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A new tool for payroll customers: Ceridian Service Assistant

The workday just got a little easier for Ceridian Payroll System customers. We are introducing a new tool called Ceridian Service Assistant (CSA). Available late summer 2007, this Web-based tool will give mid- and large-sized payroll customers the ability to perform certain activities which previously required a call or email to Ceridian's customer service.

"Ceridian developed the new tool to improve our customers' experiences," says Chris Kandra, solutions manager at Ceridian. This new tool is provided at no additional cost.

The initial development of CSA began a few years ago. Ceridian obtained customer input through forums. Kandra notes that, "Judging by the overwhelming response to the request from beta customers, the new product is going to be quite popular."

CSA features and functions
Our customers will be able to access their payroll status and payroll schedule information through a Web portal. With this information customers can:

• Receive, modify and approve annual payroll schedules and rules. Previously, this process required manual interactions (faxing or calling to change information or approve the schedule) between the customer and Ceridian.
• Check the status of a transmitted payroll to determine whether it has been received, processed or shipped. Customers can quickly confirm their payroll processing status which can be especially useful during holidays or other off cycle payroll runs.
• View W-2 status and shipping information. This provides additional assurance regarding when W-2 forms will be available for delivery to the customer.
• Modify payroll processing dates, including due in, due out, report date and check date. Payroll administrators gain the flexibility to electronically change the confirmed annual payroll schedule.

One of the most time consuming activities for customers was the process of approving the annual payroll schedule. Customers would receive a preliminary schedule in July with a deadline to have all revisions and approvals completed by October 1. Kandra says what typically took several manual communication exchanges for customers to review and make changes to the annual schedules will now be coordinated electronically.

With CSA, customers can verify their payroll has been shipped. In addition, if the organization uses Federal Express for shipping, Ceridian will publish those tracking numbers.

Onsite administrators
Ceridian is contacting all of its customers who will be using CSA to work with us to identify a CSA on-site administrator. One of the most important roles of the customer administrator will be to determine the access levels of individuals who will use CSA within the organization. For example, who will have administrator access and be able to make changes to payroll schedule rules? Should everyone in the payroll department have user access so that they can confirm the status of the current payroll?

Training
You can take advantage of the CSA Web-based training (WBT) offered by Ceridian when you sign in to the portal. WBT will provide an opportunity for you to learn more about the functions without leaving your office and at a time convenient for you. The WBT will also be offered whenever new CSA functions become available. Ceridian is currently looking to add additional functionality to CSA, including password maintenance, project initiation requests and status, maintenance of payroll information, etc.

"CSA opens the door to new opportunities for customers to obtain up-to-date information more efficiently and at their fingertips without the need to call Ceridian customer service for payroll status details," says Kandra. "The extra time that customers may spend when they begin to use the product for the first time will pay off when the long-term efficiencies come into view. I'm especially excited to see how CSA will positively impact year-end."

If you'd like to learn more about Ceridian Service Assistant, contact your Ceridian representative.