Learn more about the technology that makes Workforce Central 8 work The Kronos Workforce Central suite was built on the belief that you shouldn t have to sacrifice the features and functionality you want for the simplicity you need. This single, integrated system offers time and attendance, scheduling, absence management, HR, payroll, hiring, labor analytics, and other applications that can help your organization control labor costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve workforce productivity. Building on this proven legacy, Workforce Central 8 delivers more features and capabilities than ever before to help you manage your workforce for optimal results regardless of your industry, region, or platform. Combining deep functionality and a superior user experience, the solution provides the automated tools and high-quality information you need to increase employee engagement, improve decision making, and drive operational excellence. Discover workforce management uncompromised with Workforce Central 8. Technical overview Workforce Central 8 is a web-based enterprise suite of workforce management applications designed to control labor costs and maximize workforce productivity, while minimizing the impact on IT. A distinct advantage of the Workforce Central 8 platform is its ability to match diverse user needs with a broad range of interaction devices including web browsers, data collection terminals, telephony, mobile phones, tablets, and more. Workforce Central 8 applications include: Kronos Touch ID Software Workforce Absence Manager 8 Workforce Accruals 8 Workforce Activities 8 Workforce Analytics 8 Workforce Budgeting 8 Workforce Device Manager 8 Workforce Employee 8 Workforce Enterprise Archive 8 Workforce Forecast Manager 8 Workforce HR 8 Workforce Integration Manager 8 Workforce Manager 8 Workforce Mobile 8 Workforce Payroll 8 Workforce Scheduler 8 Workforce Tablet 8 Workforce Task Management 8 Workforce Timekeeper 8 Platform portability The Workforce Central 8 architecture is built on an industry-standard model using the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) for Web applications to provide an extensive set of scalable platform options. The J2EE platform enables the solution to run on a broad set of operating systems and application servers. In keeping with this open and portable approach to application development, SQL Server and Oracle are the platform s supported database products. Three-tier architecture From an IT perspective, Workforce Central 8 solutions are structured in a three-tier application architecture, which enables fast deployment and cost-effective integration within your existing IT infrastructure. Client tier: In the client tier, customers have access to multiple types of interfaces to interact with Kronos applications. Based on users roles, Kronos provides access via telephony, smart phone, tablet, data terminals (including SmartViews), dynamic html, rich web interfaces (HTML5, Ajax, Flash), and portals that leverage the most suitable technology to meet their specific needs. Application tier: The J2EE application server implements the application logic, which performs the real work of Workforce Central solutions. The Web server resides on this tier awaiting browser requests that are passed to Workforce Central. The application tier also includes a business rules engine Web service that optimizes the application server by offloading computationally intensive work for faster response. At the heart of this Web service is the Workforce Totalizer, a robust rules engine designed around an object-oriented model. The Workforce Totalizer executes Workforce Central business rules in real time. The advantage of this approach is its ability to provide payroll managers and supervisors with real-time calculated data to support decision making and data modeling.
Database tier: The database server efficiently stores and retrieves all application data. The database configuration depends on numerous factors, including the number of employee records in the database, the number of clients, the number of pay periods to be stored, and the storage subsystem configuration. Data collection and self-service Workforce Central 8 supports four general categories of users: 1) administrators charged with configuration and setup; 2) employees; 3) frontline managers who directly manage employees; and 4) human resources and payroll specialists who centrally manage the corporate payroll and pay policies. Managers and specialists have very similar requirements as they are typically the power users of a workforce management application. Given the makeup of today s workforce, It is important that workforce management applications leverage the most appropriate technology to deliver a user interface that meets role-based needs and work styles. A web-based technology approach provides a strong foundation for this degree of flexibility, but a closer look at user needs often reveals more complex requirements. The Kronos architecture offers the ability to match the right technology approach with the usage model for each type of user and the strengths of a wide range of interaction devices. In order for employees to enter time and attendance data and check their leave balances via self-service, a Web browser or the Workforce Mobile application is all that is required for access. To protect the privacy of an employee s data and increase the overall security of the solution, Web server connections can be configured to use either the HTTP or the HTTPS protocol. Connections over HTTPS, which leverages the Transport Layer Security (TLS) cryptographic protocol, use encryption and require a server certificate from VeriSign or another certificate authority. Workforce Mobile The Kronos Workforce Mobile solution provides a mobile connection to your Workforce Central 8 system, enabling users to complete common administrative tasks right on their mobile device. Managers can easily see and rapidly respond to potential workforce management issues from anywhere, at any time via Workforce Mobile Manager. Employees can perform their time management tasks when and where they need to using Workforce Mobile Employee. This on-the-go access means your workforce is able to instantly engage, take action, and move on, resulting in faster decision making, higher productivity, and more effective control of labor costs. Workforce Tablet The Kronos Workforce Tablet solution gives managers constant mobile access to the Workforce Central 8 system via the convenience of today s tablet devices. Leveraging the combined capabilities of Workforce Tablet and the Apple ipad, Kronos puts the power of a back-office PC in the hands of managers whether they re on the shop floor, across the building, or on the road. With the Workforce Tablet solution, managers can access and record labor data in real-time and make critical workforce decisions instantly by staying connected to Workforce Central at all times.
User Interface Workforce Central 8 features a reimagined user experience with significant enhancements to primary screens. Thanks to its intuitive new look and feel, working with Workforce Central is easier than ever before: Advanced HTML5 core technology offers compatibility across a wide range of devices. Employee photos help managers quickly find key employees, help prevent errors and buddy punching at Kronos InTouch terminals, and engage employees by personalizing their experience. New Genies help users easily group, filter, and summarize data as if it had first been exported to a spreadsheet, allowing users to solve problems quickly and effectively. Security of confidential data Workforce Central 8 supports LDAP and Active Directory for password authentication, enabling organizations to centralize the maintenance of passwords. The solution also supports single sign-on capability for both SiteMinder and SAML enabled environments to facilitate controlled access via once-per-session authentication. In addition, Kronos provides automated password reset to reduce the burden on help desks. Workforce Central 8 supports SSL as an option for added security. User access rights are defined in the Workforce Central 8 access control profiles. Integration with existing infrastructure Kronos offers tools for integrating Workforce Central 8 with critical business systems such as payroll, HR, patient information systems, and other back-office applications. Certified interfaces to major ERP systems, such as SAP, facilitate connections to existing data sources and repositories, further improving your return on investment. The flexible and configurable Workforce Integration Manager tool provides components for interface processing and interface development. Workforce Integration Manager uses industry-standard technologies to import data from a variety of sources, files, and tables, and to output data into many different file formats or directly to other relational database management systems. Batch transfer of tables from HR or payroll systems can be accomplished using table-based import utilities provided within the Workforce Central 8 applications. Workforce Integration Manager helps extend the use and value of your labor management data by making it accessible to other applications in the formats they require. Extensibility support with XML API toolkit Many Workforce Central customers require tight integration with critical business applications for data synchronization purposes. Other organizations require adherence to customer-specific user-interface standards. The SOAP-based XML API delivers this flexibility by providing views of business objects to facilitate the extension of business rules and the validation of data. This open API supports unique customer needs while protecting application integrity through a stable, reliable interface. System administration Workforce Central 8 provides capabilities that enable busy IT managers to perform system administration functions at any time, from anywhere even when business takes them away from their primary location. Automatic push notifications alert system administrators when scheduled events or servers fail. System performance metrics, such as active users logged on, can be monitored remotely. System tasks and events can be scheduled at convenient times when system usage is low. What s more, system status instrumentation, health data, and performance assessment data are provided for easy integration into leading monitoring and management applications. Enterprise Archive Workforce Central 8 introduces Kronos Enterprise Archive, which replaces Workforce Record manager. This new Enterprise tool combines high-performance bulk archive capability with enterprise scalability, enabling users to archive and purge with zero downtime. Deployment Options Workforce Central 8 can be deployed on premises or in the cloud. Depending on the size of your capital budget and the skills and availability of your IT staff, you can choose the deployment option that is the best fit for your organization. Whichever option you choose, you can count on Kronos to get you off to a strong start for rapid time to value.
VMware and Hyper-V virtualization Workforce Central 8 applications can be run on VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines. Virtualization is a software technology that makes it possible to run multiple operating systems and applications on the same computer at the same time, thereby increasing hardware utilization and flexibility. By using virtualization software, an IT department can transform or virtualize the hardware resources of an x86-based computer, including the CPU, RAM, hard disk, and network controller, to create several fully functional virtual machines, which can run their own operating system and applications. Supported technology Browser Desktop requirements Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11 Google Chrome 41+ Mozilla Firefox 32-bit 35+ Windows 8 and 8.1-64-bit (Desktop Mode) nly) Windows 7-32-bit and 64-bit Apple Safari 7.x and 8.x Apple Mac OS-X 10.9 and 10.10 Note: For Safari browser/os X clients, JRE is provided by Oracle. Firefox and Chrome are not supported with HRMS Admin. Only recent versions of Chrome and Firefox are supported (current version and two back). IE 9 requires the modernizr plug-in. CPU RAM Cache Display Hard Disk Space Intel-based Pentium 4 or AMD equivalent; 2 GHz+ recommended 2GB minimum - 4GB recommended 256KB/L2 recommended 1,024 x 768 with 256 Color Recommended; Minimum graphics memory: 128 MB Minimum free disk space: 100 MB Network Protocol HTTP or HTTPS Network Bandwidth LAN Connection: Gigabit network recommended WAN Connection: Fractional T1 or (T1+ recommended) Workforce Timekeeper v7 requires that Cookies be enabled and Active-X controls be permitted. Navigator user interface Vendor Product Version Adobe Flash 17 Same as supported browsers Java Plug-in (only needed for System Setup, Event Manager, and Workload Planner ) Vendor Product Version Oracle Java Plug-in (JRE) Supports JRE 1.8 of JRE 1.8.0_45 (ships with product) Same as supported browsers For the pages that require JRE, Chrome cannot be used as the browser. Apple Android Apple Workforce Mobile supports MDM. Device type Mobile apps are posted to subscribenet. Workforce Mobile (client in App store) 4.0 Device type Mobile 4.0 Platform Apple ipad, iphone, and ipod Touch running ios8+ OS 4.1 and up Workforce Tablet (client in App store) 2.0 Platform Apple ipad running ios8+
Server Virtualization (all components of Workforce Central and Analytics can be run on virtual machines) Vendor Product VMware Hyper-V VMware VSphere v5+ ESXi Hypervisor v4.1+ Desktop Virtualization Windows Server 2012 64-Bit Citrix Version Platform Version Platform Citrix XenApp v7.5 Windows 2012 Server 64-Bit Windows 2012 R2 Server 64-Bit Terminal Services Windows Server 2012 SE Web Server IIS V 8.0 V 8.5 Apache Web Server v2.4.9 Streaming video on InTouch 1.1 requires IIS. IBM AIX (pseries) 7.1 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11.2 Application Server JBoss EAP V6.3 IBM AIX (pseries) 7.1 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11.2 Workforce Reporting Server RDLC 2010 2005* RDLC 2005 is for custom reports from prior versions of Workforce Central only and it is recommend that reports be upgraded to RDLC 2010 when possible. HRMS uses embedded Crystal XI. For customizing reports, Visual Studio 2008 is required. Workforce Enterprise Archive Vendor Product Version Vendor Solix Enterprise Data Management Suite (EDMS) V6.5 All operating systems supported by Workforce Central Application Server Workforce Analytics Apache Tomcat v6.0.32 Windows Server 2012 SE (64-bit) MicroStrategy MicroStrategy v9.4.1 Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit)
Workforce Analytics Office Add-in Office Windows 8 and 8.1-64-bit Professional and 2013 Windows 7-32-bit and 64-bit Enterprise 2010 SP1 Windows Server 2012 SE (64-bit) editions Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit) Workforce Analytics for Healthcare Kits 2013 Windows 8 and 8.1-64-bit Excel 2010 SP1 Windows 7-32-bit and 64-bit Database Oracle 11gR2 (11.2) 64-bit and 12C SQL Server 2008 R2-64 bit SQL Server 2012-64 bit SQL Server 2014-64 Bit Standard, Workgroups, Small Business, and Enterprise editions only Not supported with HRMS Not supported by Analytics Low volume platform support delivered in service pack Database Server Technology Support All operating systems that Oracle supports for these database versions All operating systems that supports for these database versions Conclusion Since its initial launch in 2001, Workforce Central has been helping organizations across the globe to control labor costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve productivity through more effective workforce management. Over the years, Kronos has: Performed thousands of successful deployments for customers in more than 100 countries Expanded the suite with powerful new workforce management modules Developed robust vertical functionality to address complex industry-specific challenges Established itself as the global leader in workforce management solutions Workforce Central 8 builds on this strong legacy, providing new and compelling value propositions not only to traditional Kronos buyers, such as HR and payroll managers, but also to corporate executives, IT administrators, operations management, and individual employees. Kronos Incorporated 297 Billerica Road Chelmsford, MA 01824 +1 800 225 1561 +1 978 250 9800 www.kronos.com 2015 Kronos Incorporated. Kronos and the Kronos logo are registered trademarks and Workforce Activities is a trademark of Kronos Incorporated or a related company. All other product, company names, or marks mentioned, if any, are used for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective owners. All specifications are subject to change. All rights reserved by the applicable copyright holders. Printed in the USA. CV0512-USv1