper storage and use of your data is preparing for the needs of tomorrow.

How do you know if your current provider has the data-foundation for growth? Here are a few helpful tips:

1. When was the back-office platform developed?
When evaluating your current vendor or looking to go to RFP, simply ask the vendor when their operating platform was developed. Generally speaking, data-based platforms were first developed in 2003. Prior to this, most screening companies concentrated on developing and sending a “report”. Receiving a “report” is like receiving a dictionary…..when all we really want is the “definition”! When data is accessed efficiently, the end user can quickly drill-down to useful information.
2. How easy is it to integrate with an Applicant Tracking System?
Applicant Tracking Systems are giving HR Professionals the convenience needed to hire faster and better. It is important to remember that background screening and drug testing are part of the hiring process. When working with your applicant tracking vendor, ask them who they are integrated with and their experience with the screening company. Secondly, ask the screening company, “How long will it take and how much will it cost?”. If the background screening company takes longer that 2-3 weeks and charges for their integration services you may want to question if they have the operating platform to support your growing needs.
3. Adjudication of results and how the “Hire / No Hire” decision is made:
It can be difficult to manage a consistent hiring process when a company is in multiple states and has many different job descriptions. Complicating the process the level of offence found on a background screen and when it occurred. The standard “Red, Yellow, Green” no longer works for all job descriptions, locations and time frames. Ensure your vendor can be customize your “Hire / No-Hire” decisions by state, job description, when the concern occurred and most importantly – apply the company policy consistently.

Orange Tree Employment Screening is revolutionizing the background screening industry with unique trademarked solutions as the foundation to deliver meaningful data and not just a report. For more information please call 800-886-4777 or complete the contact us page