What do you know about Version 6.1 and the new Genesys Web products?

The long-awaited Genesys Version 6.1 is scheduled to be released this month.  The new version greatly expands the data storage facility and improves the functionality of the HRMS.  There is also an entirely new set of Web products that allow you to maximize your Genesys investment and take advantage of all the access capabilities provided via the Internet or your own Intranet.  

What does version 6.1 provide?

·         Expands the data storage facility 

4Storage is 30 – 40 times larger and can accommodate up to 400,000 characters of data

·         Improved functionality

4Deferred (negative) earnings (always complicated to understand) can be replaced with pre-tax deductions

4Processing times have been improved

>Data files are compressed to increase processing speed and reduce data storage media

>Program 050 processing time has been reduced by 20%

4Tax packet processing has improved

4Historical data can more easily be accommodated in the employee record

4Deferred transactions are still an option in the Real-time environment

·         Some enhanced reporting capabilities  

Do I have to implement 6.1?

Genesys will support the older version of the software for 2 years following release of 6.1, so eventually you will be facing the upgrade.  In addition, version 6.1 requires a real-time environment. 

What if I don’t want or need expanded storage or other enhancements?

You will still have to upgrade to 6.1 eventually, but the pain of becoming compliant can be minimized.  The 5.5 files can be read with the 6.1 base system. You can install the new version and not really use it; that is, without implementing any new fields or the larger accumulators.  The ‘3050’master record will not change.  It’s still VSAM or sequential. However this effort still requires a significant degree of planning to be sure which aspects of the processing will be affected.  

How do I prepare for 6.1?

·         Be sure all necessary preliminary FTC’s are applied. There are three FTC’s for version 6.1 -

4FTC 2001-09

42002-03 (includes new WEB Works/GENLINK if you have these)

42002 FTC set for delivery in early Sept. 2002. 

·         Planning is critical to a successful upgrade 

There are many things to consider when doing any upgrade, and especially 6.1.  Do you want to include the installation of any Web products?  If so, the upgrade plan can include those products.  Consideration must be given to how the upgrade impacts existing reports (deferred and SearchAll’s), interfaces (internal and third party), any customizations you want to retain (user exits, CTO’s, etc) as well as screens, the data dictionary (IDD), field and calc changes (both online and deferred), the table and tax files, the company headers, ACH processing and more. 

·         Be sure you have the right resources for the upgrade

What Web products does Genesys provide?

·         WebServe – Includes Employee Self-Service and Manager Self-Service

·         WebWorks – Allows remote access to your Genesys HRIS

·         PeopleComeFirst – Competency-based training, compliance and licensure tracking