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Starkey Laboratories Reduces Costs, Headcount With Ultimate Software's UltiPro Workforce Management

Posted on: Tuesday, 13 September 2005, 09:00 CDT

WESTON, Fla., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ultimate Software , a leading provider of Web-based payroll and workforce management solutions, announced today that Starkey Laboratories, a customer since 2001, is reporting significant business value as a result of using UltiPro.

Starkey Laboratories is one of the world's largest manufacturers of custom hearing instruments. Responsible for a workforce of 2,200 employees in 38 states, Starkey's United States headquarters had been using multiple databases with a payroll service bureau before the company realized that it needed a more cost-effective solution with integrated HR/payroll reporting and Web self-service. After two years of due diligence, the company selected UltiPro and has since:

* reduced human resources and payroll staff by 36%

* recouped its initial investment in the system and has experienced a significant annual return on investment

* empowered managers and employees with browser access to data

"UltiPro has been the source of numerous process improvements for our HR and payroll, allowing us to do more with less," said Julie Miller, director of human resources and payroll for Starkey Laboratories. "When we look back, we don't know how we did our jobs with three separate payroll service bureau databases that didn't reconcile. It's natural to resist change, but I can't tell you how many people have said that they think UltiPro is wonderful after they've used it. The solution has been invaluable, helping us to reduce HR/payroll staff from 15 employees to 11, while taking on additional responsibilities, like overseeing facility security."

Miller knew that UltiPro would result in increased productivity and savings even before she made the final decision to purchase the solution because her initial due diligence revealed a return on investment of 139% over a three-year period. Miller attributes that return to UltiPro's affordable maintenance fees, fee-free integrated HR/payroll reporting, and Web self- service.

"When I took the job I have now and saw what we were paying the service bureau in per-check charges and reporting costs, I knew we had to make a change," said Miller. "Our return is actually probably much higher than we anticipated. We have eliminated a good deal of paperwork with UltiPro's self- service because we now can perform a wealth of processes online using UltiPro's automated workflow with multiple approvers."

Starkey Laboratories is empowering its 200-plus nationwide managers with UltiPro's Web self-service, giving them essential business documentation while freeing up HR/payroll staff. Supervisors can make salary adjustments, approve an employee's request for training, and gather real-time data about their team, such as performance appraisal due dates and job history. By the end of August, managers at Starkey will be completing and storing employee performance appraisals via the Web as well.

UltiPro's self-service for employees has been another success for the manufacturer. Within a month of joining the company, Starkey personnel are walked through the process of logging onto the system, updating their contact information, and viewing payroll details. According to Miller, employee reaction has been very positive.

"I haven't heard anything but good comments from managers and employees about UltiPro's online tools," said Miller. "It's been so successful that we are expanding its use over the next few months to include paperless payroll and eRecruitment, and we expect to see even more returns at that time."

"Starkey Laboratories is just another example of an UltiPro customer using the solution to its fullest capacity and seeing the benefits from its robust functionality," said Greg Swick, senior vice president of sales for Ultimate Software. "We are pleased that the company is realizing such significant value since implementing UltiPro."

About Ultimate Software

Ultimate Software, a leading provider of Web-based payroll and workforce management solutions, markets award-winning UltiPro as licensed software, as a hosted application through Intersourcing, and as a co-branded offering to Business Service Providers (BSPs) under the "Powered by UltiPro" brand. Employing approximately 500 professionals who are focused on developing the highest quality products and services, Ultimate Software was named the 2005 Payroll Provider of the Year by the Human Resources Outsourcing Association and listed among the 2005 Top 25 Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work for in America by the Great Place to Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. Ultimate Software customers represent diverse industries and include such organizations as The Container Store, Elizabeth Arden, The Florida Marlins Baseball Team, The New York Yankees Baseball Team, Nintendo of America, Ruth's Chris Steak House, SkyWest Airlines, and Trammell Crow Residential. More information on Ultimate Software's products and services can be found at http://www.ultimatesoftware.com/ .

UltiPro and Intersourcing are registered trademarks of The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

For Sales Information: Ultimate Software Phone: (800) 432-1729 Web site: http://www.ultimatesoftware.com/

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020327/ULTIMATELOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Ultimate Software

CONTACT: Darlene Marcroft, Ultimate Software, +1-954-331-7444, ordarlene_marcroft@ultimatesoftware.com

Web site: http://www.ultimatesoftware.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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